Intel Core i9-14900KS socket: LGA 1700
The Intel Core i9-14900KS uses the LGA 1700 socket. It is the binned 24-core special edition flagship of the 14th Gen, reaching 6.2 GHz on 700 series boards and on updated 600 series boards.
- Socket
- LGA 1700
- Launched
- March 14, 2024
- Cores and threads
- 24 and 32
- Base power
- 150 W
- Codename
- Raptor Lake Refresh
- Segment
- Desktop
- Family
- Intel Core i9
- Clocks
- 3.2 / 6.2 GHz
Intel Core i9-14900KS 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 | 3.2 GHz base, up to 5.7 GHz turbo, 5.9 GHz with Turbo Boost Max 3.0, 6.2 GHz with Thermal Velocity Boost |
| E-core clocks | 2.4 GHz base, up to 4.5 GHz turbo |
| Cache | 36 MB Intel Smart Cache (L3) and 32 MB total L2 |
| Processor base power (TDP) | 150 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 (KS series, special edition binned) |
| Package | FCLGA1700 |
| Cooler in the box | None |
| Launch price | $689 (Intel RCP) |
Motherboard and chipset compatibility
Intel Core i9-14900KS needs a motherboard with a LGA 1700 socket. The table shows which chipset series accept it.
| Series | Chipsets | Support |
|---|---|---|
| 700 series | Z790, H770, B760 | Needs a BIOS update Newer boards ship ready, but some early stock needs a BIOS update first. Check the version printed on the box or the maker's CPU support list. |
| 600 series | Z690, H670, B660, H610, Q670, W680 | Needs a BIOS update Update the BIOS before installing a 14th 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 | Flagship 4K |
|---|---|
| Example GPUs | GeForce RTX 4090, Radeon RX 7900 XTX |
| Target resolution | 4K high settings |
Twenty-four cores with boost to 6.2 GHz, 20 PCIe lanes with PCIe 5.0 graphics and DDR5 keep up with flagship 4K cards from its era. The RTX 4090 from October 2022 and the RX 7900 XTX from December 2022 match that class at 4K high settings.
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 i9-14900KS is
The Core i9-14900KS is a twenty-four core, thirty-two thread special edition processor that Intel released in March 2024 at the top of the 14th Gen desktop line. It uses hand binned Raptor Lake Refresh silicon: 8 Performance-cores with two threads each and 16 Efficient-cores with one each. Performance-cores run 3.2 GHz base to 5.7 GHz turbo, reaching 5.9 GHz with Turbo Boost Max 3.0 and 6.2 GHz with Thermal Velocity Boost, while Efficient-cores run 2.4 GHz to 4.5 GHz. Cache is 36 MB of shared L3 with 32 MB of total L2.
The KS badge marks the fastest stock clocks Intel sold on the socket, at a 150 W base power and 253 W maximum turbo power. Binning buys frequency rather than efficiency: power draw under full load exceeds the 125 W K sibling. The process is Intel 7.
Intel UHD Graphics 770 cover display output, and the multiplier is unlocked. The launch price was $689. Intel includes no cooler.
Socket and motherboard compatibility
The 14900KS goes into an LGA 1700 socket. Boards with 700 series chipsets (Z790, H770, B760) are the natural match, and 600 series boards (Z690, H670, B660, H610, Q670, W680) run it after a BIOS update that adds 14th Gen support. Without the update the board will not start.
Changing the multiplier needs a Z-series board. On other chipsets the chip still reaches its rated clocks, with memory tuning available on most.
Power delivery decides more here than on lesser chips: 150 W base with 253 W peaks needs a board whose voltage stages sustain the load. The board maker's CPU support list and power guidance matter.
Memory, PCIe and cooling
The memory controller supports DDR5 up to 5600 MT/s and 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.
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.
This is the hottest mainstream Intel desktop chip of its generation. Plan for a large liquid cooler; strong air struggles at sustained 253 W. Mounting needs the 78 mm LGA 1700 pattern, and the CPU cooler compatibility by socket guide explains the brackets.
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 updates reduce risk going forward, while an already unstable chip may need warranty replacement. A KS buyer should install the current BIOS before heavy loading, since binned high frequency parts stress voltage margins most.
Upgrade paths
On the socket the KS is the ceiling: nothing faster fits LGA 1700, and the Intel Core i9-14900K below it differs only in clocks and binning. Coming from 12th Gen such as the Intel Core i5-12400F, it swaps onto the same board subject to BIOS and power delivery.
Intel's later LGA 1851 designs need a new board and DDR5 memory. The KS makes sense only against the 14900K for buyers who value the last frequency step regardless of cost.
Frequently asked questions
What socket does the Intel Core i9-14900KS use?
It uses LGA 1700, written FCLGA1700 in Intel's documents.
What is the difference between the 14900KS and the 14900K?
The KS is hand binned silicon with higher stock clocks to 6.2 GHz at a 150 W base, against 125 W on the K. It costs more for the last frequency step.
Does the 14900KS run in a Z690 motherboard?
Yes, after a BIOS update that adds 14th Gen support. Without it the board will not start with this processor.
What cooling does the 14900KS need?
Plan for a large liquid cooler. Sustained loads approach 253 W, which strong air struggles to hold.
Does the 14900KS come with a cooler?
No. Intel does not bundle a cooler with KS-series processors.
Sources and verification
Facts last checked against these sources on . Page last edited on .