Intel Core i9-9980XE Extreme Edition Review – It Hertz!

1. Introducing Core i9-9980XE2. Test Set-up and All-Round Performance3. CPU Performance and Overview4. Power and Heat5. Closing Thoughts6. View All Pages

Performance and Overclocking

We started testing our Threadripper 2950X and 2990WX CPUs before the Core i9-9980XE had arrived so we could get our baseline test results ready. We used a Fractal Design Celsius S24 AIO liquid cooler on our AMD test system that performed perfectly well, however by the time we came to test the Core i9-9980XE and re-test the Intel Core i9-7980XE we had heard reports that Core i9-9980XE ran considerably hotter than we expected.

We had rather supposed the addition of a soldered heat spreader would reduce temperatures of the 9980XE, compared to the 7980XE, and had fully intended to use the Celsius S24 to demonstrate that Intel’s new 18-core CPU had tamed the technology. You can practically see the headline writing itself there.

By the time we started testing we understood that Intel had worked on the clock speed of the i9-9980XE and had left power and thermals essentially untouched so we decided it was best to upgrade the CPU cooler to a 240mm custom loop. This was built using an Aqua Computer Cuplex Kryos NEXT CPU block, a Watercool Heatkiller IV Tube and D5 pump/reservoir and an Alphacool NexXxos ST30 240mm nickel plated radiator.

Intel test system:
CPU: Intel Core i9-9980XE and Core i9-7980XE
Memory: 32GB G.Skill TridentX DDR4-3200MHz Quad Channel
Motherboard: Gigabyte X299 Aorus Master
CPU cooler: Fractal Design Celsius S24
Graphics: Nvidia RTX 2080 8GB Founders Edition
Storage: Samsung 960 PRO
Power Supply: Seasonic Prime Platinum 1300W
OS: Windows 10 Pro

AMD Threadripper test system:
CPU: AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX and 2950X
Memory: 32GB Corsair Vengeance LPX DDR4-3200MHz Quad Channel
Motherboard: Gigabyte X399 Aorus Xtreme
CPU cooler: 240mm custom loop
Graphics: Nvidia RTX 2080 8GB Founders Edition
Storage: Samsung 970 EVO
Power Supply: Seasonic Prime Platinum 1300W
OS: Windows 10 Pro

Cooling components:
CPU block: Aqua Computer Cuplex Kryos NEXT
Pump/reservoir: Watercool Heatkiller IV Tube and D5
Radiator: Alphacool NexXxos ST30 240mm Nickel Plated
Fittings: EKWB 16/10mm
Tubing: Mayhems Ultra Clear16/10mm
Coolant: EKWB CryoFuel Solid Laguna Yellow

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