19score
#94 of 555
Overall rank

Core i9-9980XE

18 cores · 36 threads · up to 4.5 GHz on FCLGA2066.

2.6 · 16 votes

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Cores
18
Threads
36
Boost
4.5 GHz
L3 cache
24.75 MB
TDP
165W
Socket
FCLGA2066

Performance breakdown

Gaming19
Productivity20
Single-core20
Multi-core75
Power efficiency16

Lab scores

Performance score19
Cores18
Threads36
Boost clock (GHz)4.5 GHz

Estimated gaming FPS

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

1080p42 fps
1440p33 fps
4K23 fps

Full specifications

Processor & cores
Architecture
Skylake (server)
Process node
14 nm
Socket
FCLGA2066
Release year
2018
Total cores
18
Threads
36
Clocks & cache
Base clock
3.0 GHz
Boost clock
4.5 GHz
Multiplier
30 (unlocked)
L1 cache
1.125 KB
L2 cache
18 MB
L3 cache
24.75 MB
Memory & platform
Memory support
DDR4
Max capacity
128 GB
Channels
4
Max bandwidth
85.33 GB/s
Base power (TDP)
165W
Max temperature
84°C
PCIe
PCIe 3.0
Launch price
$1979
Technologies
Instruction sets
SSE4.1, SSE4.2, AVX2, AVX-512
Extensions
AES-NI, AVX, AMD-V, VT-x, VT-d, Turbo Boost Max 3.0, TSX
Community Feedback

What Owners Say

Owners love the insane multi-threaded grunt for heavy workloads. The usual gripe is the massive heat output and power draw, plus the sky-high price tag.

Pros
  • Heats up a large room easily
  • Great for heavy spreadsheet work
  • Handles huge video projects well
  • Still runs demanding games fine
Cons
  • Awful power efficiency for its age
  • Huge motherboard and cooler costs
  • Gets crushed by modern mid-range chips
Verdict

Our verdict on the Core i9-9980XE

Intel's i9-9980XE is a massive, hot-running HEDT chip that trades away gaming speed for extreme multi-threaded workstation grunt.

Get it if you need top-tier multi-threaded performance for heavy workstation tasks like video rendering or 3D modeling. Skip it if you're a gamer or on a budget, as modern mid-range CPUs offer better value and gaming performance for less.

Buy it if…

  • You want maximum multi-core power for a workstation build.
  • You are fine with high power draw and a massive cooler.
  • You need a lot of PCIe lanes for multiple GPUs or drives.
2.6

16 votes

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