Intel has just released its new Raptor Lake Refresh processors, and one of them has already set a new world record for the highest CPU frequency ever achieved. The Core i9-14900KF, which is the top-of-the-line model without integrated graphics, was overclocked to a staggering 9.04GHz by a team of experts from Asus, using liquid helium for cooling.

The previous world record was held by the Core i9-13900KF, another Raptor Lake Refresh chip that reached 9.008GHz in December 2022. The new record was broken by a mere 35MHz, but that is still a remarkable feat considering the extreme difficulty of pushing the CPU to such speeds.

1697640357372 — *Image credit: YouTube- SkatterBencher*

The Asus team used an Asus ROG Maximus Z790 Apex Encore motherboard, 16GB of G.Skill Trident Z memory, and a 1200W Enermax power supply to achieve the overclock. They also used liquid helium, which is colder and more expensive than liquid nitrogen, to lower the temperature of the CPU to around -240°C.

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According to SkatterBencher, one of the members of the Asus team, it took them a whole week to break the record. They also managed to briefly hit 9.1GHz before the system crashed, but they could not validate the score. However, this shows that there is still potential for further overclocking with the Core i9-14900KF.

The Core i9-14900KF is based on Intel’s Raptor Lake architecture, which is a slight refresh of the previous Alder Lake generation. It features eight performance cores and 16 efficiency cores, for a total of 24 cores and 32 threads. It has a base clock of 3.2GHz and a boost clock of up to 6.0GHz with Thermal Velocity Boost. It also uses Intel’s improved 7nm process node, which enhances its frequencies and overclocking capabilities.

1697640338064 — *Image credit: YouTube- SkatterBencher*

The Core i9-14900KF is not only fast in terms of clock speed, but also in terms of performance. It offers up to 20% more performance than the Core i9-7950X and up to 15% more performance than the Core i9-13900K in various benchmarks. It is also compatible with DDR5 memory and PCIe 5.0 devices, making it one of the most advanced CPUs on the market.

The Core i9-14900KF is available now for $599 USD, but it is not for everyone. It has a high power consumption of 125W (253W with PL2) and requires a Z790 chipset motherboard and a powerful cooling solution. It is also mainly aimed at enthusiasts and professionals who need the highest level of performance for their applications.

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For those who are interested in overclocking, the Core i9-14900KF offers an exciting challenge and an opportunity to break new records. The Asus team has shown that it is possible to reach 9.04GHz with liquid helium, and maybe even higher with more tweaking and optimization. The question is: who will be the next to beat this record?