Intel Core i9 9980XE 18-core LGA2011
The 18-core, 36-thread design with a 4.4GHz boost clock and quad-channel DDR4 memory delivers strong parallel throughput for heavily threaded workloads. Its unlocked multiplier on the LGA 2066 socket allows for overclocking headroom, though it is constrained by a 165W TDP and the older 14nm Skylake-X architecture. This processor is best for users running multi-threaded rendering or virtualization tasks on an existing X299 motherboard who prioritize core count over single-threaded speed or gaming performance.
No current retailer price
Snapshot
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Strong ai (90th percentile) 90th
- Strong multi thread (87th percentile) 87th
- Strong platform (82nd percentile) 82nd
- Strong efficiency (75th percentile) 75th
Cons
What owners think
How owner sentiment changed over time
ExclusiveBased on when customers actually wrote their reviews - so you can see whether early praise held up.
Based on 12 dated customer reviews, grouped by calendar quarter. Period analysis is in English.
The proof
Performance
Specifications
Full Specifications
Processor
| Brand | Intel |
| Series | Core i9 |
| Model | 9980XE |
| Codename | Skylake X |
| Class | desktop |
| Process | 14 |
Cores & Clocks
| Cores | 18 |
| Threads | 36 |
| Base Clock | 3000 |
| Boost Clock | 4400 |
Cache
| L2 Cache | 18 |
| L3 Cache | 24.75 MB |
Performance
| PassMark Multi | 31508 |
| PassMark Single | 2555 |
Memory
| Memory Type | DDR4 |
| Max Speed | 2666 |
| Channels | 4 |
Platform & Power
| Socket | LGA2066 |
| PCIe | 3 |
| PCIe Lanes | 48 |
| TDP | 165 |
| Unlocked | Yes |
vs Competition
| Spec | Intel Core i9 9980XE | AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D | CG CHIPS GATE EPYC 6GK7443-1EX30-0XE0 1PC New 6GK7443-1EX30-0XE0 Communications Processor | HP Xeon P67080-B21 | G.Skill Trident Z Neo | Lenovo Ryzen 5 Sparepart: |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cores | 18 | 8 | 24 | 16 | 6 | 6 |
| Threads | 36 | 16 | 48 | 32 | 12 | 12 |
| Boost Clock Mhz | 4400 | 5200 | 4000 | 3900 | 4200 | 4000 |
| L3 Cache Mb | 24.75 | 96 | 128 | 37.5 | 32 | 8 |
| Tdp W | 165 | 120 | 200 | 195 | 65 | 15 |
| Socket | LGA2066 | AM5 | AMD Socket SP3 | LGA 4677 | AMD Socket AM4 | AM4 |
| Integrated Graphics | - | AMD Radeon Graphics | - | No | - | AMD Integrated Graphics |
| Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare |
| Product | AI | Feature | Platform | Efficiency | Multi Thread | Social Proof | Single Thread |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Intel Core i9 9980XE | 89.7 | 62.2 | 82.3 | 74.9 | 87.2 | 73.1 | 71.8 |
| AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D Compare | 91.2 | 98.4 | 95.1 | 87.5 | 90 | 96.5 | 95.6 |
| CG CHIPS GATE EPYC 6GK7443-1EX30-0XE0 1PC New 6GK7443-1EX30-0XE0 Communications Processor Compare | 94.7 | 76.8 | 84 | 83.7 | 94.4 | 38.3 | 80.1 |
| HP Xeon P67080-B21 Compare | 91.7 | 76.8 | 90.6 | 78 | 90.8 | 1.5 | 80.3 |
| G.Skill Trident Z Neo Compare | 72.4 | 87 | 78.2 | 82.9 | 73.4 | 1.5 | 72.3 |
| Lenovo Ryzen 5 Sparepart: Compare | 63.9 | 54.4 | 56.6 | 99.2 | 64.6 | 11.8 | 66.2 |
Price
Value & Pricing
We started tracking prices for this product on Jun 10, 2026. The chart appears once we have more data.
Usage Scores
A full written review is coming soon. The specs, scores, prices and charts above are always up to date.
