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The Intel Core i9 13900K is a remarkably flexible and powerfull CPU. With its 8 performance and 16 efficiency cores, it is ready to handle any task you throw at it. It is the perfect foundation for a strong PC for years to come with plenty of room for growth in the future.
If you are looking to build your next PC with the Intel Core i9 13900K and are unsure what parts to choose, I’ve got you covered.
In this blog post I have 3 PC builds with this powerfull processor. The first one is the best value 13900k PC build which eventhough is not a budget PC by any means it’s a beast of a machine without overspending.
Then I have the dream PC which is literally the dream for any PC builder who doesn’t care about the cost.
Finally the last PC is ideal for any small form factor lover who wants to utilize the power of the 13900k in a more compact PC.
Best Value 13900k PC Build
CPU: Intel Core i9-13900K | CPU Cooler: Deepcool LT720 | Motherboard: MSI MAG Z790 | Tomahawk WiFi | RAM: G.Skill Trident Z5 32GB | Storage: Samsung 980 Pro 2TB | Video Card: Asus TUF GAMING OC GeForce RTX 4070 | PC Case: Lian Li Lancool III | Power Supply: SeaSonic FOCUS Plus Platinum 750W
My goal here was simple: build a PC that makes sense, and that means squeezing every ounce of performance out of a budget of around $2000. I wanted to put together a PC that could challenge the likes of any high-end machine and still have great room for growth.
At the heart of this entire build is of course the Intel Core i9 13900K. It needs no introduction as it is one of the fastest CPUs on the planet. It doesn’t just outperform everything in gaming but it is also the best CPU if you run a lot of productivity applications.
Now, let’s talk cooling. I’ve got the Deepcool LT720 which not only looks gorgeous with that CPU block cover, but it’s a cooling powerhouse. This 360mm AIO cooler is one of the best performers out there, and it’ll keep that i9 13900K cool even when we’re pushing it to 5.5 GHz on all cores!
Moving on to the motherboard, I’ve picked the MSI MAG Z790 Tomahawk WiFi. Looking into everything that it offers at its price, it’s a no-brainer. The rear I/O is fantastic which includes an HDMI 2.1, DisplayPort 1.4, a 2.5G LAN Port, HD Audio Connectors with Optical S/PDIF out, Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3, and Clear CMOS and Flash BIOS buttons.
For the USB it has 8 type-A and 2 type-C ports (all of them are running at least USB 3.2 speeds).
It is an excellent motherboard and will fulfill all your needs.
For the GPU, I chose the Asus TUF GAMING OC GeForce RTX 4070. It is great for gaming at 1440p and for professional-grade applications. I went with the Asus TUF model because it is one of the best variants of the RTX 4070. It comes overclocked out of the box and operates cool and silent. There isn’t any graphics card that can compete with the RTX 4070 for both gaming as well as professional usage at its price.
Speaking of productivity, I built this system with a total of 32 GB of DDR5 RAM. That is plenty for gaming, video editing, and other professional applications. I went with a kit of G.Skill Trident Z5 which comes with 2 sticks of 16 GB DDR5 rated at 6400 MT/s and CL32. It’s reliable, fast, and makes the most sense at this budget.
Now, as much as I’d love PCIe 5.0 SSDs, they’re not quite here yet. So, I’ve gone with the cream of the crop PCIe 4.0 SSD – the Samsung 980 Pro 2TB NVMe M.2 SSD. It operates at lightning-fast speeds of 7000 MB/s and that 2GB DDR4 cache keeps this drive as snappy as ever.
Powering this beast is the SeaSonic FOCUS Plus Platinum 750W. Plenty of juice for the entire system, and it’s rated at 80+ platinum efficiency. What does that mean? Well, it’s going to run quietly and at 90% efficiency under any load.
Finally, I’ve housed this PC in the Lian Li Lancool III ATX tower case. It’s roomy and can even handle an E-ATX motherboard if you’re feeling fancy. With four pre-installed 140mm fans and ample space for cable management, it’s a PC builder’s dream.
To sum it up, this PC is a gaming and productivity powerhouse, perfect for 1440p gaming even with ultra settings. However, where the i9 13900K shines is in its computational power and this PC is perfect for those who want to prioritize their budget on CPU performance.
The Dream 13900k PC Build!
CPU: Intel Core i9-13900K | CPU Cooler: Deepcool LT720 | Motherboard: ASUS ROG Maximus Z790 Hero | RAM: G.Skill Trident Z DDR5 128GB | Storage: 2X Samsung 980 Pro 2TB & Western Digital Black SN850X 4TB | Video Card: MSI Suprim X RTX 4090 | PC Case: Lancool III | Power Supply: be quiet! Dark Power Pro 1300-watt
If I were to build the ultimate PC in 2023, capable of handling any task thrown at it, then I’d undoubtedly opt for this beast.
With a budget of around $5200 it’s designed to excel in everything, whether it’s gaming, streaming, 3D modeling, or virtualization.
The Intel Core i9 13900K is the obvious choice for anyone looking to build the ultimate powerhouse. No lags or hitches here when pushing this machine to the limit.
For the motherboard, I went all out and paired the i9 13900K with the ASUS ROG Maximus Z790 Hero. This motherboard is the cream of the crop for Intel Z790, offering all the features you could ever want. The rear I/O is packed with goodness, including 2 Thunderbolt 4 ports, gold-plated audio jacks, CMOS clear, and BIOS flash buttons, along with WiFi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3 wireless connectivity. Not to mention, it boasts a debug LED for detailed troubleshooting, and its VRMs are overpowered with a 20+1-phase configuration.
Now, let’s talk about cooling. I’ve chosen the Deepcool LT720, hailed as one of the best AIOs in the market. It’s a 360mm AIO with three included fans, and it’s known for its fantastic build quality. With this cooler, I expect the Core i9 to comfortably stay above 5.5 GHz on all cores, and maintain temperatures under 70 degrees Celsius even under heavy loads.
Moving on to RAM, I opted for the reliable G.Skill Trident Z DDR5. I needed a RAM kit that’s both fast and doesn’t compromise on latency and stability. For this PC, I went all out with four sticks of 32 GB DDR5, totaling a whopping 128 GB RAM configuration clocked at 6400 MT/s and a CAS latency of 32 ns. That might seem like overkill, but it’s a necessity for memory-intensive tasks like running multiple virtual machines or complex simulations.
Now, for storage, I chose the crème de la crème – The Samsung 980 Pro and the Western Digital Black SN850X. You might be wondering why I didn’t go for the 990 Pro or a PCIe Gen 5.0 SSD. Well, the 990 Pro, while the fastest PCIe 4.0 SSD, has a high failure rate, and there are no worthwhile PCIe Gen 5.0 SSDs available in the market at the moment. So, I went with two 2TB 980 Pro, one for the OS, one as a scratch disk, and a 4 TB Western Digital Black SN850X for storage.
Now, for the GPU, there’s only one choice – the Nvidia Geforce RTX 4090, arguably the best GPU on the planet. I specifically chose the MSI Suprim X variant for its top-tier cooling and PCB quality. It’s simply perfect for both gaming and productivity applications.
Powering this entire beast is the “be quiet! Dark Power Pro 1300-watt” power supply unit. It’s one of the best ATX 3.0 80+ Titanium PSUs, providing ample room even for a second graphics card.
Lastly, I wanted a case that does it all, and I found that in the Lancool III. It’s the spiritual successor to the Corsair 4000D Airflow, offering ample space for full-sized 360mm AIOs and even E-ATX motherboards. It’s challenging to find a case that outperforms the Corsair 4000D, but the Lancool III improves upon its strengths, making the PC building process more enjoyable.
The easily removable front panel, which can be mounted in reverse, is a standout feature, and it comes with three 140mm fans preinstalled on the front panel and one on the back for exhaust.
In conclusion, this Intel Core i9 13900K PC stands as the embodiment of elite computing in 2023. It excels in any task thrown its way.
This is my current dream PC, packed with everything you’d expect from a top-tier, no-compromises system. I carefully selected these parts, and I believe this PC leaves little to no room to build a more powerful rig.
For now, more RAM and SSDs are unnecessary and a testament to how powerful this PC already is.
Best Small Form Factor 13900K PC Build
CPU: Intel Core i9-13900K | Motherboard: Asus ROG STRIX Z790-I GAMING WIFI | RAM: G.Skill Trident Z5 32GB | Storage: Samsung 980 Pro 2TB | https://amzn.to/3Lxvona Video Card: Sapphire Nitro+ RX 7900 XTX | PC Case, Power Supply & CPU cooler: CoolerMaster NR200P Max
If you’re a fan of small form factor PCs and crave uncompromising performance, look no further than this ITX PC featuring the Intel Core i9 13900K and RX 7900 XTX.
Before we dive into the rest of the PC, I want to draw your attention to the most important component that makes all of this possible – The CoolerMaster NR200P Max. Building an ITX PC can be a challenge because you never quite know how compatible or user-friendly the components will be. Nothing is worse than buying a part only for it to not fit in your case.
To tackle this challenge head-on, I opted for the NR200P Max because it comes as a complete kit. This kit includes not only the case itself but also a 240mm AIO water cooler and an 850W Gold-rated fully modular power supply.
The included AIO cooler is exceptional and can efficiently keep the i9 13900K cool even during long gaming sessions or intense workloads. The 850W power supply is a high-quality CoolerMaster V850 unit, capable of powering the i9 along with an RTX 4090 at maximum load.
What’s truly remarkable is that you don’t need to worry about compatibility issues with this case. This could very well become a growing trend where ITX case manufacturers start shipping these three components as kits, and I think that’s fantastic. It eliminates the hassle and uncertainty when building ITX systems, as choosing the right cooler and power supply is often the most challenging task.
I’m delighted that CoolerMaster is leading the way toward this future with the NR200P Max. It not only has excellent airflow but also virtually eliminates compatibility issues. Notably, it can even house a full-sized 3-slot graphics card up to 336mm in length and 140mm in height.
Speaking of graphics cards, I’ve selected the Sapphire Nitro+ RX 7900 XTX for this ITX PC. If you’re seeking top-tier gaming performance, the RX 7900 XTX is the one to get. It offers superb value at the high end and matches the 24 GB VRAM offered by the RTX 4090.
The Sapphire Nitro+ has the absolute best cooler for any AMD graphics card. I always go for this because, among other RX 7900 XTX variants, it has exceptional cooling and protective fuses. These fuses act as the first line of defense against power surges, preventing damage to the PCB, VRAM, and GPU core. It’s a feature I wish more graphics card makers would adopt.
For the motherboard, the Asus ROG STRIX Z790-I GAMING WIFI is the clear choice. Asus takes mini ITX seriously and it shows here as well. The ROG Strix 790-I boasts an excellent rear I/O, including 2 Thunderbolt 4 ports. However, there are only 5 USB type-A ports, so you’ll need to use the front header to connect additional USB devices.
To fit more of the rear I/O, Asus includes the ROG STRIX HIVE. It is basically an extension that has a volume control dial along with the rest of the I/O. That includes the audio jacks, BIOS flash button, and more USB ports.
As for RAM, I’ve gone with a total of 32 GB, which is more than sufficient for gaming and professional applications. I’ve opted for a kit of G.Skill Trident Z5, consisting of 2 sticks of 16 GB DDR5 rated at 6400 MT/s and CL32.
When it comes to storage, I’ve chosen the best PCIe 4.0 SSD for our build – the Samsung 980 Pro 2 TB NVMe M.2 SSD. It’s one of the fastest drives on the market, and the 2 GB DDR4 cache ensures consistent performance.
Overall for an estimated budget of around $2700 this PC costs roughly the same as building a full-sized tower, yet it occupies a significantly smaller footprint.
Conclusion
In wrapping up our deep dive into the best Intel Core i9 13900K PC builds, it’s evident that this processor is a force to be reckoned with. Whether you’re after the best bang for your buck, aiming for the absolute pinnacle of PC performance, or seeking a compact powerhouse, there’s a build here tailored just for you.
The power and versatility of the 13900K is undeniably its selling point, effortlessly handling both gaming and productivity tasks.
For those on a moderate budget, the Best Value 13900K PC Build showcases how you can achieve fantastic performance without splurging exorbitantly.
On the other hand, the Dream 13900K PC Build represents the epitome of computing in 2023 – a no-holds-barred machine with top-tier components at every turn.
But if space-saving is a priority, the Best Small Form Factor 13900K PC Build ensures no compromises in performance, packing a punch in a neat, compact design.
Whatever your needs and preferences, the Intel Core i9 13900K provides a solid foundation, ensuring a smooth and powerful computing experience for years to come.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- Is the Intel Core i9 13900K suitable for beginners? Yes, the Intel Core i9 13900K is user-friendly and is well-suited for both beginners and experienced PC enthusiasts. Its versatility ensures a smooth experience across various tasks.
- Are there alternatives to the Intel Core i9 13900K? Certainly! While the Intel Core i9 13900K is top-tier, there are other powerful intel processors like the i7 13700k. You can also go with the AMD Ryzen 9 7950x or 7950x3D that also offer robust performance. Your choice depends on brand preference and specific needs.
- Do I need a dedicated GPU with the i9 13900K for basic tasks? No, for general tasks like browsing or document editing, the i9 13900K’s integrated graphics should suffice. However, for gaming or professional applications, a dedicated GPU is recommended.
- How future-proof is the i9 13900K? Given its advanced architecture and high performance, the i9 13900K should remain relevant and powerful for several years, making it a solid long-term investment.
- Is liquid cooling mandatory for the Intel Core i9 13900K? While not mandatory, liquid cooling is recommended for those who intend to overclock or push their i9 13900K to its limits to ensure optimal temperatures.
- How does the i9 13900K fare in terms of power consumption? The i9 13900K is efficient for its performance bracket. However, as a high-end CPU, it will consume more power than entry-level or mid-range CPUs.
- Can I use older motherboards with the i9 13900K? Any LGA 1700 600/700 Series chipsets can support the i9 13900K however to get the best of it a high-end Z790 motherboard is recommended.
- Is the i9 13900K suitable for 4K gaming? Yes, paired with a capable GPU, the i9 13900K can handle 4K gaming efficiently, delivering smooth frame rates and high-quality visuals.
- What’s the primary difference between the value and dream builds? The main distinction lies in the performance and budget. While the value build aims to deliver optimal performance without overspending, the dream build represents the highest-end components available, regardless of cost.
- Are there any specific maintenance tips for PCs with the i9 13900K? Regularly cleaning the PC internals, ensuring proper ventilation, and monitoring temperatures are key. For those overclocking, regular stability tests are also essential to maintain optimal performance.
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