Clock Frequencies and Boost Clock Analysis

Most modern processors feature a capability called "Boost" or "Turbo" that automatically overclocks the CPU beyond the nominal clock frequency provided certain conditions related to thread count, power draw, and temperatures are met. Our testing on this page investigates what actual real-life frequencies can be achieved in such scenarios. The data below presents the minimum, maximum, and average clock frequency of a given core/thread-count combination for a typical heavy workload. We start with one thread and go all the way up to the CPU's maximum thread count while at the same time measuring the average clock frequency for these timed testing runs.



A unique selling point of the Intel Core i9-9900KS is its improved "all-core 5 GHz" boost, which is actually more like a "5 GHz all-the-time" configuration—pretty impressive. There's one little caveat, though. Just like other Intel processors, the Core i9-9900KS will allow its TDP to be exceeded for a short time (30–60 seconds), working under the assumption that the heatsink mass will be able to absorb more heat than that as the processor is heating up. That's why we benched the CPU with an additional data point "Max Turbo", which removes that limit and lets the processor exceed its TDP without limits.