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Intel releases the all new

Intel® Core™ i9-7900X X-series Processor

Intel’s Core i9 processor is what happens when Intel begins to worry that it might not have the baddest chip on the block. And if you’re desperate for one, here’s some great news: Some Core i9 preorders begin the week of June 19, with the remainder launching through October.

Just weeks after AMD disclosed its massive 16-core, 32-thread Threadripper chip, Intel dropped its bomb: The Core i9 family will have up to 18 cores and 36 threads, making them possibly the most powerful consumer PC chips ever made.

Read on for the speeds, feeds, and prices of the new Core i9 chips, and all the details we have on the underlying technologies. Also, stay tuned for more information: We haven’t had a chance to test the new Core i9 chips yet, and the availability and pricing of the associated X299 motherboards remain unknown. We’ll update this post with new information and testing as we get it.

The latest news

At the PC Gaming show at the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) on June 12, Intel senior vice president Gregory Bryant announced that Intel would begin taking preorders for the Core i7 X-series chips and the 10-core Core i9 7900X the week of June 20. Intel will launch the 12-core Core i9-7920X, the 14-core Core i9-7940X, the 16-core Core i9-7960X, and the 18-core Core i9-7980XE from August through October, with exact dates and pricing to be disclosed later. (Intel confirmed separately that the 12-core i9-7920X will launch in August, and the 18-core Core i9-7980XE in October.)

Pricing and release date

Unfortunately, all that performance comes at a hefty price. Note that Intel hasn’t released the clock speeds of all of the Core i9 family yet. They’re all unlocked, though—ready and waiting to be overclocked. Here’s a summary of the core counts and prices of the Core i9 chips we do know, including clock speeds where available.

Core i9 Extreme Edition:

• Core i9-7980XE: 18 cores/36 threads, $1,999 

Core i9:

• Core i9-7960X: 16 cores/32 threads, $1,699
• Core i9-7940X: 14 cores/28 threads, $1,399
• Core i9-7920X: 12 cores/24 threads, $1,199
• Core i9-7900X (3.3GHz): 10 cores/20 threads, $999 

Core i7: 

• Core i7 7820X (3.6GHZ), 8 cores/16 threads, $599
• Core i7-7800X (3.5GHz), 6 cores/12 threads, $389
• Core i7-7740X (4.3GHz), 4 cores/8 threads, $339  

Core i5:

• Core i5-7640X (4.0 GHz), 4 cores, 4 threads, $242

At this point, we don’t know exactly when the new Core i9 family will ship—or whether all of the chips will ship at once, or be staggered over time. We do know that you’ll be able to preorder the Core i7 X-series chips and the 10-core Core i9 7900X the week of June 20. We also know that the 12-core i9-7920X will launch in August, and the 18-core Core i9-7980XE in October.

Frequently asked questions

What is Core i9?

On May 30 at Computex, Intel formally announced the Core i9 high-end chips for PC enthusiasts. At the high end, it’s quite simple: The Core i9 family consists of what’s known as the Skylake-X architecture, with processors that include 10, 12, 14, and 16 cores. 

From there, it becomes a bit complicated. For some reason, Intel decided that the 8-core and 6-core Skylake-X chips aren’t worthy enough, so they carry the Core i7 name. They share some common architectural features with the “true” Core i9 chips, though, so we’ve included them. The same goes for a second family of chips, known as Kaby Lake-X—basically the same seventh-generation CPUs you’ve seen on laptops and desktops for more than a year, but that also connect to the same X299 chipset as the Skylake-X chips do. The two Kaby Lake-X chips will be quad-core only parts.

Colloquially, you may also see these chips referred to as the Skylake-X family, the X-series of chips, or by their code name, “Basin Falls.” 

When can I get Core i9?

Intel hasn’t said yet when Core i9 will ship. We do know that you’ll be able to preorder the Core i7 X-series chips and the 10-core Core i9 7900X the week of June 20. Intel confirmed separately that the 12-core i9-7920X will launch in August, and the 18-core Core i9-7980XE in October.

Who should buy Core i9? 

As you might guess from the prices, these chips aren’t for everyone. You don’t remotely need 18 cores and 36 threads unless you’re doing resource-intensive multitasking, such as video or gaming. 

How much will Core i9 cost? 

The least-expensive Core i9 chip will be the Core i5-7640X, at $242. The Core i7 chips will range from $339 to $599. The Core i9 chips will be priced from $999 to $1699. The most expensive will be the Extreme Edition (Core i9-7980XE) for $1,999.  

Where does Core i9 fit into the Intel Core family? 

Core i9 is Intel’s fifth PC processor family, starting with the Core m and moving up through the traditional Core i3, i5, and i7 chips to Core i9. As the numerical sequencing suggests, Core i9 represents Intel’s most prestigious chip family, offering the best performance at the highest price. 

It’s not exactly clear what makes a chip a Core i9. The lowest-end Core i9-7900X, for example, shares the same amount of cores as the previous 10-core Core i7-6950X. Still, if you are looking to buy or build today and want the fastest Intel has to offer, Core i9 is probably the easiest way to tell.

How does Core i9 relate to Broadwell-E?

Core i9 succeeds Broadwell-E as Intel’s supreme, enthusiast desktop chip family. 

At the top of the heap sits Core i9 Extreme Edition, part of the Core i9 family, but a supercharged subset of its own. Right now, it’s just a single chip: the Core i9 Extreme Edition i9-7980XE. 

Will I need a new motherboard for Core i9?

Yes. All Core i9 CPUs will use a new Socket R4, a 2,066-pin LGA socket that will require a brand-new motherboard. Intel’s Core i9 family is not backward-compatible with existing Skylake or Kaby Lake motherboards.