Intel 13th gen power consumption

Here we will analyze the 13th-generation CPUs from Intel and their power consumption

Updated: Oct 18, 2022 3:14 pm

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Intel is about to drop its long-awaited 13th-generation Raptor Lake CPUs onto shelves. But there are some concerns over just how much power the new CPUs will consume, despite Intel’s best efforts to increase the efficiency of its CPUs. 

Now read: Do I need a BIOS update for my 13th gen CPU? 

There are four SKUs in the 13th-gen line-up, each consuming a little more power than the last. We will now list each 13th-generation Raptor Lake SKU and its projected power consumption 

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Intel 13th gen CPU power consumption list

Here is a list of every 13th-gen CPU and its base and boost power consumption. 

13th gen Intel i9 power consumption

• Intel core i9-13900K | (Base) 125 W (Boost) 253 W
• Intel core i9-13900KF | (Base) 125 W (Boost) 253 W

13th gen Intel i7 power consumption

• Intel core i7-13700K | (Base) 125 W (Boost) 253 W
• Intel core i7-13700KF | (Base) 125 W (Boost) 253 W

13th gen Intel i5 power consumption

• Intel core i5-13600K | (Base) 125 W (Boost) 181 W
• Intel core i5-13600KF | (Base) 125 W (Boost) 181 W

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What is the difference between processor base power and maximum turbo power?

There are two measurements of TDP in this day and age, these are processor base power and maximum turbo power. Both of these are incredibly significant, especially when choosing a Power supply to suit your 13th gen CPU.

Processor base power is the minimum amount of TDP your processor will have, so 125W is the minimum amount of thermal energy every single 13th gen CPU will emanate. 

On the flip side, max turbo power is the amount of thermal energy the CPU will produce at maximum performance. So this will be 253W for the 13900K and the 13700K, but only 181W for the 13600K thanks to its fewer cores, threads, and lower clock speeds. 

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What PSU do I need for the Intel 13th-gen CPUs?

Here’s a good place to start:

We recommend a strong, high-efficiency PSU for powering any CPU, but this is especially true for the 13th-generation CPUs. A PSU with a higher efficiency rating is paramount when you have such a thirsty CPU. 

Of course, it depends on the components in the rest of your system. But as a base, we recommend you leave around 300W of wiggle room for any 13th gen CPU, and around 350W if you’re planning to manually overclock. 

For instance, if you had an RTX 3070 and a 13900K, we would recommend at least a 950W PSU. this may be “overkill” but this ensures you have enough power for overclocking and high boost situations. 

If you’re feeling brave you can just use the base requirements of each component to add up a target wattage but sometimes those metrics don’t account for boosting speeds. So be careful when doing this. 

13th generation power consumption FAQs

what PSU do i need for a 13900K

We recommend a PSU of 1000W or greater, especially if you’re planning to overclock, and have a powerful GPU to power too. Please check your GPU-recommended power supply before deciding

What PSU do i need for a 13700K

We recommend a PSU of 1000W or greater, especially if you’re planning to overclock, and have a powerful GPU to power too. Check the recommended power supply for your GPU before deciding

What PSU do i need for a 13600K

We recommend a PSU of 800W or greater, especially if you’re planning to overclock, and have a powerful GPU to power too. Ensure you check the recommended power supply for your GPU before deciding