Intel Core i9-9920X / 9940X / 9960X / 9980XE / 9990XE – Wholesale CPUs Grade A Refurbished Tray Packaging

Feature	Core i9-9920X	Core i9-9940X	Core i9-9960X	Core i9-9980XE	Core i9-9990XE
Cores/Threads	12/24	14/28	16/32	18/36	14/28
Base Clock	3.5 GHz	3.3 GHz	3.1 GHz	3.0 GHz	4.0 GHz
Max Turbo Clock	4.5 GHz	4.5 GHz	4.5 GHz	4.5 GHz	5.1 GHz
L3 Cache	19.25 MB	19.25 MB	22 MB	24.75 MB	19.25 MB
TDP	165W	165W	165W	165W	255W
PCIe Lanes	44	44	44	44	44
Memory Support	Quad DDR4-2666	Quad DDR4-2666	Quad DDR4-2666	Quad DDR4-2666	Quad DDR4-2666
Socket	LGA 2066	LGA 2066	LGA 2066	LGA 2066	LGA 2066
Unlocked	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Thermal Solution	Soldered IHS	Soldered IHS	Soldered IHS	Soldered IHS	Special Cooling*
Price (Launch)	~$1,200	~$1,400	~$1,700	~$2,000	OEM Only

1. Intel Core i9-9920X

The Balanced HEDT Performer

• 12 cores/24 threads with 3.5GHz base/4.5GHz turbo

• 19.25MB L3 cache and 165W TDP

• Features Intel’s Mesh Architecture with 44 PCIe lanes

• Quad-channel DDR4-2666 memory support

• Soldered thermal interface material (improves cooling)

• Ideal for: Professional 3D rendering, video editing, and engineering simulations where core count and memory bandwidth matter more than extreme clock speeds

• Best value proposition in the X-series lineup for serious creators needing more than mainstream cores but not the absolute maximum

2. Intel Core i9-9940X

The Sweet Spot for Heavy Multitasking

• 14 cores/28 threads at 3.3GHz base/4.5GHz turbo

• Maintains same 19.25MB L3 cache as 9920X

• Includes Turbo Boost Max 3.0 technology

• Supports AVX-512 instructions for technical computing

• Perfect for: Complex financial modeling, 8K video processing, and scientific computing workloads that benefit from additional threads without massive power draw

• Notable for being the last SKU before the significant cache increase of higher core models

3. Intel Core i9-9960X

The Content Creation Powerhouse

• 16 cores/32 threads with 3.1GHz base/4.5GHz turbo

• 22MB L3 cache (first major cache jump in the series)

• Features Deep Learning Boost instructions

• Maintains same 165W envelope as lower core count models

• Designed for: High-end animation studios, architectural visualization, and professional audio production where both core count and cache size significantly impact performance

• Offers the best balance for workstation users who need substantial parallel processing power

4. Intel Core i9-9980XE

The Ultimate Desktop Workstation CPU

• 18 cores/36 threads at 3.0GHz base/4.5GHz turbo

• Massive 24.75MB L3 cache

• Full 44 PCIe lanes for multi-GPU/NVMe setups

• Includes VNNI instructions for AI acceleration

• Built for: Hollywood-grade VFX rendering, computational fluid dynamics, and enterprise-grade virtualization

• Represents Intel’s flagship mainstream HEDT offering before moving to Cascade Lake architecture

• Requires premium cooling solutions for sustained all-core workloads

5. Intel Core i9-9990XE

The Exclusive Frequency Monster

• Special 14-core/28-thread configuration

• Remarkable 4.0GHz base/5.1GHz turbo frequencies

• OEM-only part with 255W TDP (90W higher than others)

• Requires specialized liquid cooling solutions

• Optimized for: Low-latency trading systems, real-time 8K video processing, and other frequency-sensitive professional applications

• Features bin-sorted premium silicon for maximum clock potential

• Not available through retail channels (special order only)

Common Platform Features:

• All require X299 chipset motherboards with robust VRM designs

• Support quad-channel memory configurations

• Unlocked multipliers for overclocking

• No integrated graphics (discrete GPU required)

• Intel Optane Memory and SSD support

• Advanced vector instruction sets for professional workloads

Performance Considerations:

• Single-thread: 9990XE > 9920X ≈ 9940X ≈ 9960X ≈ 9980XE

• Multi-thread: 9980XE > 9960X > 9940X > 9990XE > 9920X

• Memory bandwidth: Equal across all models (~85GB/s)

• PCIe flexibility: Identical 44-lane implementations

Cooling Requirements:

• 9920X-9980XE: 280mm AIO liquid cooler recommended

• 9990XE: Custom open-loop liquid cooling mandatory

• All benefit from case with excellent airflow