Intel Core i9-9900K 9th Gen Coffee Lake 8 Core Processor – CPU Only

The Intel Core i9-9900K is the new flagship model of the Core 9000-series and offers eight cores with Hyper-Threading (SMT), capable of simultaneously processing up to 16 threads. The enthusiast-class CPU can also offer increased clock frequencies and optimised boost functions compared to its predecessors. The TDP of this Octa-Core processor is a mere 95 Watts. The processor is compatible with socket 1151 motherboards from the 300-series.

The Intel Core series of processors have now received their latest upgrade in the form of the Coffee Lake-S Refresh. This newly updated range brings some highly sought after improvements, including the fact that CPUs with unlocked multipliers now offer soldered heat spreaders (IHS). This enables heat to be more effectively dissipated away from the CPU, allowing higher clock frequencies over longer periods of time.

Attention: Motherboards with Z370, H370 and B360 chipsets require a BIOS update in order to function with a 9th generation Intel Core- series CPU!

Specifications

IMPORTANT: Only compatible with Intel’s 300-series and later chipset motherboards!

About the Intel Core i9-9900K Processor

With a Base Clock of 3.6GHz, the Core i9-9900K offers high clock frequencies, automatically increasing according to the use case scenario. The processor’s Turbo Boost function enables the CPU cores to be clocked to meet the user’s exact performance requirements. Depending on whether an application or a game is being run, the Boost Clock can increase – for example – to make either one core operate at up to 5.0 GHz or drive all cores at up to 4.7 GHz. As a processor with an unlocked multiplier, the Intel Core i9-9900K can also be overclocked.

The processor supports a maximum clock frequency of 2666 MHz on DDR4-RAM, and the CPU also supports Dual-Channel Mode. Depending on the motherboard and its capacity for overclocking, RAM kits with even higher frequencies can be used. In terms of the socket that Intel has opted for, the LGA 1151(v2) socket is used – meaning that ninth-generation processors are compatible with 300- series chipsets. Motherboards with a Z370-, H370- or B360 chipset may require a BIOS update!

As the integrated graphics unit here is the Intel HD Graphics UHD 630, it offers an impressive 24 Execution Units to power Intel Quick Sync, GPU Compute and of course, one or two games in-between times. Furthermore, the integrated graphics support DirectX 12 with Feature Level 12_1, OpenGL 4.5 and OpenCL 2.0, and 4K- and UHD playback at 60 Hz over DisplayPort – when paired with a compatible motherboard.

The Intel Core i9-9900K can reach temperatures that may exceed the rated 95 Watt TDP. This is particularly true with AVX512 instruction set extensions where TDP is exceeding by a significant margin. All-in-One water cooling with a 240 mm radiator or a large tower-style CPU is strongly advised.