Intel Core i9-13900K and i5-13600K Review: Raptor Lake Brings More Bite
by Gavin Bonshor on October 20, 2022 9:00 AM ESTZ790 Chipset: More I/O Than Z690, But Same Performance
One of the main talking points surrounding all processor launches at present is platform affordability. When Intel launched its 12th Gen Alder Lake core series processors towards the tail end of 2021, it enabled users to utilize the higher bandwidth DDR5 memory in a desktop platform. As DDR5 memory supply was low and consumer demand was high during Alder Lake’s initial launch, this sky rocketed prices and it made it near impossible for users to buy a DDR5 kit to use with 12th Gen. Intel did offer support for both DDR5-4800 and DDR4-3200, but motherboards (600-series) could only support one or the other.
Although this hasn’t changed with Intel’s latest Z790 chipset, Intel does offer support for both DDR5 and DDR4 with its 13th Gen Raptor Lake Core processors; something AMD doesn’t do with Ryzen 7000 series, much to consumer’s angst. Even though Intel has opted for a higher DDR5 memory speed (5600 MT/s versus 4800 MT/s) compared to Alder Lake, DDR4 memory support remains at DDR4-3200.
| Intel Z690, Z590, and Z490 Chipset Comparison | ||||
| Feature | Z790 | Z690 | Z590 | Z490 |
| Socket | LGA1700 | LGA1700 | LGA1200 | LGA1200 |
| PCIe Lanes (CPU) | 16 x 5.0 4 x 4.0 |
16 x 5.0 4 x 4.0 |
20 x 4.0 | 16 x 3.0 |
| PCIe Lanes (Chipset) | 20 x 4.0 8 x 3.0 |
12 x 4.0 16 x 3.0 |
24 x 3.0 | 24 x 3.0 |
| PCIe Specification (CPU) | 5.0/4.0 | 5.0/4.0 | 4.0 | 3.0 |
| Memory Support | DDR5-5600B DDR4-3200 |
DDR5-4800B DDR4-3200 |
DDR4-3200 | DDR4-2933 |
| PCIe Config | x16 x8/x8 x8/x8/x4 |
x16 x8/x8 x8/x8/x4 |
x16 x8/x8 x8/x8/x4 |
x16 x8/x8 x8/x8+x4 |
| DMI Lanes | x8 4.0 | x8 4.0 | x8 3.0 | x4 3.0 |
| Max USB 3.2 (Gen2/Gen1) | 10/10 | 10/10 | 6/10 | 6/10 |
| USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 (20 Gbps) | Y (5) | Y (4) | Y (4) | ASMedia |
| Total USB | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 |
| Max SATA Ports | 8 | 8 | 6 | 6 |
| Memory Channels (Dual) | 2/2 | 2/2 | 2/2 | 2/2 |
| Intel Optane Memory Support | N | Y | Y | Y |
| Intel Rapid Storage Tech (RST) | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Integrated Wi-Fi MAC | Wi-Fi 6E | Wi-Fi 6E | Wi-Fi 6 | Wi-Fi 6 |
| Intel Smart Sound | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Overclocking Support | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Intel vPro | N | N | N | N |
| ME Firmware | 16 | 16 | 15 | 14 |
| TDP (W) | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
Looking at the Intel chipset comparison table above, one could really question what’s actually different about Z790 when compared directly to Z690, especially given that Z690 does allow full support for 13th Gen processors; yes, there is no hidden secret sauce or performance unlocking features, Z690 and Z790 will perform the same in compute and gaming.
The key differences are that Z790 offers an additional 8 x PCIe 4.0 lanes from the chipset, but at the cost of 8 x PCIe 3.0 lanes. This means Z790 still offers a total of 28 x PCI lanes when compared to Z690, but it gives vendors further flexibility to utilize the extra PCIe 4.0 lanes for high bandwidth M.2 slots and additional Thunderbolt 4 controllers, while still offering a few PCIe 3.0 lanes for devices such as additional NICs, streaming cards, and other non-bandwidth critical devices.
Intel says Goodbye to Optane Memory (Cache), No Support on Z790
One thing to note with Z790 is that along with Intel’s decision to kill its Optane business; this chipset will NOT support Intel's Optane Memory, Intel's Optane-based drive caching solution. Using Z690 combined with 12th Gen should still yield the same level of support as before, but using Z790 will not allow Optane Memory to be used, which is understandable as Intel winds down its Optane and 3DXpoint storage division.
The main benefit for opting for Z790 over Z690 is essentially down to PCIe 4.0 I/O capabilities, with support for one more additional USB 3.2 G2x2 Type-C port compared to Z690. Having spoken to Intel directly about processor performance with either chipset, they made it clear that they do not expect compute or gaming performance to be any different regardless of whether you’re using the new Z790 or the existing Z690 chipset.
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flyingpants265 - Thursday, October 20, 2022 - link
That doesn't matter. All that proves is TDP is a phony measurement. If the CPU draws up to 300 watts, then it's a 300 watt CPU. Replyyh125d - Friday, October 21, 2022 - link
Exactly ReplyIketh - Friday, October 21, 2022 - link
proving TDP is a phony measurement is the entire point of that post ReplyYojimbo - Friday, October 21, 2022 - link
Firstly this discussion is not confined to Intel. All the modern CPUs use turbo clocks. They all have various performance characteristics dependent on the thermal design of the product they are in.Please cite where Intel writes that. Intel only uses TDP in its technical literature these days for the very reason that consumers are confused about it. Intel uses PL1 and PL2. TDP is the MINIMUM power that one should be designing for, not the maximum. The amount of turbo clock exposed by the cooling solution is optional, but the thermal solution associated with the processor must be capable of handling the TDP. The processor will not be damaged with a cooling solution that only handles the TDP. The processor will not use its turbo clocks much and will stay at or below the TDP power except for short periods of time. On the other hand if a cooling solution cannot handle the TDP there could he bad consequences.
Again. This isn't an Intel-specific thing. TDP and turbo clocks are ubiquitous in the industry. What is also very widespread is massive misunderstanding and misinformation about the term. Perhaps Anandtech should stop using the term with respect to CPUs because it seems to me that it's a minority of readers who understand it. Reply
Meteor2 - Saturday, October 22, 2022 - link
Reviews should stop quoting TDP. Intel no longer uses it; their latest product spec pages e.g. for the i9-13900K quote Maximum Turbo Power: "The maximum sustained (>1s) power dissipation of the processor as limited by current and/or temperature controls. Instantaneous power may exceed Maximum Turbo Power for short durations (<=10ms). Note: Maximum Turbo Power is configurable by system vendor and can be system specific."Which for the i9-13100K is 253W. Reply
Meteor2 - Saturday, October 22, 2022 - link
AMD still quotes TDP (e.g. 170W for the 7950X) with no definition of TDP provided, which I would suggest IS misleading. Replyat_clucks - Monday, October 24, 2022 - link
Ah, not confined to Intel, solid argument that it's not a problem to do it but that "people are uneducated". Scale matters. When your real power consumption is 120% over the advertised one (see link below) this isn't an "everybody's doing it" but it is indeed a matter of "people are uneducated". At this time Jimbo, anyone trying to find excuses for Intel, and downplaying the shenanigans is _really_ uneducated, was born yesterday, or benefits from the lie.This doesn't mean you should stop using Intel if it does the job for you,. But only a fool or the fraudster would defend or downplay what they're doing.
https://images.anandtech.com/graphs/graph17585/130... Reply
catavalon21 - Sunday, November 20, 2022 - link
"Please cite where Intel writes that."Step right up, folks...
https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/support/ar... Reply
Truebilly - Friday, October 21, 2022 - link
🫳🎤 ReplyHarryVoyager - Friday, October 21, 2022 - link
Doesn't especially matter whether they are conforming to the technical definition or not as it is tells me nothing useful about the CPU in the context in which it is presented. Reply