Intel Announces 8 Core i9-9900KS: Every Core at 5.0 GHz, All The Time
by Ian Cutress on May 26, 2019 11:00 AM EST
Last year, Intel showcased a CPU during its keynote a processor with all of its cores at 5 GHz. Today, that becomes a reality – Intel is set to launch a processor that promises that frequency in any scenario. The new Core i9-9900KS is an 8-core processor that will run at 5.0 GHz during single core workloads and multi-core workloads.
That demo last year was on an overclockable 28-core Xeon CPU, but in reality was clocked way lower. There was even a good amount of controversy, as Intel didn’t state at the time they were using a sub-zero chiller to achieve that result. But this year we’re getting something a little more realistic. The new Core i9-9900KS uses the same silicon currently in the i9-9900K, but selectively binned in order to achieve 5.0 GHz on every core, all of the time.
Technically the CPU has a base frequency of 4.0 GHz, however it will only ever go down to that amount based on a default Intel BIOS (no consumer board uses the base BIOS specifications). The new CPU will be enabled in the same motherboards as the Core i9-9900K, but with a small firmware update. The CPU also has the same integrated graphics as the Core i9-9900K.
Intel did not tell us the TDP yet, but we will update this article when we know. Pricing and the launch date are also an unknown, however Intel SVP and GM Gregory Bryant is running a keynote here at Computex in a couple of days, and we expect to have the details then.
Update 05/28: As part of his Computex keynote, Gregory Bryant has confirmed that the processor is launching in Q4 of this year. Pricing and TDP will presumably be announced much closer to the actual launch.
| Intel 9th Gen Core 8-Core Desktop CPUs | ||||||||
| AnandTech | Cores | Base Freq |
All-Core Turbo | Single Core Turbo Freq |
IGP | DDR4 | TDP | Price (1ku) |
| i9-9900KS | 8 / 16 | 4.0 GHz | 5.0 GHz | 5.0 GHz | UHD 630 | 2666 | ? | ? |
| i9-9900K | 8 / 16 | 3.6 GHz | 4.7 GHz | 5.0 GHz | UHD 630 | 2666 | 95 W | $488 |
| i9-9900KF | 8 / 16 | 3.6 GHz | 4.7 GHz | 5.0 GHz | - | 2666 | 95 W | $488 |
| i7-9700K | 8 / 8 | 3.6 GHz | 4.6 GHz | 4.9 GHz | UHD 630 | 2666 | 95 W | $374 |
| i7-9700KF | 8 / 8 | 3.6 GHz | 4.6 GHz | 4.9 GHz | - | 2666 | 95 W | $374 |
The main difference compared to the Core i9-9900K is currently that all-core turbo value, which is a flat 5.0 GHz, a 300 MHz increase. There's a slight chance Intel might have increased the TDP, especially given that the base frequency (which TDP is built on) has increased 10% from 3.6 GHz to 4.0 GHz.
Why Intel Processors Draw More Power Than Expected: TDP and Turbo Explained
Intel did have a demo system for us to look at, which used a standard off-the-shelf motherboard and a closed loop liquid cooler. Intel confirmed that the chip is soldered, and that this is just simply the same silicon as the 9900K but better binned.
More info in a couple of days.
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CityBlue - Monday, May 27, 2019 - link
Plenty of time for fluff/spoiler pieces like this, though. We all know why this "product" announcement came when it did, but I guess Intel would have been upset if it had been delayed due to being "backlogged", so straight to the front of the queue.Thankfully sites like Phoronix haven't sold out and have already reported the ugly truth about the latest Intel vulnerability - it now just remains to be seen if/when Anandtech publish_anything_ that is negative about Intel. I won't hold my breath.
AV_Stables - Tuesday, May 28, 2019 - link
The Intel bias is now just pathetic, signed up to comment. Been reading since this site began pretty much.Korguz - Tuesday, May 28, 2019 - link
if you 2 say so ... id rather have them make sure their info and conclusions are correct, then post the wrong info... have you 2 not read the article on intel and how much power their " 95 watt " cpus really use, or when an intel cpu is forced to run at 95 watts max.. how bad its performance is ?? my guess. cityblue has NOT read that article ....Korguz - Tuesday, May 28, 2019 - link
found the article. and the comment post from ryan smith about zombieland it is in the article about Ice Lakes IGP performance :" "May I ask Why AnandTech hasn't covered or mention, even in the news pipeline about Zombieload or MDS?"
Backlogged on testing. I'm in the middle of something, but I ran out of time before Computex.
I don't want to put up an article without data; there's too many misconceptions and wishcasting on the subject, which is leading to everyone losing their minds. "
CityBlue - Wednesday, May 29, 2019 - link
Ooh look, another article on another Intel CPU product (Ice Lake mobile).Backlogged, my ass. The lack of _any_ coverage for another serious Intel security vulnerability can't be justified by a backlog of testing. This is beginning to stink...
mode_13h - Wednesday, May 29, 2019 - link
Well, they're at a show. That's where you need to be, if you want to get interviews and see products (sometimes prototypes) being demo'd in booths.While at a show, quite some distance away from home, it's pretty difficult to do the kind of benchmarking they probably need to finish, in order to post that article. Plus, don't forget about jet-lag.
So, um, entitled much? Maybe you can ask them for a refund.
mode_13h - Wednesday, May 29, 2019 - link
Agreed. If you want the latest breaking news, you can find that at other sites. I'd rather AT not compromise quality, just to post up all the same shallow stuff you can already find elsewhere.Korguz - Wednesday, May 29, 2019 - link
CityBlue then by all means.. go back to the other sites that posted that stuff.. mode_13h, said the rest :-)mode_13h - Wednesday, May 29, 2019 - link
Phoronix tends to spin his hardware reviews, because he's 95% dependent on having review samples provided to him. He also usually doesn't have the time to look into weird performance discrepancies.Not to be harsh, but I wouldn't place him on a pedestal, or anything. He still has some good coverage, but he's often stretched pretty thin.
GreenReaper - Friday, May 31, 2019 - link
I don't think it's Intel so much as not having a news item, period. They can't get the first MDS article now, they made their choice to go to the show, so they might as well report what they can from the show and have the Zombieload stuff be a comprehensive one that others might refer to later.Going to an event takes a lot out of you and you can't manage a bunch of tests at the same time, let alone write an article about those tests.
We already know it's another painful issue and explains in part why a bunch of old laptops went on sale recently (although that's also because new models with four real cores came out).