Contributor to the popular page Igor Lab, Xave Amberger, has access to 199 Intel Core i9-13900KS processors, Intel’s current top model and priced at €779 each. The reason for this study is related to the desire to study what these special edition processors are, and how Intel chooses which models can have this designation.
Using an Asus Maximus Z790 Hero motherboard with BIOS 0031, this was used to read the characteristics pre-programmed into each processor, and soon discovered a curious detail: all new Intel Core i9-13900KS were selected variants of the Core i9 -13900K, not the 13900KF, where They all include an integrated graphics controller.
What was immediately apparent was that all of these processors, which were individually tested by Intel to be selected, were subsequently programmed to run at a base frequency 200MHz (3.2GHz) higher on all P-cores, raising the maximum frequency to 6.0GHz, With the base TDP rising from the previous 125 watts to 150 watts.
However, for these processors to be considered models worthy of the “KS” designation, they need to reach 6.0GHz with a power supply (VID) of only 1.49V. If that happens, if they can hit the much-desired barrier of 6.0 GHz at values below that voltage, that processor will be one of the processors chosen to receive the “KS” designation.
This will allow Intel to create a Silicon Prediction (SP) value, which will later be recorded in the CPU register, for easy recognition of the characteristics and capabilities of the CPU, resulting in its “KS” rating.
According to the processors tested, they all had an “X” in the batch number, revealing that they were all manufactured in Vietnam, although there are models with the “L” designation, which corresponds to the Malaysian plant.
Of all the tested processors, the recorded SP value was always greater than 100, the worst was only 101, and the best was 116, with an average of 108.1. In the case of P cores, the values were different, with the distribution hovering more towards lower values, although the minimum value was 112, and the maximum 127, with an average of about 117.5.
Oddly enough, the E cores also contain the expectation of silicon, which is why they operate at a base frequency of 2.4 GHz, instead of the 2.2 GHz used by the e-cores of the Core i9-13900K and Core i9-13900KF. Regarding the results obtained, these were significantly lower than those obtained in the P nucleus, where the worst value was 79, the best 99, and the average was about 90.4.
Take advantage of the fact that they have already been implemented Tests on 500 Core i9-13900K and Core i9-13900KF processorsit was possible to do a comparison with the SP values of all the processors, to determine what makes the new Core i9-13900KS so special to be the ‘processor of choice’.
Taking into account the SP values, it is easy to determine that not all Core i9-13900K models can reach values above 110, although it is strange to see that many Core i9-13900KF can easily beat this value, but as They do not have an integrated graphics controller, Intel doesn’t even consider it to designate “KS”.
However, these values are not the ultimate truth, that is, there is no direct relationship between the SP value and the overclocking ability, since all processors have their own behavior. That is, a Core i9-13900K with an SP of 120 may not be able to reach 6.0GHz with a voltage of less than 1.49V, and a Core i9-13900KS with an SP of 104 can reach this frequency with a power supply of less than 1.42V.
This is a rather complicated article, with very interesting and revealing results of Intel’s work in defining these particular processors. We recommend that you give See the original article To better understand the implications of these tests, also take a look at the data extracted from all the tests that were performed (look here)