One of Intel’s Core-i9 processors has surfaced recently, the Intel Core-i9 7920X. This chip will be the sole Intel processor scheduled to come out this August that will single-handedly face the high-end 16 and 12-core AMD Ryzen Threadripper processors.
Introducing Intel’s first high-end desktop processor
So what do we know so far about Intel's 7920X? Aside from the CPU’s specifications, the price of this 12-core, 24-thread processor was also confirmed.
Based on the latest reports from WCCFTech, here is the complete specifications of the 7920X:
- Core: Skylake-X
- Core Number: 12
- Number of Fibers: 24
- Frequency: 2.9 GHz
- Maximum Frequency: 4.0 GHz
- Intel Smart Cache: 16.5 MB
- Instruction Kit: 64-bit
- Instruction Extension: SSE4.1 / 4.2 -512
- Process: 14nm
- Max TDP: 140W
- Socket: LGA2066
- Max RAM Size: 128GB RAM
- Type: DDR4 2666MHz
- Number of Memory Channels: 4
- ECC Memory Support: No
- Max Number of PCI Express Lines: 44
- PCI Express Revision: 3.0
This chip has 12-core, 24-thread, a base clock of 2.9 GHz, and a boost clock of 4.0 GHz. However, earlier reports suggested that not all cores are available at 4.0 GHz.
Like the 10-core, 20-thread 7900X which was the first Core i9 processor released back in June, the 7920X chip features Turbo Boost Max 3 technology which can reach a boost clock of up to 4.5 GHz.
This chip also features 16.5MB L3 cache and 12MB L2 cache for a total cache of 28.5MB on board. It also supports socket LGA 2066 and four (4) DDR4-2666 memory slots.
Comparison to AMD Ryzen Threadripper 12-core
Like 7900X, this 7920X has a TDP of 140W which is comparatively lower than the 12-core AMD Ryzen Threadripper 1920X with 180W. The next three Core-i9 processors have 165W TDP.
In turn, the Ryzen Threadripper processor boasts a higher base clock at 3.5GHz. The AMD Ryzen chip also has 64 PCIe lanes, 20 higher than Intel’s and 44 PCIe lanes support.
As for the pricing, the 12-core Intel chip will be sold for $1189, or $389 higher when compared with its counterpart.
What else can consumers expect?
The 7920X processor will not serve as the flagship processor for the Core X family; however, this 12-core, 24-thread CPU will be the first among Intel’s high-end desktop (HEDT) processors. There are five known Core i9 processors, the first of which – 7900X – was released last June. The other three HEDT Intel processors are scheduled for release sometime in Q4 of 2017.
The three upcoming Core i9 processors: 7940X, 7960X, and 7980XE, all have higher cores/threads compared to 7920X. Based on earlier rumors, these processors will be released sometime between September and October.