Intel has greenlit the release of a “delidded” iteration of the Core i9-14900KS through its PC partners, complete with a warranty, as confirmed by a company representative on Friday. Initial reports regarding this alternative surfaced on YouTube through Roman ‘der8auer’ Hartung’s channel, subsequently gaining traction with coverage on Tom’s Hardware.
Typically, CPUs are shipped as enclosed chips, occasionally bundled with a PC cooling solution within the packaging. However, “delidding” represents a more drastic approach, involving the extraction of the processor package and heat sink to expose the die directly. This procedure is rarely undertaken by consumers or enthusiasts due to the inherent risk of exposing the delicate processor die to potential damage. Nevertheless, it permits the utilization of more potent cooling solutions, enabling the chip to operate at heightened speeds. This development comes at an opportune moment, with Intel’s latest chip having already been overclocked from its stock speed of 6.2GHz to an impressive 8.8GHz.
An Intel spokesperson elaborated via email, stating, “Intel is collaborating with a select group of partners to offer support for delidded i9-14900KS-powered systems with a one-year limited warranty.” Notably, no other Intel Core SKUs, including standalone i9-14900KS box/tray units, qualify for delidded warranty support.
The specifics regarding the warranty coverage remain undisclosed. While Intel previously provided warranty support for overclocking through its Performance Tuning Protection Plan, this initiative was discontinued in 2021. Additionally, Intel has refrained from disclosing the identities of its partnering firms. However, reports from Tom’s Hardware suggest that Maingear is among them. According to Hot Hardware, the additional cost for this delidded version is anticipated to be $247: $200 for the chip and an extra $47 for an upgraded cooler.