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Core i9-9990XE
14 cores · 28 threads · up to 4.0 GHz on 2066.
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Cores
14
Threads
28
Boost
4.0 GHz
L3 cache
19.25 MB
TDP
255W
Socket
2066
Performance breakdown
Gaming18
Productivity17
Single-core19
Multi-core58
Power efficiency15
Lab scores
Performance score18
Cores14
Threads28
Boost clock (GHz)4.0 GHz
Estimated gaming FPS
Paired with a high-end GPU. CPU impact is largest at 1080p.
1080p40 fps
1440p32 fps
4K22 fps
Full specifications
Processor & cores
- Architecture
- Skylake (server)
- Process node
- 14 nm
- Socket
- 2066
- Release year
- 2019
- Total cores
- 14
- Threads
- 28
Clocks & cache
- Base clock
- 4.0 GHz
- Boost clock
- 4.0 GHz
- Multiplier
- 40 (unlocked)
- L1 cache
- 896 KB
- L2 cache
- 14 MB
- L3 cache
- 19.25 MB
Memory & platform
- Memory support
- DDR4
- Max capacity
- 128 GB
- Channels
- 4
- Max bandwidth
- 85.33 GB/s
- Base power (TDP)
- 255W
- PCIe
- PCIe 3.0
- Launch price
- $2800
Technologies
- Extensions
- AES-NI, AVX, VT-x, VT-d, TSX
Community Feedback
What Owners Say
Owners love the raw multi-threaded muscle for heavy workstation tasks. The usual gripe is the extreme power draw and heat, demanding a monster cooler and PSU.
Pros
- Crushes heavily threaded workstation tasks
- Stays stable under extreme all-core loads
- Works with existing high-end motherboard
- Handles professional rendering without hiccups
Cons
- Extreme power draw under full load
- Requires expensive liquid cooling
- No real overclocking headroom
Verdict
Our verdict on the Core i9-9990XE
A 2019 server-derived desktop chip with extreme core counts, but crippled by a stratospheric 255W power draw and niche platform.
Get it if you need a server-grade CPU for a workstation and can handle the extreme cooling and power demands. Skip it if you want modern features like PCIe 4.0 or anything close to efficient for gaming.
Buy it if…
- You need maximum multi-threaded performance for heavy professional workloads like 3D rendering or video encoding.
- You are building a workstation around a high-end desktop platform and need every last core available.
- You want the best possible CPU for a server-grade home lab without stepping into dual-socket territory.
Leaderboard
Its place in the overall top
3.7
11 votes
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