Monday, October 28th 2019

Intel Announces Core i9-9900KS, World's Best Processor for Gaming Made Better

Intel today announced full details and availability for the new 9th Gen Intel Core i9-9900KS Special Edition processor. Delivering up to 5.00 GHz all-core turbo frequency out of the box for the ultimate gaming experience, the 9th Gen Intel Core i9-9900KS will be available beginning Oct. 30, with recommended customer price starting at $513. This special edition processor will be available for a limited time only and can be found at retailers worldwide.

"Intel has raised the bar for desktop gaming with the new 9th Gen Intel Core i9-9900KS Special Edition processor. Based on the 9th Gen Intel Core i9-9900K architecture, it's the world's best gaming desktop processor made even better and created specifically for extreme gamers who want the most performance possible. This processor demonstrates another innovation milestone for Intel, following last year's limited edition 8th Gen Intel Core i7-8086K," said Frank Soqui, Intel vice president and general manager of the Desktop, Workstation and Channel Group. The i9-9900KS processor is unlocked and boasts eight cores and 16 threads, up to 4.00 GHz base frequency, 127 W TDP, 16 MB Intel Smart Cache, and up to 40 platform PCIe lanes for gaming and overclocking.
Key Features and Capabilities:
  • Up to 5.00 GHz all-core turbo frequency; up to 4.00 GHz base frequency, which allow games to run faster when they scale across more cores for higher frame rates
  • Eight cores, 16 threads, 127 W TDP, 16 MB Intel Smart Cache, and up to 40 platform PCIe lanes
  • Compatible with existing Z390 motherboards
  • Up to 27% faster mega-tasking when you simultaneously game, stream and record compared with a 3-year-old PC
  • Up to 35% more frames per second compared with a 3-year-old PC
  • Up to 17% faster 4K video editing compared with the previous generation and up to 78% faster compared with a 3-year-old PC
  • One-year warranty
  • Overclock confidently with new and enhanced features like Intel Performance Maximizer, which makes it easy to dynamically and reliably custom-tune the unlocked processor based on the processor's individual performance DNA
Gamers and overclocking enthusiasts will be able to take performance to the max with the 9th Gen Intel Core i9-9900KS Special Edition processor. Only select chips from Intel wafers can achieve this specification to run up to 5.00 GHz all-core turbo. Quantity is limited for this special edition product.The Small Print:
Performance results are based on testing as of August 10, 2019 and may not reflect all publicly available security updates. See configuration disclosure for details. No product can be absolutely secure. Software and workloads used in performance tests may have been optimized for performance only on Intel microprocessors. Performance tests, such as SYSmark and MobileMark, are measured using specific computer systems, components, software, operations and functions. Any change to any of those factors may cause the results to vary. You should consult other information and performance tests to assist you in fully evaluating your contemplated purchases, including the performance of that product when combined with other products. For more complete information about performance and benchmark results, visit http://www.intel.com/benchmarks.
As measured by in-game benchmark mode performance (score or frames per second) where available, or frames per second where benchmark mode is unavailable. PC Gaming Processors Compared: 9th Gen Intel Core i9-9900KS, 9th Gen Intel Core i9-9900K, Intel Core i9-9980XE Extreme Edition, Intel Core i9-9960X X-series, Intel Core i9-9940X X-series, AMD Ryzen 9 3900X, AMD Ryzen 7 3800X, AMD Ryzen 7 3700X, AMD Ryzen 5 3600X, and AMD Ryzen 7 2700X. Prices of compared products may differ. Configurations: Graphics: Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 Ti, Memory: 2x8GB DDR4 or 4x4GB DDR4 (2666, 2933 or 3200 per highest speed of the corresponding processor), Storage: Intel Optane SSD 900P, OS Windows 10 Pro 1903 v175 19H1(RS6). Results: 9th Gen Intel Core i9-9900KS scored better on the majority of the 20+ game titles tested.Intel Core i9-9900KS is a special edition of Intel Core i9-9900K, with even better performance.
1Altering clock frequency or voltage may damage or reduce the useful life of the processor and other system components, and may reduce system stability and performance. Product warranties may not apply if the processor is operated beyond its specifications. Check with the manufacturers of system and components for additional details.
2As measured by gameplay FPS on PUBG (Season 4 - "PC Update 4.1") - 1080p High Settings comparing 9th Gen Intel Core i9-9900KS vs. 6th Gen Intel Core i7-6700K. Measured on platforms with Intel Core i9-9900KS Processor, PL1=127W TDP, 8C16T, Turbo up to 5.0GHz, Motherboard: MSI Z390 A Pro, Graphics: NVIDIA GTX 2080Ti, Gfx version: 430.86, Memory: 2x8GB DDR4 2666, Storage: 480GB Intel Optane SSD 900P, OS: Windows* 10 Pro 1903 v175 19H1(RS6), BIOS Version 1105 vs. Intel Core i7-6700K Processor, PL1=95W TDP, 4C8T, Turbo up to 4.2GHz, Motherboard: MSI Z170MPLUS A Pro, Graphics: NVIDIA GTX 2080Ti, Gfx version: 430.86, Memory: 4x4GB DDR4 2133, Storage: 480GB Intel Optane SSD 900P, OS: Windows* 10 Pro 1903 v175 19H1(RS6), BIOS Version 3805
3As measured by gameplay FPS on Total War: 3 Kingdoms - Campaign - 1080p High Settings comparing 9th Gen Intel Core i9-9900KS vs. 6th Gen Intel Core i7-6700K. Measured on platforms with: Intel Core i9-9900KS Processor, PL1=127W TDP, 8C16T, Turbo up to 5.0GHz, Motherboard: MSI Z390 A Pro, Graphics: NVIDIA GTX 2080Ti, Gfx version: 430.86, Memory: 2x8GB DDR4 2666, Storage: 480GB Intel Optane SSD 900P, OS: Windows* 10 Pro 1903 v175 19H1(RS6), BIOS Version 1105 vs. Intel Core i7-6700K Processor, PL1=95W TDP, 4C8T, Turbo up to 4.2GHz, Motherboard: MSI Z170MPLUS A Pro, Graphics: NVIDIA GTX 2080Ti, Gfx version: 430.86, Memory: 4x4GB DDR4 2133, Storage: 480GB Intel Optane SSD 900P, OS: Windows* 10 Pro 1903 v175 19H1(RS6), BIOS Version 3805
4As measured by Adobe Premiere Pro CC Transcode4Kvideo SW workload comparing 9th Gen Intel Core i9-9900KS vs. Intel Core i7-8700K. Measured on platforms with: Intel Core i9-9900KS Processor, PL1=127W TDP, 8C16T, Turbo up to 5.0GHz, Motherboard: MSI Z390 A Pro, Graphics: NVIDIA GTX 2080Ti, Gfx version: 430.86, Memory: 2x8GB DDR4 2666, Storage: 480GB Intel Optane SSD 900P, OS: Windows* 10 Pro 1903 v175 19H1(RS6), BIOS Version 1105 vs. Intel Core i7-8700K Processor, PL1=95W TDP, 6C12T, Turbo up to 4.7GHz, Motherboard: MSI Z390 A Pro, Graphics: NVIDIA GTX 2080Ti, Gfx version: 430.86, Memory: 2x8GB DDR4 2666, Storage: 480GB Intel Optane SSD 900P, OS: Windows* 10 Pro 1903 v175 19H1(RS6), BIOS Version 1105
5As measured by Adobe Premiere Pro CC Transcode4Kvideo SW workload comparing 9th Gen Intel Core i9-9900KS vs. 6th Gen Intel Core i7-6700K. Measured on platforms with: Intel Core i9-9900KS Processor, PL1=127W TDP, 8C16T, Turbo up to 5.0GHz, Motherboard: MSI Z390 A Pro, Graphics: NVIDIA GTX 2080Ti, Gfx version: 430.86, Memory: 2x8GB DDR4 2666, Storage: 480GB Intel Optane SSD 900P, OS: Windows* 10 Pro 1903 v175 19H1(RS6), BIOS Version 1105 vs. Intel Core i7-6700K Processor, PL1=95W TDP, 4C8T, Turbo up to 4.2GHz, Motherboard: MSI Z170MPLUS A Pro, Graphics: NVIDIA GTX 2080Ti, Gfx version: 430.86, Memory: 4x4GB DDR4 2133, Storage: 480GB Intel Optane SSD 900P, OS: Windows* 10 Pro 1903 v175 19H1(RS6), BIOS Version 3805
6Intel is providing a one-year warranty on both the box and tray versions of this processor due to its limited volume.
The Recommended Customer Price ("RCP") is pricing guidance for Intel products. Prices are for direct Intel customers and are subject to change without notice. Taxes and shipping, etc. not included. Prices may vary for other package types and shipment quantities, and special promotional arrangements may apply. Listing of these RCP does not constitute a formal pricing offer from Intel. Please work with your appropriate Intel representative to obtain a formal price quotation. Purchases of Intel products are subject to Intel's Standard Terms and Conditions of Sale.
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130 Comments on Intel Announces Core i9-9900KS, World's Best Processor for Gaming Made Better

#76
Axaion
1 year warranty
..wait
..thats illegal in the EU aint it? lmao
Posted on Reply
#77
Dave65
YAY!
INTEL IS BACK......................................................Nah!
Posted on Reply
#78
Darmok N Jalad
Anandtech reviewed one:
During a sustained CB20 run, which is possible through the command line, we were able to observe a peak power consumption of the system at 600W, which indicates that at 5.0 GHz this CPU is pulling an extra 334 W over idle – this power naturally being split mostly to the cores but some will be for the mesh and some will be in the efficiency of the power delivery.
www.anandtech.com/show/14980/the-intel-core-i9-9990xe-review/8
Posted on Reply
#79
candle_86
Hmm Intel emergency edition is back

I remember 2004 well, a64 released and to beat the fx51 Intel released an over locked xeon, I wonder is the same game about to be replayed.
Posted on Reply
#81
Unregistered
ChaitanyaI had no idea about silicon lottery offering binning of 3950X. Intel has been selling 9990XE as prebinned cpu with 9900KS joining the list of stupidity from Intel in consumer market.
Binning a 3950X....
Saw the historical list with my 2700X and laughed. 4.2ghz AVX2 tested at 1.4250v..... The exact same frequency and voltage my rig uses when PBO oc is set to level 3. Wow, what an accomplishment.

Do people really buy into this binning business?? Get box and stock cooler for only 10$ more!!! Doesn't that come with the cpu any ways? GOtta pay extra for that because of a supposed binning?

lol.
Posted on Edit | Reply
#82
Vycyous
btarunrI think it's their way of saying "don't expect support for B360." I wonder if Z370 is supported, because there are some pretty expensive Z370 boards.
According to Intel's product specifications page, it is compatible with every 300 series chipset except B365, but I believe that's probably an error because I haven't found a single 8th or 9th gen CPU that lists B365 as compatible chipset/product on their respective web page.

Click on "Compatible Products"
ark.intel.com/content/www/us/en/ark/products/192943/intel-core-i9-9900ks-processor-16m-cache-up-to-5-00-ghz.html

Posted on Reply
#83
Tsukiyomi91
"world's best processor" is this a joke? Can't even sustain 5GHz all-core boost & with that $510-ish price tag... still riding on that 14nm node & cramming 40 PCIe lanes just to sell to people who only runs single GPUs? Intel oh Intel... you just never learn from your mistakes, huh?? Using the "up to" moniker makes it even worse.
Posted on Reply
#84
cucker tarlson
Tsukiyomi91"world's best processor" is this a joke? Can't even sustain 5GHz all-core boost & with that $510-ish price tag... still riding on that 14nm node & cramming 40 PCIe lanes just to sell to people who only runs single GPUs? Intel oh Intel... you just never learn from your mistakes, huh?? Using the "up to" moniker makes it even worse.
this is 16 cpu+24 pch lanes,just like any 1151 cpu
the price tag is ridiculous
the node doesn't matter,it's a nice cpu but really a redundant one and way overpriced.
Posted on Reply
#87
Tsukiyomi91
everything about Intel these days is a joke. Too bad not many are sane enough to consider paying half grand for that 27% gain in multi-tasking unless they are those Intel shills.
Posted on Reply
#88
ratirt
Well I'm kinda confused here.
4x binning on the 9900K version? Am..... for me binning is categorizing the product (put certain CPU in a proper bin representing specific product) so if a SL does x4 binning on the 9900k version CPU means it is being categorized 4 times? Some people here make it sound like "Binning" means some sort of enhancement that Intel and now SL apply on the CPU's to make them faster and that " binning process" is applied on an already manufactured processor. That's is a little bit of a stretch to me though.
Posted on Reply
#89
trog100
when this thing was first announced 5 g on all cores i was skeptical.. now the magic words "up to" which really means maybe or sometimes i aint so skeptical.. :)

when people say most 9900k chips will do 5 g they are correct.. but it all come down to the voltage required to be stable at 5 g.. these binned examples will just hit 5 g on a lower voltage than average but it will still come down to cooling the things when they are firing on all cylinders..

trog
Posted on Reply
#90
AusWolf
What the heck is mega-tasking? :laugh::kookoo: This KS (Keep Spending) sku is just as big a marketing c*** as the i7-8086K was.

I'm sick of how Intel is trying to push sales by calling their $500+ CPUs "gamer". I doubt anyone knows a game that benefits from having 16 threads at 5 GHz. I can't reach 50% usage on my i7-7700 with any game, so why would I need this overpriced heating device?
Posted on Reply
#91
EarthDog
trog100when this thing was first announced 5 g on all cores i was skeptical.. now the magic words "up to" which really means maybe or sometimes i aint so skeptical.. :)

trog
This is how all turbo is described from both amd and intel. Nothing new in that wording. ;)
Posted on Reply
#92
TranceHead
Say what you will, this is the news I was waiting for, with all mainstream CPUs having only 16x PCI-E lanes I'm glad this one finally has 40.
Don't want to gimp my 2080ti at all for the sake of a NVMe SSD, (2080ti saturates 8x)
Posted on Reply
#93
EarthDog
TranceHeadSay what you will, this is the news I was waiting for, with all mainstream CPUs having only 16x PCI-E lanes I'm glad this one finally has 40.
Don't want to gimp my 2080ti at all for the sake of a NVMe SSD, (2080ti saturates 8x)
????

16 from the cpu the rest (24) are on the chipset... same as before, no (z390 chipset)? Typically a single drive doesnt take any cpu pcie lanes and dual NVMe m.2 drives would only take from SATA ports (depending on the board). May want to read your board's manual to see how it breaks down, bud. :)
ark.intel.com/content/www/us/en/ark/products/192943/intel-core-i9-9900ks-processor-16m-cache-up-to-5-00-ghz.html
ark.intel.com/content/www/us/en/ark/products/133293/intel-z390-chipset.html

Indeed. That 2% performance loss running x8 must be a deal breaker (but I get it!).... ;)
www.techpowerup.com/review/nvidia-geforce-rtx-2080-ti-pci-express-scaling/6.html
Posted on Reply
#94
Unregistered
This thing just needs more marketing, if there actually exists enough stock of it to be worth marketing. Or maybe just more RGB...

8 cores are still ok-ish for small VMs I guess, but for sure not at that price.
#95
TranceHead
EarthDog????

16 from the cpu the rest (24) are on the chipset... same as before, no (z390 chipset)? Typically a single drive doesnt take any cpu pcie lanes and dual NVMe m.2 drives would only take from SATA ports (depending on the board). May want to read your board's manual to see how it breaks down, bud. :)
ark.intel.com/content/www/us/en/ark/products/192943/intel-core-i9-9900ks-processor-16m-cache-up-to-5-00-ghz.html
ark.intel.com/content/www/us/en/ark/products/133293/intel-z390-chipset.html

Indeed. That 2% performance loss running x8 must be a deal breaker (but I get it!).... ;)
www.techpowerup.com/review/nvidia-geforce-rtx-2080-ti-pci-express-scaling/6.html
Ah, sweet.
I got a i7-4930k and been avoiding upgrading due to lack of lanes.
I don't fanboy, I've had an Athlon back before Pentium 4 after Pentium 3, had Opteron.
Fanboys miss out on a chance of buying best CPU for price, at the moment looks like AMD has it nailed, I was just looking for lanes.
Cheers bro, makes my upgrade decision so much easier
Posted on Reply
#96
Ruru
S.T.A.R.S.
This should've been named i9-9900EE. Emergency Edition like back in the day.. :)
Posted on Reply
#97
Space Lynx
Astronaut
I prefer my Ryzen 3600 anyway even over this chip, mainly because I know it is much more secure than any Intel chip at the moment. If I lose 10 fps in some games I am fine with that knowing I have better security.
Posted on Reply
#98
efikkan
ratirtWell I'm kinda confused here.
4x binning on the 9900K version? Am..... for me binning is categorizing the product (put certain CPU in a proper bin representing specific product) so if a SL does x4 binning on the 9900k version CPU means it is being categorized 4 times? Some people here make it sound like "Binning" means some sort of enhancement that Intel and now SL apply on the CPU's to make them faster and that " binning process" is applied on an already manufactured processor. That's is a little bit of a stretch to me though.
All microprocessors go through binning, which only means they sort it by "quality".
i9-9900KS is not more binned than i9-9900K, just a higher (or different) bin.
Posted on Reply
#99
mcraygsx
I would love to pick one up just to add it to collection only if it came with standard 3 year warranty which it does not.

"Limited Warranty period (parts): 1 year"
Posted on Reply
#100
kapone32
mcraygsxI would love to pick one up just to add it to collection only if it came with standard 3 year warranty which it does not.

"Limited Warranty period (parts): 1 year"
I am sure somewhere in the small print that this will say warranty voided if OC by user.
Posted on Reply
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