Intel i9-7980XE and i9-7960X: Unleashing Power and Dominating Threadripper

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Intel's New Core i9 CPUs
3. Pricing and Competition
4. Specifications of the i9-7980XE
5. Specifications of the i9-7960X
6. Comparison with AMD's Threadripper
7. Heat Generation and Cooling Requirements
8. PCI Lanes and Communication Speed
9. Real-World Performance Benchmarks
10. Gaming Performance
11. Power Consumption and Overclocking
12. Conclusion

💡Highlights:

• Intel launches the highly anticipated Core i9 7980 Extreme Edition and i9 7960X CPUs.
• These new CPUs are designed to compete with AMD's Threadripper lineup.
• The i9 7980XE boasts 18 cores and 36 Threads, while the i9 7960X has 16 cores and 32 threads.
• Both CPUs come at a hefty price tag, with the i9 7980XE priced at around $3,700.
• The performance benchmarks show that these CPUs excel in multi-threaded tasks, making them ideal for professionals.
• However, for gaming purposes, more affordable CPUs may be a better choice.
• The power consumption and heat generation of these CPUs are significantly higher than their competitors, requiring efficient cooling solutions.
• Overclocking these CPUs requires specialized equipment and a robust power supply.
• Ultimately, the decision to invest in these high-end CPUs depends on the specific needs and budget of the user.

🖥️ Introduction

On the day of the official launch, Intel is introducing two new flagship CPUs in their high-end desktop lineup - the Core i9 7980 Extreme Edition and the i9 7960X. These processors are designed to compete head-to-head with AMD's Threadripper CPUs. With a price tag of around $3,700, these CPUs are aimed at professionals who require top-tier performance in demanding tasks such as content creation, video editing, and rendering. However, they may not be the best choice for gamers or those with more budget-conscious needs.

🖥️ Intel's New Core i9 CPUs

The Core i9 7980XE and the i9 7960X are Intel's new flagship CPUs in their high-end desktop lineup. These processors are part of the Skylake-X family and represent the pinnacle of Intel's desktop computing power. The i9 7980XE boasts an impressive 18 cores and 36 threads, while the i9 7960X offers 16 cores and 32 threads. These CPUs are built on the LGA 2066 socket and feature a base clock speed of 2.6 GHz for the i9 7980XE and 2.8 GHz for the i9 7960X.

💰 Pricing and Competition

With a price point of around $3,700, the i9 7980XE and the i9 7960X are considerably more expensive compared to their AMD Threadripper counterparts. However, Intel aims to justify this premium by offering superior performance and efficiency. The i9 7980XE, with its 18 cores and 36 threads, aims to outperform AMD's 16-core Threadripper 1950X, while the i9 7960X directly competes with the Threadripper 1950X in terms of core count.

⚙️ Specifications of the i9-7980XE

The i9-7980XE is a monstrous CPU, featuring 18 cores and 36 threads. It operates at a base clock speed of 2.6 GHz, which may seem low compared to other high-end CPUs. However, Intel's Turbo Boost technology allows for dynamic performance scaling, effectively boosting clocks to a maximum of 4.2 GHz under optimal conditions. The CPU boasts a TDP of 165W, demanding more power and generating more heat compared to mainstream processors. Efficient cooling solutions are crucial to prevent thermal throttling.

⚙️ Specifications of the i9-7960X

The i9-7960X is a slightly scaled-down version of the i9-7980XE, offering 16 cores and 32 threads. Like its bigger brother, it operates at a base clock speed of 2.8 GHz, with the ability to reach maximum boost frequencies of up to 4.4 GHz. While it lacks the extreme core count and clock speeds of the i9-7980XE, the i9-7960X still packs a massive amount of processing power.

⚔️ Comparison with AMD's Threadripper

AMD's Threadripper processors have been gaining significant attention in the high-end desktop CPU market. The Threadripper 1950X, boasting 16 cores and 32 threads, directly competes with Intel's i9-7960X. However, Intel's new CPUs come at a significant price premium, with the i9-7960X costing around $700 more than the Threadripper 1950X. While Intel aims to offer a performance advantage, the price difference raises questions about its value proposition.

🔥 Heat Generation and Cooling Requirements

The immense power of the i9-7980XE and i9-7960X comes at a cost - high heat generation and power consumption. Both CPUs require efficient cooling solutions to prevent thermal throttling and maintain optimal performance. Air coolers or high-quality all-in-one liquid coolers are necessary to handle the substantial heat output. It is crucial to consider cooling requirements when purchasing these CPUs to ensure they perform at their best.

🌐 PCI Lanes and Communication Speed

PCI lanes play a crucial role in determining a CPU's ability to communicate directly with attached devices, reducing latency, and boosting overall performance. The i9-7980XE and i9-7960X both offer 44 PCI lanes, with 40 lanes dedicated to graphics solutions and 4 lanes available for high-speed NVMe storage devices. While AMD's Threadripper offers more PCI lanes, Intel's setup still allows for efficient communication and connectivity.

⏱️ Real-World Performance Benchmarks

In real-world performance benchmarks, the i9-7980XE and i9-7960X showcase their immense multi-threaded capabilities. These CPUs excel in tasks such as rendering, video editing, and other highly Parallel workloads. However, for gaming purposes, more affordable CPUs may be a better choice. While the i9-7980XE and i9-7960X offer impressive performance, spending the extra money may not be justified for gaming alone.

🎮 Gaming Performance

While the i9-7980XE and i9-7960X offer exceptional multi-threaded performance, their advantages in gaming are less pronounced. In some cases, more budget-friendly CPUs can deliver comparable gaming performance. Additionally, bottlenecks may occur in certain games, where the graphics card or game optimization become the limiting factors. Gamers may find better value by investing in a higher-end graphics card rather than splurging on these high-end CPUs.

💡 Power Consumption and Overclocking

The i9-7980XE and i9-7960X demonstrate formidable power consumption, surpassing their competitors in this aspect. These CPUs draw significantly more power than AMD's Threadripper series, pushing power supplies to their limit. Overclocking these CPUs requires specialized equipment, such as robust cooling solutions and adequate power supply units. Ensuring proper cooling and power delivery is essential to unleash the full potential of these CPUs.

🏁 Conclusion

In conclusion, the i9-7980XE and i9-7960X represent Intel's commitment to pushing the boundaries of high-end desktop computing. These CPUs offer unparalleled multi-threaded performance, making them ideal for professionals who demand the utmost computational power. However, for gamers or those with more budget-conscious needs, more affordable CPUs are a better choice. The decision to invest in these high-end CPUs depends on specific requirements and budget limitations.