Staff – October 9, 2018 at 10:57 AM
This is the processor you're looking for: Preorders for the 9th Gen Intel® Core™ i9-9900K begin today, Oct. 8, (alongside its counterparts, the Intel® Core™ i7-9700K, and the Intel® Core™ i5-9600K).
If this product sounds enticing, stay tuned for your chance to enter the 9th Gen Intel Core i9 Processor Dreamstakes for a chance to win the latest 9th Gen Intel Core i9 processor and walk away with exclusive swag starting November 5, 2018. The winner and the guest will also win a trip to a world-class esports event with behind-the-scenes access and VIP treatment.
There's a lot of excitement surrounding the Intel® Core™ i9-9900K — it is the first mainstream i9 desktop processor on the market — but the whole lineup is impressive. The 9th Gen boasts the fastest Intel® Core™ processors to date, with up to 8 cores, 16 threads, and 40 platform PCIe lanes (for configuring components). The new chips are compatible with all Intel® 300 series chipsets — including the new Intel® Z390, which also features integrated USB 3.1 Gen 2 and Wireless-AC — and have support for Thunderbolt 3, as well as Intel® Optane™ memory technology (for accelerated load times of frequently used games and apps).
The Intel® Core™ i9-9900K is every bit the powerhouse you've been waiting for. It has eight hyperthreaded cores resulting in 16 threads, 16MB of Intel® Smart Cache, and up to 40 platform PCIe lanes. It has a base clock speed of 3.6GHz, but with Intel® Turbo Boost Technology 2.0 it can attain single-core speeds of up to 5.0GHz — pretty darn speedy (though multi-core speeds will be closer to 4.7GHz).
The Intel® Core™ i7-9700K has 8 cores, 8 threads, 12MB of Intel® Smart Cache, and up to 40 platform PCIe lanes. It's also boasting a base clock speed of 3.6GHz, and it can attain single-core boost speeds of up to 4.9GHz and multi-core speeds of up to 4.6GHz. Finally, the Intel® Core™ i5-9600K has 6 cores, 6 threads, 9MB of Intel® Smart Cache, up to 40 platform PCIe lanes, a base clock speed of 3.7GHz, and single-core boost speeds of up to 4.6GHz.
Intel definitely built its 9th generation of Intel® Core™ processors with overclockers, performance-tweakers, and gamers in mind. The new Intel® Core™ i9 and i7 desktop processors are soldered up with Solder Thermal Interface Material (STIM) to help maximize heat transfer and dissipation — allowing for more thermal headroom.
While Intel doesn't officially endorse overclocking (even on the unlocked chips — performance tweaks are always at your own risk), it does offer a couple of free overclocking toolsets for those of us who just can't help it. The Intel® Extreme Tuning Utility (Intel XTU) helps you get the most out of your unlocked processor, while the Intel® XMP utility makes overclocking your RAM a breeze. These utilities can be augmented with Intel's optional performance tuning protection plan, which covers (limited) processor repairs and replacements in the event of an overclocking disaster.
The Intel 9th Gen desktop processors offer a performance bump over the last generation even at factory speeds — the overclocking enhancements are just icing.
Warning: Altering PC clock or memory frequency and/or voltage may (i) reduce system stability and use life of the system, memory and processor; (ii) cause the processor and other system components to fail; (iii) cause reductions in system performance; (iv) cause additional heat or other damage; and (v) affect system data integrity. Intel assumes no responsibility that the memory, included if used with altered clock frequencies and/or voltages, will be fit for any particular purpose. Check with memory manufacturer for warranty and additional details.
