Intel has always been famed for making some of the best processors in the world. AMD closely follows Intel, and the release of AMD’s 7000 series fuels the rivalry even further. With critics praising AMD’s performance in benchmark testing, Intel needed to fight back. 

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Intel released the 13th-generation Raptor Lake processors mere weeks ago, and the results are in. Today’s post will explore the new Raptor Lake series in detail. We’ll see if it lives up to the hype and how it competes against the AMD competition.

Intel 13th-Gen Raptor Lake: Best Deal Today

The new Raptor Lake processors have officially arrived. We’ve found great deals on each new processor and compiled the best deals below to save you some time.

Intel 13th-Gen Raptor Lake: Release Date and Price

Intel unveiled the 13th generation of its beloved Core series processors on October 20th, 2022. Known as the Raptor Lake generation, this series of CPUs is a satisfying 18% average performance increase from the previous Alder Lake generation.

The price tag is higher too. The flagship Intel Core i9-13900K MSRP of $589 is surprisingly difficult to come by. The price of these CPUs is still trading above their MSRPs. The i7 is a little more competitive. With an MSRP of $409, the i7-13700K is commanding this number or slightly higher. The same can be said for the i5 variant, which retails at $319.

Intel 13th-Gen Raptor Lake: Different Models

Intel’s 13th-Gen processors are available now in the following configurations:

  • Intel Core i5-13600KIntel Core i5-13600KFIntel Core i7-13700KIntel Core i7-13700KFIntel Core i9-13900KIntel Core i9-13900KF

The flagship Intel Core i9 is the most powerful model, with a whopping 32 and 24 threads. This CPU shatters the benchmarks laid out by the previous Core i9-12900K. Also, with a more powerful architecture and 36MB L3 cache, the 13th-generation i9 delivers astonishingly good performance.

Everything from gaming to 3D rendering is a walk in the park for this CPU. At the high end of the spectrum, this processor is designed to compete against the latest Ryzen 9 Zen 4 models from AMD.

At a price point of nearly $600, the i9 is the most expensive option. If you are hoping for a more cost-effective solution, the i7-13700K and 13700KF models offer highly competitive performance. This model offers all the performance improvements over the previous generation that the i9 does, but with a lower core count and L3 cache capacity. As a result, its price tag is cheaper, at roughly $400.

  • 24 cores (8 P-cores + 16 E-cores) and 32 threads. Integrated Intel UHD Graphics 770 includedPerformance hybrid architecture integrates two core microarchitectures, prioritizing and distributing workloads to optimize performanceUp to 5.8 GHz unlocked. 36M CacheCompatible with Intel 600 series and 700 series chipset-based motherboardsTurbo Boost Max Technology 3.0, and PCIe 5.0 & 4.0 support. Intel Optane Memory support. No thermal solution included

Additionally, it’s essential to keep in mind that the only difference between the K and KF designations comes down to integrated graphics. If you can go without integrated graphics capabilities, you can save a few bucks by choosing the KF variant.

So, with that being said, the i5-13600KF is the most budget-friendly variant of the Raptor Lake generation. With an MSRP of around $300, this CPU offers competitive entry-level performance.

  • 14 cores (6 P-cores + 8 E-cores) and 20 threadsPerformance hybrid architecture integrates two core microarchitectures, prioritizing and distributing workloads to optimize performanceUp to 5.1 GHz unlocked. 24M CacheCompatible with Intel 600 series and 700 series chipset-based motherboardsTurbo Boost Max Technology 3.0, and PCIe 5.0 & 4.0 support. Intel Optane Memory support. No thermal solution included. Discrete graphics required

Intel 13th-Gen Raptor Lake: Specifications

Intel 13th-Gen Raptor Lake: Features

The Raptor Lake generation introduces some impressive performance improvements despite sticking with the same 10NM architecture as Alder Laker. Single-threaded performance is most notably improved thanks to the addition of the Raptor Cove “performance core.”

This adds a dedicated 2MB L2 cache, a solid improvement over the last gen’s 1.25MB L2 cache. The L3 cache also got an upgrade. You can enjoy snappier performance across the board with 36MB of shared cache in the highest-end models.

Additionally, with a continuously addressable block, the L3 cache configuration allows each processor to deliver higher clock speeds more effectively without bottleneck performance. You also get substantially higher clock speeds than the previous generation, with specific models offering up to 5.80GHz frequencies out of the box.

  • 16 cores (8 P-cores + 8 E-cores) and 24 threads. Integrated Intel UHD Graphics 770 includedPerformance hybrid architecture integrates two core microarchitectures, prioritizing and distributing workloads to optimize performanceUp to 5.4 GHz unlocked. 30M CacheCompatible with Intel 600 series and 700 series chipset-based motherboardsTurbo Boost Max Technology 3.0, and PCIe 5.0 & 4.0 support. Intel Optane Memory support. No thermal solution included

While you can overclock these processors easily enough, the immediate performance gains are apparent due to the high clock speeds and core counts. For the overclocking enthusiast, Intel claims you can achieve clock speeds near 8.00GHz with the correct hardware configuration.

While the Alder Lake generation supported DDR4 and DDR5, Raptor Lake boasts increased DDR5 compatibility, supporting up to DDR5-5600 RAM speeds. Faster memory leads to better overall computational performance, which is a welcome upgrade.

But it doesn’t stop there. Intel claims overclockers can push RAM speeds up to DDR5-10000 with the right enthusiast-grade memory modules. Additionally, Raptor Lake supports the latest PCIe 5.0 standard for solid-state drives.

While SSDs offer stellar performance by nature, the new CPUs deliver even higher bandwidth than before, thanks to an updated interface. Of course, this means you’ll need to upgrade your motherboard to take advantage of it. You’ll enjoy full support for the new standard as long as you source a motherboard with a Z790, H770, or B760 chipset.

Intel 13th-Gen Raptor Lake: Pros and Cons

With a processor like the 13th-generation Intel Raptor Lake series, there are certainly some pros and cons to be aware of. While the overall response to Intel’s new processors is almost overwhelmingly positive, they might not be for everyone. Bear these pros and cons in mind when considering a Raptor Lake model.

Pros:

  • Great performanceSolid improvement over last-genExcellent overclocking abilities

Cons:

  • ExpensiveYou need a newer motherboard

Intel 13th-Gen Raptor Lake: Is it a Buy?

Compared to the previous generation’s Alder Lake CPUs, Intel claims massive performance increases with the new Raptor Lake architecture. With a 15% increase in single-threaded performance and an estimated 40% increase in multicore performance, Raptor Lake is a worthy upgrade if you’re coming from an older processor.

So, after learning all that there is to know about the new Raptor Lake generation, the most important question remains—is it right for you? 

Buy it if…

You want a processor on the cutting edge of CPU technology

Intel pours massive investments into research and development to ensure its processors squeeze as much performance as possible out of each chip. As a result, Intel Raptor Lake processors are some of the best processors you can buy.

If you’re building a new gaming PC, video editing station, virtual reality PC, or multimedia workstation, any one of the Intel 13th-generation CPUs will be a solid choice.

Don’t buy it if…

You want an entry-level processor

The Intel 13th-Gen Raptor Lake series encompasses some of the best processors on the market today. If you’re trying to cut costs, you should opt for a 12th-generation Alder Lake CPU, or even an entry-level Ryzen processor. If you’re building a low-power, basic system for handling light tasks, then you would be better with a more entry-level CPU.

Additionally, the Raptor Lake series is intended for use in gaming computers, video workstations, and media computers. The high performance would go to waste on a simple computer system. That being said, the Raptor Lake series is a great choice if you want something plain old fast.