Intel 14th-generation CPUs

Intel is one of the biggest names in computing, and its Intel Core CPUs — central processing units, essentially the “brain” of a computer — are the most popular consumer-grade processors on the market. So all eyes are on Intel now as it releases two new entries in its Core lineup: The Intel Core 14th generation (also known as “Raptor Lake”) and the laptop-focused Intel Core Ultra (“Meteor Lake”).

Intel’s 14th-generation desktop CPUs were released in October 2023 and are available now in some pre-built computers, including the Dell Aurora R16, one of our picks for the best gaming PCs you can buy. However, it took until January 2024 for these 14th-gen chips to make their way onto new laptops, like the MSI Raider GE78, alongside the debut of the industry’s first Core Ultra models, including the Acer Swift Go. Although this new generation of CPUs doesn’t offer much in the way of groundbreaking features, it’s poised to be the standard in consumer computing for the next year.

Here’s everything you need to know about Intel’s two new CPU lines, including what they’re made for, how they differ from the previous generation, and whether they’re worth buying.

Intel 14th-generation Core and Core Ultra CPUs at a glance

Intel Core 14th generation for desktops

First, let’s look at Intel’s flagship line of consumer-grade desktop CPUs, the Intel Core i5/i7/i9 14th generation. The 14th generation debuted in October 2023 with the i9-14900K/KF, i7-14700K/KF, and i5-14600K/KF. These chips are the direct successors to the Intel Core 13th generation and feature small improvements.

These processors are sometimes known by their codename, “Raptor Lake.” But that name is a generic title used for both the 14th and 13th generations — the 14th generation’s unique name is actually “Raptor Lake Refresh.” As that name suggests, Intel’s new chips are mostly a new iteration of the previous lineup rather than a full overhaul.

You can see this in the 14th generation’s hardware statistics. Both the 13th- and 14th-generation K/KF desktop chips have the same amount of performance cores; they have the same maximum memory size and bandwidth, and the base and “Turbo” clock rates have only barely improved.

The performance isn’t much better, either. Benchmarking firms like Puget Systems report lower than 10% (and usually lower than 5%) performance speed gains across a wide variety of tasks. For the i5 and i7 models, this is largely due to the higher number of efficiency cores. That’s not a big increase, and for most users, not worth upgrading for.

But to be clear, both generations are incredibly powerful, with the K/KF-series desktop chips able to run nearly any program and multitask with ease. Even if the new Intel processors aren’t vastly more powerful than the last ones, they’re still among the strongest on the market.

The 14th generation began with K/KF-series chips, which are generally some of the most powerful in any given generation. But early 2024 also saw the release of F- and T-series chips, which cost less but have lower clock speeds and power ratings. There’s also a new beefier chip with no suffix. In addition, rumors are also swirling about a possible i9–14900KS, which would surpass all of them.

There are plenty of prebuilt desktop computers available now with Intel K/KF chips from brands like Alienware and Corsair. Here’s a roundup of some key models you can shop now.