Buying Guide
The Best CPUs With High Clock Speeds
We weighed four processors on L3 cache and boost clock; the Core i9-14900K has the highest boost clock, and the Ryzen 9 9900X costs the least.
By The PC Journal editorial team
11 min read4 products evaluated
High boost clocks help lightly threaded apps and many games. Every pick boosts to 5.5GHz or more, ordered from the highest maker-rated boost.
Rankings weigh L3 cache, max boost and cores / threads as the makers state them; we did not test these processors ourselves, and any figure a maker omits is noted as missing.
Quick Picks
Our 4 recommendations at a glance. Tap a pick for the full verdict.
Highest Boost Clock
Intel Core i9-14900K
The highest boost clock here (6GHz).
Best for: Buyers who put boost clock first.
Our take Check price for Intel Core i9-14900K (opens in a new tab)
Premium Pick
AMD Ryzen 9 9950X
AMD's recommendation of a liquid cooler at the highest price in the group.
Best for: Buyers for whom price is not the deciding factor.
Our take Check price for AMD Ryzen 9 9950X (opens in a new tab)
Lowest Price Here
AMD Ryzen 9 9900X
Undercutting the Ryzen 7 9700X on price when we checked.
Best for: Keeping the budget tight.
Our take Check price for AMD Ryzen 9 9900X (opens in a new tab)
Lowest Rated Power
AMD Ryzen 7 9700X
The lowest rated power here (65W).
Best for: Buyers who put rated power first.
Our take Check price for AMD Ryzen 7 9700X (opens in a new tab)
| Pick | Why it’s here | Best for | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| The highest boost clock here (6GHz). | Buyers who put boost clock first. | Check price for Intel Core i9-14900K (opens in a new tab) |
| AMD's recommendation of a liquid cooler at the highest price in the group. | Buyers for whom price is not the deciding factor. | Check price for AMD Ryzen 9 9950X (opens in a new tab) |
| Undercutting the Ryzen 7 9700X on price when we checked. | Keeping the budget tight. | Check price for AMD Ryzen 9 9900X (opens in a new tab) |
| The lowest rated power here (65W). | Buyers who put rated power first. | Check price for AMD Ryzen 7 9700X (opens in a new tab) |
Our Picks
Highest Boost Clock1 of 4
Intel Core i9-14900K on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The Core i9-14900K is the last LGA1700 flagship with a 6.0GHz boost clock.
Best for
- Buyers who put boost clock first.
Skip if
- Skip it if this is a deal-breaker for you: no cooler in the box.
Why we like it
Check your board has the latest BIOS for Intel's stability microcode. On L3 cache it sits mid-pack at 36MB: the Ryzen 9 9950X offers 64MB, and the Ryzen 7 9700X comes in at 32MB. Nothing else here matches its 6GHz boost clock; the Ryzen 9 9950X comes closest at 5.7GHz.
On core count it leads this guide at 24 cores, ahead of the Ryzen 9 9950X (16 cores). Its 125W rated power ranks third of 4 here, behind the Ryzen 7 9700X (65W) and ahead of the Ryzen 9 9950X (170W). An LGA1700 socket is unique to it among these picks, while the Ryzen 9 9950X uses an AM5 socket.
You get DDR4 or DDR5 memory here, which sets it apart from the Ryzen 7 9700X and its DDR5 memory. On price it sat third of 4, between the cheaper Ryzen 7 9700X and the pricier Ryzen 9 9950X, at the time of writing.
Key dimensions & specs
- L3 cache: 36MB
- Max boost: 6GHz
- Cores / threads: 24 cores
- Rated power: 125W
- Threads: 32
- Socket: LGA1700
- Memory: DDR4 or DDR5
- Cooler in box: No
- Integrated graphics: Yes
Pros
- 6GHz maximum boost
- 24 cores for encoding and background work
- Integrated graphics for display output without a graphics card
- 8 performance and 16 efficient cores
Cons
- No cooler in the box
- Costs more than the Ryzen 9 9900X at the time of writing
Premium Pick2 of 4
AMD Ryzen 9 9950X on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The Ryzen 9 9950X gives 16 cores and 32 threads without the X3D premium.
Best for
- Buyers for whom price is not the deciding factor.
Skip if
- Skip it if this is a deal-breaker for you: 170W rating calls for a large air cooler or a 280mm-plus AIO.
Why we like it
It is the better buy when CPU encoding and editing matter more than the last few frames per second. On L3 cache it ties with the Ryzen 9 9900X at 64MB. On boost clock it sits mid-pack at 5.7GHz: the Core i9-14900K offers 6GHz, and the Ryzen 7 9700X comes in at 5.5GHz.
Its 16 cores core count ranks second of 4 here, behind the Core i9-14900K (24 cores) and ahead of the Ryzen 7 9700X (8 cores). Its 170W rated power is the highest in this group; the Ryzen 7 9700X leads at 65W. It shares an AM5 socket with the Ryzen 9 9900X and Ryzen 7 9700X; the Core i9-14900K goes with an LGA1700 socket.
It also offers AMD's recommendation of a liquid cooler. It was the highest-priced of the 4 picks at the time of writing, so the case for it rests on what it adds over the Core i9-14900K and the rest.
Key dimensions & specs
- L3 cache: 64MB
- Max boost: 5.7GHz
- Cores / threads: 16 cores
- Rated power: 170W
- Threads: 32
- Socket: AM5
- Memory: DDR5
- Cooler in box: No
- Integrated graphics: Yes
Pros
- 64MB of L3 cache
- 5.7GHz maximum boost
- 16 cores for encoding and background work
- Integrated graphics for display output without a graphics card
Cons
- 170W rating calls for a large air cooler or a 280mm-plus AIO
- No cooler in the box
- Rated power trails the Ryzen 7 9700X (65W)
Lowest Price Here3 of 4
AMD Ryzen 9 9900X on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The Ryzen 9 9900X steps down to 12 cores on Zen 5.
Best for
- Keeping the budget tight.
Skip if
- Look at the others if this bothers you: no cooler in the box.
Why we like it
It leaves plenty of threads for an encoder alongside a game, with a lower power rating than the 16-core chips. On L3 cache it ties with the Ryzen 9 9950X at 64MB. On boost clock it sits mid-pack at 5.6GHz: the Core i9-14900K offers 6GHz, and the Ryzen 7 9700X comes in at 5.5GHz.
Its 12 cores core count ranks third of 4 here, behind the Core i9-14900K (24 cores) and ahead of the Ryzen 7 9700X (8 cores). Its 120W rated power ranks second of 4 here, behind the Ryzen 7 9700X (65W) and ahead of the Ryzen 9 9950X (170W). It shares an AM5 socket with the Ryzen 9 9950X and Ryzen 7 9700X; the Core i9-14900K goes with an LGA1700 socket. It was the cheapest of the group when we checked; the Ryzen 7 9700X was the next step up.
Key dimensions & specs
- L3 cache: 64MB
- Max boost: 5.6GHz
- Cores / threads: 12 cores
- Rated power: 120W
- Threads: 24
- Socket: AM5
- Memory: DDR5
- Cooler in box: No
- Integrated graphics: Yes
Pros
- 64MB of L3 cache
- 5.6GHz maximum boost
- 12 cores for encoding and background work
- Integrated graphics for display output without a graphics card
Cons
- No cooler in the box
- Boost clock of 5.6GHz, behind the Core i9-14900K (6GHz)
Lowest Rated Power4 of 4
AMD Ryzen 7 9700X on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The Ryzen 7 9700X gives eight Zen 5 cores at a 65W rating without the X3D cache.
Best for
- Buyers who put rated power first.
Skip if
- Worth skipping when no cooler in the bo is a problem.
Why we like it
It is the quieter, cooler-running choice when a build balances games with everyday work. On L3 cache it trails the group at 32MB, while the Ryzen 9 9950X offers 64MB. On boost clock it trails the group at 5.5GHz, while the Core i9-14900K offers 6GHz.
Its 8 cores core count is the lowest in this group; the Core i9-14900K leads at 24 cores. Nothing else here matches its 65W rated power; the Ryzen 9 9900X comes closest at 120W. It shares an AM5 socket with the Ryzen 9 9950X and Ryzen 9 9900X; the Core i9-14900K goes with an LGA1700 socket.
You also get the Zen 5 architecture. It needs an AM5 board (A620, B650, B850, X670 or X870 series) and DDR5 memory; a 600-series board may need a BIOS update first, so check the maker's CPU support list for the minimum version. Its price falls between the Ryzen 9 9900X and the Core i9-14900K, based on our last check.
Key dimensions & specs
- L3 cache: 32MB
- Max boost: 5.5GHz
- Cores / threads: 8 cores
- Rated power: 65W
- Threads: 16
- Socket: AM5
- Memory: DDR5
- Cooler in box: No
- Integrated graphics: Yes
Pros
- 5.5GHz maximum boost
- 65W rating suits a modest air cooler
- Integrated graphics for display output without a graphics card
- The Zen 5 architecture
Cons
- No cooler in the box
- L3 cache trails the Ryzen 9 9950X (64MB)
- Boost clock trails the Core i9-14900K (6GHz)
How We Chose
Each pick was assessed across 4 criteria weighted for real-world use.
- Platform cost
- We noted socket, memory type and whether a cooler is included, since they change the real price.
- Power and cooling
- We recorded each chip's rated power and what cooler class it needs.
- Upgrade path
- We considered how long each socket is likely to receive new CPUs.
- Game-relevant specs
- We compared L3 cache, boost clocks and core counts from AMD's and Intel's product pages.
What to Look for in a CPUs With High Clock Speeds
Key buying criteria so you get the right fit the first time.
How much L3 cache you need
Among these picks, L3 cache runs from 32MB on the Ryzen 7 9700X to 64MB on the Ryzen 9 9950X. Match this to what you will actually do with it, then let price decide between the picks that qualify.
Cache helps games more than clocks
AMD's X3D chips add a large stacked L3 cache that keeps more game data close to the cores. In CPU-limited games that often helps more than a higher boost clock.
The gain shrinks when the graphics card is the limit.
Budget for the cooler
Most unlocked chips ship without a cooler. A 65W part runs well on a basic single tower, while 120W to 170W parts need a dual tower or an AIO to hold their boost clocks.
Add the cooler to the CPU price when comparing.
Check BIOS support before buying
Newer CPUs on older boards may need a BIOS update before the system will start. Check the board's CPU support list for the version you need and whether the board can flash without a CPU installed.
Match the CPU to your graphics card and monitor
At 1440p and 4K the graphics card sets most frame rates, so a mid-range CPU is often enough. At 1080p with a high-refresh monitor, the CPU matters much more.
Spend on the part that limits your games, not on the bigger number.
How to Choose a CPUs With High Clock Speeds
By priority
| Priority | Consider | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Buyers who put boost clock first | Core i9-14900K | The highest boost clock here (6GHz) |
| Buyers for whom price is not the deciding factor | Ryzen 9 9950X | AMD's recommendation of a liquid cooler at the highest price in the group |
| Keeping the budget tight | Ryzen 9 9900X | Undercutting the Ryzen 7 9700X on price when we checked |
| Buyers who put rated power first | Ryzen 7 9700X | The lowest rated power here (65W) |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
Key specs side by side
Figures as each maker states them.
| Processor | L3 cache | Max boost | Cores / threads | Rated power |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Core i9-14900K | 36MB | 6GHz | 24 cores | 125W |
| Ryzen 9 9950X | 64MB | 5.7GHz | 16 cores | 170W |
| Ryzen 9 9900X | 64MB | 5.6GHz | 12 cores | 120W |
| Ryzen 7 9700X | 32MB | 5.5GHz | 8 cores | 65W |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do these processors compare on rated power?
The Ryzen 7 9700X, at 65W. The Ryzen 9 9900X follows at 120W, while the Ryzen 9 9950X has 170W.
Which is the cheapest pick in this guide?
The Ryzen 9 9900X. It undercut the Ryzen 7 9700X when we checked, while the Ryzen 9 9950X cost the most of the group.
What does the rated power figure mean?
It is AMD's default TDP or Intel's base power. Chips can draw more under boost, so size the cooler for sustained loads, not the label alone.
What does X3D mean on a Ryzen CPU?
It marks AMD's 3D V-Cache chips, which stack extra L3 cache on the processor. Games that are limited by the CPU tend to run faster on them.
Is AM4 still worth buying into?
For an upgrade to an existing AM4 system, yes. For a new build, AM5 or LGA1851 gives a longer upgrade path.
Bottom Line
Our first pick is the Core i9-14900K, chosen for the highest boost clock here (6GHz). Look at the Ryzen 9 9950X for AMD's recommendation of a liquid cooler at the highest price in the group, the Ryzen 9 9900X for undercutting the Ryzen 7 9700X on price when we checked and the Ryzen 7 9700X for the lowest rated power here (65W) if those matter more to you.
Peak boost needs cooling headroom; a weak cooler keeps the chip below its rated clock.