It may come as no surprise that Intel is releasing a new low-power version of its 13th generation chips: the new 65W version of the Raptor Lake processors promises to deliver nearly the same specs as its higher-power counterparts, albeit at a modest clock speed to keep system demands low. The new 65W version of the Raptor Lake processors promise to offer about the same specifications as their higher-power counterparts, albeit at a slower clock speed to keep system demands low. In other words, it is these chips that will be used in less expensive 13th generation gaming PCs in the future.

In terms of expected differences, there is, for example, the Core i9 13900. This chip has the same eight performance cores and 16 efficient cores as the K-series Core i9 13900K (open in new tab). However, the Core i9 13900 boost clock is 5.6 GHz, 200 MHz slower than the full-fat Core i9 13900K and the same as the mobile Core i9 13980HX (opens in new tab).

Other than that, all the benefits of the Raptor Lake architecture are here. This chip seems to be just right for the K-series SKUs.

Anything to keep costs down; the Core i9 13900 will cost about $40 less than the Core i9 13900K at retail, according to Intel's own recommended pricing. However, we often see the Core i9 13900K selling for much more than the recommended price, so be prepared for the possibility that it may cost a little more than the asking price.

If you really want to save money, you should look for the Core i9 13900F, which has the same chip as the Core i9 13900 and no onboard graphics. At this price, one would hope that it does.

Most of the 13th generation lineup has a graphics-less version of the F series, so any budget can save some money. In any case, we hope for the best. Currently, the 13th generation generally tends to be higher than MSRP, but with this influx of new chips and generally affordable 600 series motherboards, I expect the overall build cost to come down.

One chip I am really looking forward to is the Core i5 13400F, which at $196 looks like a gaming and productivity chip.

Lower power consumption also helps minimize costs. Lower power consumption means less wasted heat output, meaning that while a large liquid cooler may have been necessary for the K-series SKUs, an inexpensive cooler will suffice.

As we have mentioned, these low-power CPUs tend to be found in pre-built PCs here and there. So if you are interested, expect these PCs to start arriving shortly.

The other inexpensive chips Intel is announcing today are the T-series, which are 35W parts, almost identical to the 13th generation desktop lineup. However, these chips are not cheaper than the 65W parts and are not for us gamers.

There is another Core i3 N series processor for desktops. Not long ago Intel discontinued the Pentium (open in new tab) and Celeron brands, replacing them initially with the Intel Processor brand only. Now, under the Core i3 N-series chips, similar entry-level spec chips have been added. These chips are a bit more powerful than standard Intel processors, but make no mistake, we still want something fast for gaming.