Intel BX80673I99940X

The Core i9-9940X is a 14-core Skylake-X chip that still delivers strong multi-threaded performance, landing in the 83rd percentile of our database. It's a great drop-in upgrade for existing X299 owners who need 44 PCIe lanes and quad-channel memory. But single-thread performance is dated, the Meltdown vulnerability is unfixed, and pricing is wildly inconsistent across vendors. Buy it used, buy it cheap, and only if you already own the platform.

Let's talk numbers. The 28,043 multi-thread PassMark score puts this chip in the 83rd percentile of everything we track. That's genuinely strong for a six-year-old processor. The 14 cores and 28 threads chew through renders, encodes, and compiles without breaking a sweat. If you're coming from an older quad-core like the 4770, the jump is going to feel absurd. Users consistently mention fast 4K video rendering and smooth 3D modeling, and the numbers back that up.

Single-thread is a different story. 2,608 puts it at the 73rd percentile, which sounds okay until you realize that's against a database that includes plenty of older chips. The 4.4GHz boost clock helps, but Skylake's IPC is what it is. Games and lightly-threaded apps won't feel bad, but they won't feel modern either. The 165W TDP is also worth noting. It's not outrageous for 14 cores, but you'll want a decent cooler. Users report low temperatures under load with proper cooling, which is a nice surprise for a chip this dense.

The Ryzen 7 9800X3D is the obvious modern alternative. It's faster in single-thread, vastly more efficient, and sits on a platform with actual upgrade paths. But it gives you fewer cores and fewer PCIe lanes. If your workload is gaming or lightly-threaded productivity, the 9800X3D is the clear winner. The 9940X only pulls ahead when you need 14 cores and 44 lanes without spending server money.

The D&H Core i9 BX80673I99980X is the bigger sibling, with more cores and a higher price tag. If you're already committed to X299 and need maximum multi-threaded performance, the 9980XE is worth a look. The HPE Xeon P67080-B21 and the EPYC 6GK7443 are server parts, which means ECC support and different platform costs entirely. They're not really competitors for a desktop workstation build, but they show up in our database because people cross-shop them. For most buyers, the real decision is between this and a modern Ryzen or Core i5/i7, and the 9940X only wins on core count per dollar in the used market.

Here's where things get weird. The USD listing sits at $1,280, but the EUR listings range from EUR 2,368 to EUR 3,749 across ES and FR. That's a EUR 1,381 spread between vendors, which is frankly ridiculous. The best deal in EUR comes from the lower end of that range, but even then you're paying a premium for old silicon. The CAD listing at CAD 3,519 and GBP at GBP 1,974 don't make the picture any prettier.

For context, a modern Ryzen 7 9800X3D absolutely destroys this chip in single-thread and gaming while sipping power. The 9940X only makes sense if you specifically need the PCIe lanes and quad-channel memory on a budget, and even then, you should be shopping used. Paying anywhere near the top of that EUR range is a mistake. This chip's value proposition lives entirely in the used market, and the 55/100 budget score in our database reflects that.

The Core i9-9940X is one of those chips that made sense in a very specific moment. Back when Skylake-X ruled the high-end desktop space, this 14-core monster was the answer for people who needed serious multi-threaded grunt without jumping to a full server platform. It sits on LGA2066, which means you're also getting quad-channel DDR4 and a pile of PCIe lanes, two things that matter a lot for workstation builds. But time has not been kind to this platform, and buying one in 2024 means you're making some real trade-offs.

Who is this for? Honestly, someone who already owns an X299 motherboard and wants a drop-in upgrade. Or someone building a used workstation on a budget who needs lots of cores and PCIe connectivity for things like video editing, 3D rendering, or virtualization. The 44 PCIe lanes are a big deal if you're running multiple GPUs, NVMe drives, or capture cards. Most mainstream platforms give you half that.

The elephant in the room is that this is a 14nm Skylake part from 2018. Single-thread performance lands at 2,608 in PassMark, which puts it in the 73rd percentile of our database. That's fine, but a modern mid-range chip will embarrass it in lightly-threaded tasks. The multi-core score of 28,043 is where it earns its keep, landing in the 83rd percentile. For heavily parallel workloads, this thing still has legs.

If you're building a new system for gaming or general productivity, skip this. The single-thread score of 2,608 is fine but not impressive, and a modern Ryzen 7 9800X3D or Core i7 will run circles around it in lightly-threaded tasks while using less power. You'd also be locking yourself into a dead platform with no upgrade path.

Security-conscious buyers should also look elsewhere. The Meltdown vulnerability is not fixed in silicon, which means you're relying on software mitigations that can impact performance. If you handle sensitive data or just don't want to think about speculative execution attacks, a modern chip with hardware fixes is the better call. And if you're on a tight budget, the 55/100 affordability score tells the story. This chip only makes sense at a steep discount on the used market.

If you already own an X299 board and you're still running something like a 7800X or 7820X, the 9940X is a fantastic drop-in upgrade. The multi-threaded performance jump is huge, and you get to keep your existing memory and cooling setup. For video editors, 3D artists, and streamers who need lots of cores and PCIe lanes, this chip still delivers. Just make sure you're buying from a seller with a good return policy, because DOA units are a real concern.

For everyone else, think twice. Building a new system around LGA2066 in 2024 is a tough sell. The platform is dead, the single-thread performance is dated, and the Meltdown vulnerability is still there in silicon. You'd be better off with a modern Ryzen 7 or Core i7 for most workloads. The 9940X is a niche pick for a niche audience, and that's okay. Just know what you're getting into.