The world of processors is in a state of constant flux. A battle is underway between the two giants of the processor world: Intel and AMD. Their latest weapons of choice? The Intel Core i9-7980XE and the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 1950X. But it is Intel’s 18-core powerhouse that is currently the talk of the town. The performance of your processor is crucial for optimizing various tasks, including deep learning. For a thorough analysis and recommendations on the best CPUs available in the market, check out our comprehensive guide on the best CPUs.
A Trustworthy Review
You can place your trust in our review. We spend countless hours rigorously testing each product, ensuring that we provide an accurate and comprehensive understanding of its performance. Our goal is to guide your buying decision, ensuring you invest wisely.
Unleashing the Beast
Intel’s Core i9-7980XE is an 18-core behemoth that stands unchallenged in the realm of consumer CPUs. With its staggering single and multi-core performance, it has redefined the CPU landscape, offering a level of performance unseen in the consumer market.
Technical Specifications
The technical specifications of the Core i9-7980XE are as follows:
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Cores | 18 |
| Threads | 36 |
| Base clock | 2.6GHz |
| Boost clock | 4.4GHz |
| L3 cache | 24.75MB |
| TDP (Thermal Design Power) | 165W |
Pricing
The Core i9-7980XE retails at a whopping $1999, making it twice as expensive as AMD’s top competitor, the Ryzen Threadripper 1950X, which is priced at $999. While the cost may seem exorbitant, it’s worth noting that Intel has consistently pushed the boundaries of pricing with its high-end processors.
Features and Architecture
The Core i9-7980XE is an engineering marvel with 18 cores and 36 threads squeezed into Intel’s compact Skylake-X 14nm architecture. The processor also boasts 24.75 MB of Smart Cache, support for up to 44 PCIe 3.0 lanes, quad-channel memory, and a 165W TDP. It has a base clock frequency of 2.60 GHz that can boost up to 3.4 GHz across all 18 cores when under full load.
Performance
The Core i9-7980XE excels in benchmark tests, scoring an impressive 3,331 points in CineBench’s multi-threaded benchmark and a whopping 184 points in the single-threaded operation. When compared to the Core i5-7600K, a popular processor for strong single-core performance, the i9-7980XE surpasses it by five points at 179.
Overclocking and Heat Management
The Core i9-7980XE is also highly capable when it comes to overclocking. The processor can be pushed to 4.2GHz on any of its cores. However, the challenge lies in managing the heat produced during overclocking. Under a high-end cooler, temperatures rarely peak past 55 degrees under load. But when overclocked, temperatures can reach around 87 degrees at maximum.
Final Verdict
The Intel Core i9-7980XE, despite its high cost, offers unmatched performance in the consumer processor market. Its 18 cores deliver jaw-dropping performance, making it an excellent choice for heavy-duty tasks such as video editing and 3D rendering. However, its high cost and power consumption make it less suitable for mainstream consumers who primarily use their PCs for gaming or other less demanding tasks.
The Core i9-7980XE has firmly established Intel’s dominance in the high-end desktop CPU market. However, with AMD’s Ryzen Threadripper offering similar performance at half the price, Intel’s reign may not go unchallenged for long. The battle between these two titans of the processor world is far from over, and we can expect more exciting developments in the near future.
