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Intel Core i9 9900KS
Date issued:
Intel is today ushering in its fastest-ever gaming CPU. It goes by the name of Core i9-9900KS and will be available for a limited time only.
Using the proven Coffee Lake microarchitecture seen on other Intel 9th Gen desktop processors, The Core i9-9900KS' party trick is that, through selective speed binning and sorting, each chip is able to run at a lofty 5.0GHz on all eight cores and 16 threads, which is a first for an air-cooled desktop processor!
A good question is how it compares alongside a bevy of other Intel chips. Let's find out by looking at its vital statistics.
Intel Core 9000-series Desktop Family |
||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Model | Cores / Threads |
Smart Cache (MB) |
Base Clock (GHz) |
Turbo Boost (GHz) |
Turbo Boost All-Core (GHz) |
PCIe 3.0 Lanes |
IGP | Memory Channels |
Memory Support |
TDP (W) |
LGA Package |
Price (1Ku) |
| Core i9-9900KS | 8 / 16 | 16 | 4.0 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 16 | UHD 630 | Dual | DDR4-2666 | 127 | 1151 | $513 |
| Core i9-9900K | 8 / 16 | 16 | 3.6 | 5.0 | 4.7 | 16 | UHD 630 | Dual | DDR4-2666 | 95 | 1151 | $488 |
| Core i9-9900KF | 8 / 16 | 16 | 3.6 | 5.0 | 4.7 | 16 | - | Dual | DDR4-2666 | 95 | 1151 | $463 |
| Core i9-9900 | 8 / 16 | 16 | 3.1 | 5.0 | 4.6 | 16 | - | Dual | DDR4-2666 | 65 | 1151 | $439 |
| Core i7-9700K | 8 / 8 | 12 | 3.6 | 4.9 | 4.6 | 16 | UHD 630 | Dual | DDR4-2666 | 95 | 1151 | $374 |
| Core i7-9700KF | 8 / 8 | 12 | 3.6 | 4.9 | 4.6 | 16 | - | Dual | DDR4-2666 | 95 | 1151 | $349 |
| Core i7-9700 | 8 / 8 | 12 | 3.0 | 4.70 | 4.4 | 16 | UHD 630 | Dual | DDR4-2666 | 65 | 1151 | $323 |
| Core i5-9600K | 6 / 6 | 9 | 3.7 | 4.6 | 4.3 | 16 | UHD 630 | Dual | DDR4-2666 | 95 | 1151 | $262 |
| Core i5-9600KF | 6 / 6 | 9 | 3.7 | 4.6 | 4.3 | 16 | - | Dual | DDR4-2666 | 95 | 1151 | $237 |
| Core i5-9600 | 6 / 6 | 9 | 3.1 | 4.6 | 4.0 | 16 | UHD 630 | Dual | DDR4-2666 | 65 | 1151 | $214 |
| Core i5-9500 | 6 / 6 | 9 | 3.0 | 4.4 | 4.0 | 16 | UHD 630 | Dual | DDR4-2666 | 65 | 1151 | $192 |
| Core i5-9500F | 6 / 6 | 9 | 3.0 | 4.4 | 4.0 | 16 | - | Dual | DDR4-2666 | 65 | 1151 | $167 |
| Core i5-9400 | 6 / 6 | 9 | 2.9 | 4.1 | 3.9 | 16 | UHD 630 | Dual | DDR4-2666 | 65 | 1151 | $182 |
| Core i5-9400F | 6 / 6 | 9 | 2.9 | 4.1 | 3.8 | 16 | - | Dual | DDR4-2666 | 65 | 1151 | $157 |
| Core i3-9350K | 4 / 4 | 8 | 4.0 | 4.6 | 4.3 | 16 | UHD 630 | Dual | DDR4-2400 | 91 | 1151 | $173 |
| Core i3-9350KF | 4 / 4 | 8 | 4.0 | 4.6 | 4.3 | 16 | - | Dual | DDR4-2400 | 91 | 1151 | $148 |
| Core i3-9100 | 4 / 4 | 8 | 3.6 | 4.2 | 3.6 | 16 | - | Dual | DDR4-2400 | 91 | 1151 | $122 |
| Core i3-9100F | 4 / 4 | 8 | 3.6 | 4.2 | 3.6 | 16 | - | Dual | DDR4-2400 | 91 | 1151 | $97 |
The numbers show that Intel takes the existing Core i9-9900K, launched a year ago, as the base for this frequency-busting processor. It uses the same LGA1151 socket, meaning huge breadth of support from Z390 and Z370 chipset-based motherboards, and continues to run dual-channel memory operating at 2,666MHz.
Intel is able to increase the all-core frequency from 4.7GHz to 5.0GHz by using the very best-performing silicon and letting it strut its stuff by increasing the power budget from a standard 95W to 127W. Even so, the Core i9-9900KS can be cooled by a capable heatsink-and-fan unit, though the best results will be possible when using an all-in-one liquid cooler.
It is important to note that Intel does not provide a heatsink in the box, so you will have to source or repurpose your own. And do bear in mind that Intel backs this chip with a one-year warranty, not the three years common amongst other processors. The reason for this is the limited-edition status that means it will only be sold during the holiday 2019 season.
Having eight cores and 16 threads running at 5.0GHz means that the Core i9-9900K instantly becomes the fastest desktop processor for gaming, all the while offering best-in-class system responsiveness. Benchmarks from leading review sites show that it aces those kinds of benchmarks.
As you can see, the Core i9-9900KS has no performance peer when it comes to gaming and running everyday applications.
So, if you are a gamer who wants the absolute most amount of performance from your PC, and like the bragging rights that come with a processor that runs at 5.0GHz on all cores, the Intel Core i9-9900KS is a smart choice.
Considered an iterative improvement over the decent Core i9-9900K from last year, Scan Computers is proud to retail the limited-edition Intel Core i9-9900KS processor, priced at around £500.