Intel Core i9-13900K socket: LGA 1700
The Intel Core i9-13900K uses the LGA 1700 socket. It is the 24-core flagship of the 13th Gen desktop line, running on 700 series boards and on 600 series boards after a BIOS update.
- Socket
- LGA 1700
- Launched
- October 20, 2022
- Cores and threads
- 24 and 32
- Base power
- 125 W
- Codename
- Raptor Lake
- Segment
- Desktop
- Family
- Intel Core i9
- Clocks
- 3.0 / 5.8 GHz
Intel Core i9-13900K specifications
| Cores | 24 (8 Performance-cores and 16 Efficient-cores) |
|---|---|
| Threads | 32 |
| Core architecture | Raptor Cove (P-cores) and Gracemont (E-cores) |
| P-core clocks | 3.0 GHz base, up to 5.4 GHz turbo, 5.7 GHz with Turbo Boost Max 3.0, 5.8 GHz with Thermal Velocity Boost |
| E-core clocks | 2.2 GHz base, up to 4.3 GHz turbo |
| Cache | 36 MB Intel Smart Cache (L3) and 32 MB total L2 |
| Processor base power (TDP) | 125 W |
| Maximum turbo power | 253 W |
| Manufacturing process | Intel 7 |
| Memory support | DDR5 up to 5600 MT/s or DDR4 up to 3200 MT/s, two channels, up to 192 GB |
| PCI Express | 20 lanes from the CPU: PCIe 5.0 x16 (or 2 x8) plus PCIe 4.0 x4 |
| Integrated graphics | Intel UHD Graphics 770 |
| Multiplier | Unlocked (K series) |
| Package | FCLGA1700 |
| Cooler in the box | None |
| Launch price | $589 (Intel RCP) |
Motherboard and chipset compatibility
Intel Core i9-13900K needs a motherboard with a LGA 1700 socket. The table shows which chipset series accept it.
| Series | Chipsets | Support |
|---|---|---|
| 700 series | Z790, H770, B760 | Works out of the box |
| 600 series | Z690, H670, B660, H610, Q670, W680 | Needs a BIOS update Update the BIOS before installing a 13th Gen processor. |
Board makers publish a CPU support list for every model. Check it for your exact board before buying. Chipset details for LGA 1700.
Recommended GPU pairing
| Recommended tier | High-end 4K |
|---|---|
| Example GPUs | GeForce RTX 4090, Radeon RX 7900 XTX |
| Target resolution | 4K high settings |
Twenty-four cores with boost to 5.8 GHz, 20 PCIe lanes with PCIe 5.0 graphics and DDR5 match high-end 4K cards from its late 2022 era. A faster card still works and the balance shifts with game, settings and resolution.
This is a rough match for a new build at the stated resolution, not a limit. A faster card still works and helps at higher resolutions or in games that load the GPU more than the CPU. A slower card is fine for lighter games and office use. The exact balance shifts with the game, the settings and the resolution, so no percentage is given.
LGA 1700 at a glance
| Type | LGA, 1,700 contacts |
|---|---|
| Package size | 45.0 × 37.5 mm |
| Introduced | November 2021 |
| Memory | DDR4 or DDR5, set by the motherboard (one type per board) |
| Cooler mounting holes | 78 × 78 mm |
What the Core i9-13900K is
The Core i9-13900K is a twenty-four core, thirty-two thread processor that Intel released in October 2022 at the top of the 13th Gen desktop range. It has 8 Performance-cores with two threads each and 16 Efficient-cores with one each. Performance-cores run 3.0 GHz base to 5.4 GHz turbo, reaching 5.7 GHz with Turbo Boost Max 3.0 and 5.8 GHz with Thermal Velocity Boost, while Efficient-cores run 2.2 GHz to 4.3 GHz. Cache is 36 MB of shared L3 with 32 MB of total L2.
The chip doubled the Efficient-core count over the previous flagship, which lifted multithreaded throughput in rendering and compilation. Intel rates the base power at 125 W with maximum turbo power at 253 W. The process is Intel 7.
Intel UHD Graphics 770 cover display output, and the multiplier is unlocked. The launch price was $589 (Intel RCP). Intel includes no cooler with K-series processors.
Socket and motherboard compatibility
The 13900K fits the LGA 1700 socket. It launched together with the 700 series chipsets (Z790, H770, B760), which accept it with the shipping BIOS. Boards with 600 series chipsets (Z690, H670, B660, H610, Q670, W680) run it after a BIOS update that adds 13th Gen support.
Overclocking needs a Z690 or Z790 board. Other chipsets run the chip at rated clocks with memory tuning on most models. Power delivery deserves attention at 125 W base with 253 W peaks, so the board's voltage stages and cooling set sustained boost.
The board maker's CPU support list names the minimum BIOS version for each model. Boards with USB BIOS flashback can take the update without a supported processor installed.
Memory, PCIe and cooling
The memory controller supports DDR5 up to 5600 MT/s or DDR4 up to 3200 MT/s, with the board deciding the type. Two channels carry up to 192 GB. Faster kits run through XMP profiles, which count as overclocking from the processor's point of view.
The CPU supplies 20 PCIe lanes: x16 at PCIe 5.0 for graphics, splittable into two x8, plus x4 at PCIe 4.0 for storage. Chipset lanes cover the rest of the board's slots.
This is a hot flagship at 253 W peaks, so a 360 mm liquid cooler or a large twin-tower air cooler is the realistic starting point. Mounting needs the 78 mm LGA 1700 pattern, and the CPU cooler compatibility by socket guide explains bracket compatibility.
Stability and microcode updates
Intel confirmed in 2024 that 13th and 14th Gen desktop processors could suffer Vmin shift instability from elevated voltage requests in microcode and BIOS code. It released microcode updates including 0x12B, delivered only through motherboard BIOS updates, with its Intel Default Settings profile recommended.
The 13900K runs at high voltage and frequency by design, so this guidance matters more here than on locked models. Install the current BIOS before sustained heavy loads, and seek warranty replacement if a chip that is already unstable stays unstable after the update.
Upgrade paths
On the socket the 13900K was the top option until the 13900KS special edition arrived. The Intel Core i7-14700K offers most of the gaming performance with fewer Efficient-cores for less money, while the Intel Core i5-12400F shows the entry point on the same boards.
Intel's later LGA 1851 designs need a new board and DDR5 memory. The 13900K suits a builder who wants the fastest regular 13th Gen chip without moving to a new platform.
Frequently asked questions
What socket does the Intel Core i9-13900K use?
It uses LGA 1700, written FCLGA1700 in Intel's documents.
What is the difference between the 13900K and the 13900KF?
The KF has no integrated graphics and needs a separate card. Clocks, core counts, cache and power ratings match the K.
Does the 13900K run in a Z690 motherboard?
Yes, after a BIOS update that adds 13th Gen support. Without the update the board will not start with this processor.
Does the 13900K work with DDR4 memory?
Yes, on a motherboard with DDR4 slots, up to DDR4-3200. A DDR5 board needs DDR5 modules instead, up to DDR5-5600.
Does the 13900K come with a cooler?
No. Intel does not bundle a cooler with K-series processors, and a 360 mm liquid cooler or large air cooler is realistic at 253 W peaks.
Sources and verification
- Intel Core i9-13900K specifications (Intel)
- Intel Core i9-13900K Specs (TechPowerUp)
- Intel Core 13th and 14th Gen desktop instability root cause update (Intel)
Facts last checked against these sources on . Page last edited on .