Intel Core i9-9980XE

The Intel Core i9-9980XE is an 18-core, 36-thread desktop processor from Intel’s Skylake-X family, built on a 14 nm process with a 484 mm² die. It runs at a 3.00 GHz base clock and 4.50 GHz boost clock on Intel Socket 2066, with 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 1 MB of L2 cache per core, and 24.75 MB of shared L3 cache. The memory controller supports quad-channel DDR4 with 85.3 GB/s of bandwidth, while the I/O provides Gen 3 PCIe with 44 CPU lanes. Benchmark data shows an average score of 7410, placing the processor at the 67th percentile among all CPUs in the database.

Benchmark Performance

The benchmark results are dominated by multi-threaded performance. Cinebench R15 multi-core returns 2705, Cinebench R20 multi-core returns 11271, and Cinebench R23 multi-core returns 26836. The Geekbench multi-core result is 11270. Single-core scores are considerably lower across every suite: Cinebench R15 single-core scores 381, Cinebench R20 single-core scores 1590, Cinebench R23 single-core scores 3788, and Geekbench single-core scores 1437.

These results consolidate into an average benchmark score of 7410, which places the part at the 67th percentile of all CPUs in the database. The nearest-rival group is remarkably tight. The AMD EPYC 7282 averages 7409 with a deltaPct of 0, the Intel Core i9-9990XE averages 7415 with a deltaPct of -0.1, the Intel Core i3-1115G4 averages 7443 with a deltaPct of -0.4, and the Intel Xeon Platinum 8180M averages 7452 with a deltaPct of -0.6. The Core i9-9980XE is therefore neither clearly ahead nor clearly behind any of these four processors in aggregate terms; the cluster is narrow, and workload-specific results matter more than the average score.

The Cinebench R20 multi-core score of 11271 and the Geekbench multi-core score of 11270 land very close together across two different test suites, reinforcing that the multi-thread result is consistent rather than an artifact of one benchmark. In the aggregate, the 9980XE sits in a group where the largest deltaPct is -0.6, meaning the most distant nearest rival is only a fraction of a percentage point away.

How It Compares

The AMD EPYC 7282 is effectively a tie in the database aggregate. The Core i9-9980XE averages 7410, the EPYC 7282 averages 7409, and the deltaPct is 0. These two CPUs are not separated by their average benchmark scores; any meaningful distinction would need to come from the specific workload being measured.

The Intel Core i9-9990XE sits slightly ahead in the database, with an average score of 7415 and a deltaPct of -0.1. That is a negligible aggregate gap. The 9980XE trails the 9990XE by 0.1%, a margin that is well within normal run-to-run variation for most benchmark suites.

The Intel Core i3-1115G4 is a notable neighbor because its nameplate suggests a different market position, yet it averages 7443 with a deltaPct of -0.4. The data records the 9980XE as 0.4% lower in average score. The close aggregate gap is striking given the 9980XE’s 18-core, 36-thread configuration.

The Intel Xeon Platinum 8180M posts the highest average among the four nearest rivals at 7452, with a deltaPct of -0.6. That is the largest gap in the group, but it remains a narrow aggregate margin. The 9980XE is within a small distance of a processor that, by platform positioning, belongs to a different segment of the market.

Single-Thread vs Multi-Thread Behavior

The split between single-thread and multi-thread results is steep and consistent. In Geekbench, single-core scores 1437 while multi-core scores 11270. In Cinebench, the same pattern appears across all three versions: R15 single-core 381 versus multi-core 2705, R20 single-core 1590 versus multi-core 11271, and R23 single-core 3788 versus multi-core 26836.

This is the expected shape for a processor with 18 physical cores and 36 threads. The base clock of 3.00 GHz and boost clock of 4.50 GHz are paired with an unusually high thread count, so multi-threaded workloads have far more execution resources to draw on. For real workloads, this means the processor is best suited to heavily threaded tasks such as rendering, simulation, and other workstation-style applications. Lightly threaded workloads will rely on the 4.50 GHz boost clock, but the single-core results show that the 9980XE is not defined by its single-thread capability.

The consistency across Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 indicates that the multi-thread advantage is not unique to one benchmark generation. The same relationship appears in every paired test. The average benchmark score of 7410, while close to all four nearest rivals, obscures this behavioral split; a workload that scales across 36 threads will see a very different processor than a workload that depends on a single thread.

FAQ

Q: What are the core, thread, and clock specifications of the Intel Core i9-9980XE?

A: It has 18 cores and 36 threads, with a 3.00 GHz base clock and a 4.50 GHz boost clock.

Q: What memory and I/O capabilities are listed?

A: It supports quad-channel DDR4 with 85.3 GB/s of memory bandwidth, does not support ECC memory, and provides Gen 3 PCIe with 44 CPU lanes.

Q: What socket, architecture, and manufacturing process does it use?

A: It uses Intel Socket 2066, the Skylake architecture with the Skylake-X codename, Intel’s 14 nm process, and a 484 mm² die.

Q: What is the production status and launch MSRP?

A: It is end-of-life, with a launch MSRP of $1979. The part number is SREZ3, and the multiplier is unlocked.

Q: How does its average benchmark score compare to the AMD EPYC 7282?

A: The Core i9-9980XE averages 7410, the AMD EPYC 7282 averages 7409, and the deltaPct is 0.

Q: Where does it rank among all CPUs in the database?

A: It sits at the 67th percentile of all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 7410.

Power and Thermals

The Core i9-9980XE is rated at a 165 W TDP. For a desktop processor, this is a high thermal class, and it sets clear expectations for the cooling tier. A capable cooler is necessary to sustain the kind of all-core, multi-threaded load that the Cinebench results represent.

The thermal design point must cover the range between the 3.00 GHz base clock and the 4.50 GHz boost clock. With 18 cores and 36 threads on Intel’s 14 nm process, the heat load is substantial when all cores are active. The 484 mm² die size and the absence of integrated graphics mean the thermal load is concentrated on the CPU cores themselves.

The benchmark data shows that multi-threaded scores are far stronger than single-threaded scores, so the cooling solution should be selected for sustained multi-threaded operation rather than light single-threaded use. The 165 W TDP places this processor in a performance tier where robust cooling is a prerequisite, not an optional upgrade.