All cpus get more efficient with powerlimit, undervolt etc. Try doing the same on a 7950X, except for at 35W (due to IO-die pulling 20-30W) I bet it would beat the 14900K easy at all orher powerlevels. I tried limiting my 7800X3D at -30CO to 56W. Still getting 17100 in CB23 vs 18600 WO limit at 85W. That 8s about 50% more efficient. I look forward to intel getting on smaller nodes than 10nm
MX-6 is not that much better, maybe 1-2C. I use MX-4 and MX-6 exclusively and 6 is 2-3C better usually.
56 W is standard/stock usage for 7800X3D, 85 W isn't really reached in normal usage in my experience, so what you really did is undervolt/overclock your chip, i.e. change the voltage curve. Which is also possible on any other CPU, as you've said. For example my own 7800X3D has a non stock voltage curve, but I've kept stock voltages and instead modified the frequency through BCLK OC.
Regardless, as others have said, there's the non-K series chips to use if you care about efficiency. What this model does is offer
choice. People who want to reach for the best
performance have the option to buy a prebinned CPU that meets their needs. This is something I think Intel does better than AMD, offer choices for more than one mindset.
Cooling/wattage is a non issue if you have the appropriate hardware. Besides, under a 360 mm standard AIO the KS can draw almost 400 W at 85 C, whereas the 7950X hits 95 C just using PBO at around 100-150 W. This isn't an argument for or against either CPU, it's just an observation for the benefit of those who think high wattage means impossible to cool, or that VRMs that have the hardware to deliver ampage/wattage far in excess of ~500 W would somehow burn down if you overclocked a KS.
Intel may be launching its enthusiast-segment desktop processor, the Core i9-14900KS Special Edition next week, but the chip is already in the hands of several elite overclockers, such as Pakhtunov from OCN. Once he got his hands on one of these, Pakhtunov wasted little time in de-lidding the...
www.techpowerup.com
85 C stock, 75 C delidded.