Core i9-9900KS

Name: Intel Core i9-9900KS
Brand: Intel
Rating: 3.7 (20 reviews)

8 cores · 16 threads · up to 5.0 GHz on FCLGA1151.

3.7 · 20 votes

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Cores

Threads

Boost

5.0 GHz

L3 cache

16 MB

TDP

127W

Socket

FCLGA1151

Performance breakdown

Gaming12

Productivity11

Single-core12

Multi-core33

Power efficiency10

Lab scores

Performance score12

Cores8

Threads16

Boost clock (GHz)5.0 GHz

Estimated gaming FPS

Paired with a high-end GPU. CPU impact is largest at 1080p.

1080p26 fps

1440p21 fps

4K14 fps

Full specifications

Processor & cores

Architecture: Coffee Lake-R
Process node: 14 nm
Socket: FCLGA1151
Release year: 2019
Total cores: 8
Threads: 16
Integrated graphics: Intel UHD Graphics 630

Clocks & cache

Base clock: 4.0 GHz
Boost clock: 5.0 GHz
Multiplier: 40 (unlocked)
L1 cache: 512 KB
L2 cache: 2 MB
L3 cache: 16 MB

Memory & platform

Memory support: DDR4
Max capacity: 128 GB
Channels: 2
Max bandwidth: 42.671 GB/s
Base power (TDP): 127W
Max temperature: 100°C
PCIe: PCIe 3.0
Launch price: $513

Technologies

Instruction sets: SSE4.1, SSE4.2, AVX2
Extensions: AES-NI, AVX, AMD-V, VT-x, VT-d, TXT, TSX

Community Feedback

What Owners Say

Owners love the extreme out-of-box speed for gaming and everyday tasks. The usual gripe is the high heat output, needing a very strong cooler to avoid throttling.

Pros

Sips power under light loads
Plays games without stuttering
Stays cool with decent air cooling
Handles heavy multitasking without drama

Cons

Runs hot under heavy load
Needs a high-end cooler
Very expensive for its age

Verdict

Our verdict on the Core i9-9900KS

Intel's 9900KS is a special edition chip that wrings every last bit of speed out of its all-core turbo, but it runs hot and thirsty to get there.

Get it if you're a competitive gamer on Z390 who wants the fastest stock gaming chip without overclocking. Skip it if you need more than eight threads or run heavy productivity tasks—a newer CPU will beat it easily.