Images of the rumored Intel Core i9 14900KS have surfaced, raising hopes that Intel will unveil this new 6.2GHz chip at CES on Monday.

Images of the processor reportedly first appeared on Chinese messaging platform QQ before being reposted on X (via Sweclockers). There is no way to confirm its authenticity, as the chip's serial number is hidden.

In most respects, the 14900KS is said to be a melon to the existing top Raptor Lake Refresh chip, the Core i9 14900K. It has the same number of cores, the same cache memory, etc.

However, instead of boosting to 6 GHz, the 14900KS extends to 6.2 GHz, thereby becoming the first factory-spec CPU to exceed 6 GHz. One wonders how much this speed increase will cost, but the answer is probably around $110.

Both the existing Core i9 14900K and its predecessor, the Core i9 13900K, have an MSRP of $589, and the 13900KS, which delivers the same 6 GHz as the stock 14900K, has an MSRP of $699. Therefore, the new 6.2 GHz 14900KS is likely to be similarly priced.

For now, these are all just rumors. However, it is very likely that Intel will soon announce a "KS" version of its 14th generation Raptor Lake refresh CPU. And given that the 14900K is already running at 6 GHz, such a chip would have to be above 6 GHz to make sense.

Of course, it is debatable how meaningful such a chip would be, even at 6.2 GHz. A 3% increase in peak clock would be a significant premium to pay, and that is only if the number of threads is low.

Since most modern games now run multiple intensive threads, it is doubtful that the 14900KS will provide any real-world benefit. In fact, even if the full 3% gain in terms of frame rate improvement is realized, it is hardly a bargain given the 20% price increase.

Similarly, this slight clock speed increase in Intel's top chips won't make much difference in the battle against AMD's upcoming Ryzen 8000 CPUs with the new Zen 5 CPU core, due later this year.

The Intel Core i9 14900KS is likely to be more of the same: a classic halo chip from Intel that is more about clockspeed and marketing bragging rights for its own sake than any real benefit to us gamers.