Intel's Core i9-14900KS processor goes on sale today, with the ability to hit a 6.2GHz max clock speed. But apparently the chip can also reach 9.1GHz—if you have some liquid helium on hand.
On Thursday, Asus and the PC overclockers at ElmorLabs announced they were able to briefly break the 9.1GHz barrier using Intel’s newest desktop processor, a new world record.
Back in December 2022, Jon Sandström, the founder of ElmorLabs, was able reach a 9,008MHz clock speed using Intel’s Core i9-13900K. Now he and his team achieved a slightly higher speed—9,117.75MHz—using the new chip.
To pull off the feat, Sandström installed the Intel processor on the $649 Asus ROG Maximum Z790 Apex Encore motherboard. He also ditched liquid nitrogen, the usual cooling agent that overclockers use when running a PC chip beyond the normal limits — a process that generates immense heat. Instead, his team resorted to liquid helium, which can reach even colder temperatures, giving them a better shot at reaching a higher speed.
ElmorLabs posted a video of the event, which shows the team funneling the liquid helium into a cooling pot that sat atop a Core i9-14900KS processor. Meanwhile, a fan blows away the ensuing smoke. The liquid helium causes the PC to boot up Windows at an icy cold -193 degrees Celsius (-315.4 Fahrenheit). The temperatures then dips lower, reaching -231 degrees Celsius as the Intel chip reaches the 9.1GHz barrier on one of its performance cores.
According to a separate benchmark, the remaining seven performance cores ran at 3.2GHz.