Intel is launching its fastest desktop processor to date, breaking the 6GHz barrier at stock speeds for the first time. 

The new Core i9-13900KS is based on the 13th Gen Core i9-13900K that came close to the 6GHz barrier with its 5.8GHz turbo frequency last year. The new i9-13900KS is priced at $699. The 13900KS is the first CPU to reach 6GHz without overclocking, using Intel’s Thermal Velocity Boost technology to reach that 6GHz barrier and improve PC gaming performance. 

It does it by using more electricity, though. The base power of the 13900K was 125 watts, and Intel has bumped this up to 150 watts on the 13900KS. 

The performance core base frequencies have been bumped up to 3.2GHz, up from the 3GHz on the 13900K, but it has the same 24 cores (eight performance and 16 efficiency cores), 32 threads, and 36MB of Intel Smart Cache. 

Intel’s latest CPU arrives just weeks before AMD launches its Ryzen 7000 X3D CPUs.