System builders are now selling PCs with delidded i9-14900KS CPUs, and so should Intel

Intel should start selling delidded i9-14900KS CPUs

When we reviewed Intel’s new i9-14900KS processor, we found that this CPU ran hot; very hot. To get the most out of Intel’s new flagship CPU, we needed to delid the CPU and utilise EK’s Nucleus CR360 Direct-Die CPU liquid cooler. That’s what we needed to tame this beast. Now, we know that Intel are allowing selected system builders to sell PCs with delidded i9-14900KS CPUs with full warranties. That got us thinking. Why aren’t all i9-14900KS CPUs delidded?

Intel’s i9-14900KS pushes the limits of the company’s Raptor Lake CPU architecture. It can boost to 6.2 GHz, and can draw and huge amount of power under full load. That power draw is what makes this CPU hot under load, so much so that most standard cooling solutions will see this CPU thermal throttle in highly threaded workloads.

We needed to delid our CPU to achieve good thermals with this CPU, and to prevent thermal throttling during testing. Now it looks like Intel’s system building partners are using the same methods to get the most out of Intel’s CPU. This makes us feel that Intel should have been a little more extreme with their i9-14900KS. This CPU should have been made with direct-die cooling in mind.

Direct-die CPU coolers exist for LGA1700, so why can’t pre-delidded processors?

Cooling solutions like EK’s Nucleus CR360 Direct-Die AIO already exist. So it would make some sense for Intel to release a limited run of delidded KS series processors. With direct-die cooling, Intel’s i9-14900KS can really stretch its legs and push ahead of other LGA1700 CPUs. Having the CPU ship delidded also makes the processor feel like a real “Special Edition” product.

If you are buying a KS series CPU from Intel, you are buying it to have the best desktop-class processor that Intel produces. Without direct-die cooling, Intel’s i9-149ooKS is thermally limited. With direct die cooling, users can achieve higher benchmark scores and have additional thermal headroom for overclocking.

(Der8auer first reported on system builders selling systems with delidded i9-14900KS CPUs)

Don’t expect Intel to start selling delidded i9-14900KS CPUs

Let’s face it, Intel are unlikely to release a new version of their i9-14900KS. If you want to delid it, you will probably need to do it yourself or hire another enthusiast to do it for you. What we would like to see is retailers like Overclockers UK and Scan getting a similar deal to Intel’s system building partners. Give them permission to sell delidded i9-14900KS CPUs with full warranties. This would allow customers to buy delidded chips. Perhaps their can be a clause that these CPUs need to be bundles with a direct-die cooling solution, but as mentioned before, such cooling solutions already exist. Come on Intel, give PC enthusiasts this option!

You can join the discussion in Intel allowing PC builders to sell delidded i9-14900KS CPUs with full warranties on the OC3D Forums.