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Intel Launches New Core i9-9980XE 18-Core CPU With 4.5GHz Boost Clock (hothardware.com)
MojoKid writes: When Intel officially announced its 9th Generation Core processors, it used the opportunity to also unveil a refreshed line-up of 9th Gen-branded Core-X series processors. Unlike other 9th Gen Core i products, however, which leverage an updated Coffee Lake microarchitecture, new processors in Intel's Core-X series remain based on Skylake-X architecture but employ notable tweaks in manufacturing and packaging of the chips, specifically with a solder TIM (Thermal Interface Material) under their heat spreaders for better cooling and more overclocking headroom. The Core i9-9980XE is the new top-end CPU that supplants the Core i9-7980XE at the top of Intel's stack. The chip features 18 Skylake-X cores (36 threads) with a base clock of 3.0GHz that's 400MHz higher than the previous gen. The Core i9-9980XE has max Turbo Boost 2.0 and Turbo Boost Max 3.0 frequencies of 4.4GHz and 4.5GHz, which are 200MHz and 100MHz higher than Intel's previous gen Core i9-7980XE, respectively.
In the benchmarks, the new Core i9-9980XE is easily the fastest many-core desktop processor Intel has released to date, out-pacing all previous-gen Intel processors and AMD Threadripper X series processors in heavily threaded applications. However, the 18-core Core i9-9980XE typically trailed AMD's 24 and 32-core Threadripper WX series processors. Intel's Core i9-9980XE also offered relatively strong single-threaded performance, with an IPC advantage that's superior to any AMD Ryzen processor currently.
In the benchmarks, the new Core i9-9980XE is easily the fastest many-core desktop processor Intel has released to date, out-pacing all previous-gen Intel processors and AMD Threadripper X series processors in heavily threaded applications. However, the 18-core Core i9-9980XE typically trailed AMD's 24 and 32-core Threadripper WX series processors. Intel's Core i9-9980XE also offered relatively strong single-threaded performance, with an IPC advantage that's superior to any AMD Ryzen processor currently.
The pricing though... AMD still edges out in my book.
I didn't see any mention of addressing Meltdown, Spectre, L1TF.. so I assume those general architecture issues are not yet addressed, this is still Skylake.
Look back up at my post, now look back down, you're on the Internet. Now look back up. I'm a signature.
I see you got a fancy new power curve, soldered TIM and nothing else!
Yep, and you demonstrate that wonderfully. The AMD Threadripper is better for some things, the Intel chip is better for some things, and *depending on your needs and budget* each could be "better".
Intel wins the IPCs, but is crushingly expensive. Many people would take the half price of the AMD part and be quite happy with it. Others for whom money isn't that much of an object will go with the 9980XE. Still others who need Blender, Cinebench or POVRay workloads done would be fools to buy anything but the Threadripper.
All in all, everyone has a different need and will cherrypick based on that need.