Intel Core i9 13900K Review

Temperatures

Thermals are a key point to any processor, as it allows it to boost for a prolonged amount of time and depending on the task that’s being performed, thermals can be either higher or lower. To get the best possible picture, we have recorded thermals for idle, during a simulated Cinebench R23 load test, and during a typical gameplay benchmark run of Cyberpunk 2077.

Now, with all this power, heat comes into the equation, and under our NZXT Z73 cooler, we’re seeing quite a dramatic uplift from the 12900K as we move to the 13th generation flagship, where we frankly struggled at 100 degrees. Obviously, this is a limit baked in by Intel, but this is the first CPU to hit 100 degrees during gaming, and I wonder what that means for longevity, though of course it’s only the max temperature recorded and could be for a split second.