Intel Core i9-13900KF socket: LGA 1700
The Intel Core i9-13900KF uses the LGA 1700 socket. It is the graphics-less version of the 24-core 13th Gen flagship, so a separate graphics card is required on 600 and 700 series boards.
- 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 i9-13900KF 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 | None (the F suffix means no graphics, a separate card is required) |
| Multiplier | Unlocked (KF series) |
| Package | FCLGA1700 |
| Cooler in the box | None |
| Launch price | $564 (Intel RCP) |
Motherboard and chipset compatibility
Intel Core i9-13900KF 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 XT |
| 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 i9-13900KF is
The Core i9-13900KF is a twenty-four core, thirty-two thread processor that Intel released in October 2022 alongside the 13900K. 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 F suffix marks the single difference from the K: the integrated GPU is disabled, so the chip has no display output of its own. Core counts, clocks, cache and power ratings are identical. Intel rates the base power at 125 W with maximum turbo power at 253 W. The process is Intel 7.
The multiplier is unlocked. The launch price was $564 (Intel RCP), below the graphics-equipped K. Intel includes no cooler with KF-series processors.
Socket and motherboard compatibility
The 13900KF fits the LGA 1700 socket. Boards with 700 series chipsets (Z790, H770, B760) accept it with the shipping BIOS. Boards with 600 series chipsets (Z690, H670, B660, H610, Q670, W680) need a BIOS update that adds 13th Gen support first.
Because there is no integrated graphics, the board's display outputs stay dark. Initial setup, BIOS updates and troubleshooting all need a discrete card installed. A Z-series board is required for multiplier overclocking.
Check the board maker's CPU support list for the minimum BIOS version. A board with USB BIOS flashback takes the update without a working processor and graphics combination.
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. ECC memory is listed as supported on some board combinations, which matters for workstation builds on W680 boards.
The CPU supplies 20 PCIe lanes: x16 at PCIe 5.0 for the discrete graphics card, splittable into two x8, plus x4 at PCIe 4.0 for storage. All display traffic runs over the discrete card.
Cooling needs match the K at 125 W base with 253 W peaks. Plan a 360 mm liquid cooler or a large twin-tower air cooler on the 78 mm LGA 1700 pattern. The CPU cooler compatibility by socket guide lists bracket requirements.
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.
Without integrated graphics, a board that fails to start shows no image at all, which makes diagnosing instability harder. Keep a known-good discrete card handy, install the current BIOS early, and seek warranty replacement if instability persists after the update.
Upgrade paths
Against the Intel Core i9-13900K, the KF trades display output for a lower launch price with identical performance when a discrete card is present. Against the Intel Core i7-14700K, it offers more Efficient-cores and higher peak clocks for heavier multithreaded work.
Later LGA 1851 platforms need a new board and DDR5. The 13900KF fits a builder who already owns a graphics card and wants flagship 13th Gen compute on LGA 1700.
Frequently asked questions
What socket does the Intel Core i9-13900KF use?
It uses LGA 1700, written FCLGA1700 in Intel's documents. A discrete graphics card is required.
What is the difference between the 13900KF and the 13900K?
The KF has no working integrated graphics. Buy the K when the PC may ever need to run without a separate card.
Does the 13900KF run in a Z690 motherboard?
Yes, after a BIOS update that adds 13th Gen support. The update itself needs a discrete card installed, since the board outputs stay dark.
Does the 13900KF work with DDR4 memory?
Yes, on a DDR4 board up to DDR4-3200. A DDR5 board needs DDR5 modules instead, up to DDR5-5600.
Does the 13900KF come with a cooler?
No. Intel ships KF-series processors without a cooler, and 253 W peaks call for a large air cooler or liquid cooler.
Sources and verification
- Intel Core i9-13900KF specifications (Intel)
- Intel Core i9-13900KF 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 .