In a surprising turn of events on March 17th, Intel has ventured into the realm of delidding processors, a practice previously reserved for the most experienced enthusiasts. Striking deals behind closed doors with select system vendors, Intel has authorized the sale of delidded i9-14900KS processors, coupled with an official warranty.
In select high-end desktop configurations from Maingear in the United States, you can opt for the unlocked i9-14900KS processor, which promises enhanced performance and better heat dissipation. However, it's not explicitly stated whether liquid metal has been applied.
Of course, this upgrade comes at a price. Upgrading from the standard i9-14900KS to the unlocked i9-14900KS will set you back an additional $200 USD (approximately ¥1440 RMB), while upgrading from the i9-14900K to the unlocked i9-14900KS will cost $342 USD (approximately ¥2460 RMB), bringing the total price to $5681 USD (approximately ¥40880 RMB).
It remains unclear whether these unlocked i9-14900KS processors are provided directly by Intel or if they have been modified by the manufacturer.
Interestingly, despite being a high-performance machine, the highest available graphics card is only the RTX 4080 SUPER, with no option for the RTX 4090.