9th Gen Intel Core i9-9980XE
- Boost/Base Clock:
- 4.4 GHz / 3.0 GHz
- Core/Thread Count:
- 18 Core / 36 Thread
- Cache:
- 24.8MB L3 + 18MB L2 + 1.1MB L1
- TDP:
- 165 Watts
- CPU Socket:
- FCLGA2066
- CPU Series:
- Cascade Lake-X
- Memory Support:
- DDR4-2666
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Manufacturer: Intel Last updated: September 9, 2026
Description
The 9th Gen Intel Core i9-9980XE is an 18-core, 36-thread HEDT flagship built on Cascade Lake-X, running a 3.0 GHz base clock that boosts to 4.4 GHz within a 165 Watt TDP on the LGA2066 socket.
This chip is the direct predecessor to the 10th Gen i9-10980XE, sharing an identical 18-core, 36-thread configuration but on Intel's earlier Cascade Lake-X refresh of the platform.
Platform
This HEDT chip requires an X299-series motherboard on the LGA2066 socket, typically paired with quad-channel memory for genuine workstation-scale bandwidth.
How Is the Core i9-9980XE in Terms of Performance
With 18 cores and 36 threads, this chip targets the same demanding workstation and content-creation workloads as its 10th Gen successor, delivering genuinely strong multi-threaded throughput for its generation.
Benchmarks
Cinebench R23 multi-core scores of 22,939 trail the 10th Gen i9-10980XE's 24,109 by a modest margin, reflecting the incremental refresh between the two generations. Geekbench 5 multi-core scores of 16,336 confirm genuinely strong workstation-tier throughput for this chip's era.
Specifications
| Form Factor | Server & Enthusiast |
|---|---|
| Brand | Intel |
| Series | Core i9 |
| Model Number | 9980XE |
| Boost/Base Clock | 4.4 GHz / 3.0 GHz |
| Core/Thread Count | 18 Core / 36 Thread |
| Cache | 24.8MB L3 + 18MB L2 + 1.1MB L1 |
| TDP | 165 Watts |
| CPU Socket | FCLGA2066 |
| CPU Series | Cascade Lake-X, 9th Gen Intel Core |
| Memory Support | DDR4-2666, non-ECC (ECC not supported) |
Expert Review
Rated by the Consumercarts editorial team, not by users
Best for
- Workstation and content-creation workloads on Intel's HEDT platform wanting genuine 18-core throughput
Not for
- Buyers with the option of the newer 10th Gen i9-10980XE — that chip offers a modest but real performance edge on the same platform