Intel to release 9990XE? Auction only part...

[WMGroomAK]

AnandTech is saying that they've seen documents that Intel may be releasing a core i9-9990XE in the future as a highly binned, auction only to System Integrator part.  This will supposedly be a highly binned 9940X, with 14 cores/28 threads with a base frequency of 4.0 Ghz and Turbo of 5.0 Ghz and a 255 W TDP.  

 

https://www.anandtech.com/show/13804/intel-core-i9-9990xe-up-to-5-ghz-auction-only

Quote

AnandTech has seen documents and supporting information from multiple sources that show that Intel is planning to release a new high-end desktop processor, the Core i9-9990XE. These documents show that the processors will not be sold at retail; rather they will only be sold to system integrators, and then only through a closed online auction.

 

This new processor will be the highest numbered processor in Intel's high-end desktop line. The current top processor is the i9-9980XE, an 18 core part with a base frequency of 3.5 GHz and a turbo frequency of 4.0 GHz. The i9-9990XE, on the other hand, is not simply the 9980XE with an increase in frequency. 

 

The Core i9-9990XE will be a 14 core processor, but with a base frequency of 4.0 GHz and a turbo frequency of 5.0 GHz. This makes it a super-binned 9940X.

 

Intel is listing this processor as 'off roadmap', meaning it won't come to retail. Instead of selling to end users directly, Intel will offer it to select OEMs via a series of auctions, held once a quarter, with the first auction scheduled for the third week of 2019. This means the price of the processor is not fixed, and will depend on how much each system integrator is willing to pay. We also learned that only three system integrators will be at the first auction.

 

Overall, this method means that Intel does not have to commit to volume sales: because these chips are super binned, they likely can only build a few hundred a quarter, hence the one auction per quarter. 

 

Other details about the chip that we have learned include that it will have a listed TDP of 255W, which means the peak power will be higher. Motherboard vendors will have to support 420 amps on the power delivery for the chip (which at 1.3 volts would be 546 watts), and up to 30 amps per core. It will be for the socket 2066 X299 motherboards already on the market, and perhaps importantly, there is no warranty from Intel. This means that system builders will not be able to recoup costs on dead silicon, but they might give their own warranty to end users.

 

Well this is interesting. We have reached out to Intel for comments.

 

Considering that the 9980XE is a $2000.00 part, I can't imagine this being auctioned for any less than $2300.00 and it being a super-limited edition piece, so probably a bit higher.  Of course, I also can't figure out who this part is for, except for somebody with a lot more money than I've got in reserve...  If this is true, it could be interesting to see if someone gets a hold of the motherboard for this and tries a regular 9940X in it to see what that part can achieve manually...

[Fasauceome]

Supposedly the ultimate gaming/streaming CPU perhaps, a high frequency and high core count CPU? But it's still Skylake-X so how good can it really be?

[TheGlenlivet]

5 minutes ago, WMGroomAK said:

supposedly be a highly binned 9940X, with 14 cores/28 threads with a base frequency of 4.0 Ghz and Turbo of 5.0 Ghz and a

223908750943857234098524350987W TDP.

[Billy Pilgrim]

5 minutes ago, WMGroomAK said:

Considering that the 9980XE is a $2000.00 part, I can't imagine this being auctioned for any less than $2300.00 and it being a super-limited edition piece, so probably a bit higher.  Of course, I also can't figure out who this part is for, except for somebody with a lot more money than I've got in reserve...  If this is true, it could be interesting to see if someone gets a hold of the motherboard for this and tries a regular 9940X in it to see what that part can achieve manually...

 

1 minute ago, fasauceome said:

supposedly the ultimate gaming/streaming CPU perhaps, a high frequency and high core count CPU? But it's still skylake-X so how good can it really be?

Xd

 

Maybe an attempt to counter Zen 3? though that would make little sense.

[Brooksie359]

How much better can it be at overclocking? It will be interesting to see just how well it holds up against 3rd gen threadripper when it comes out. 

[leadeater]

Why?

[Billy Pilgrim]

Just now, TheGlenlivet said:

223908750943857234098524350987W TDP.

Thats a stupid guess

223908750943857234098524350988W

is much more reasonable

/s

[Fasauceome]

1 minute ago, Billy Pilgrim said:

 

Xd

 

Maybe an attempt to counter Zen 3? though that would make little sense.

Not a particularly good one, it would have worse performance, lower efficiency, and a higher price tag.

[Arika]

Just now, leadeater said:

Why?

[Billy Pilgrim]

Just now, fasauceome said:

Not a particularly good one, it would have worse performance, lower efficiency, and a higher price tag.

Sounds like something fit for intel.

[Brooksie359]

2 minutes ago, fasauceome said:

Not a particularly good one, it would have worse performance, lower efficiency, and a higher price tag.

I mean what else can they do until 10nm comes out? At least they are giving it the good old college try. 

[Fasauceome]

1 minute ago, Brooksie359 said:

I mean what else can they do until 10nm comes out? At least they are giving it the good old college try. 

Coffee lake-X is all I ask

[DildorTheDecent]

Can't imagine many people bought the 14 core. Let alone a binned one.

 

Well at least you can double your cores on LGA 3647. How about that.

[aezakmi]

14 minutes ago, WMGroomAK said:

a base frequency of 4.0 Ghz and Turbo of 5.0 Ghz and a 255 W TDP.

CEO: we need a new way to rip off users

Intel engineers: k, www.google.com FX 9590 specs, ctrl+c, ctrl+v

CEO: 

[Guest]

11 minutes ago, TheGlenlivet said:

223908750943857234098524350987W TDP.

It will only cost $223908750943857234098524350987 too. 

[S w a t s o n]

I'm surprised Intel even managed to convince 3 SI's to join the first auction. Who in their right mind wants 14 core 4ghz servers at the price of 28 core I'm guessing

[Brooksie359]

22 minutes ago, S w a t s o n said:

I'm surprised Intel even managed to convince 3 SI's to join the first auction. Who in their right mind wants 14 core 4ghz servers at the price of 28 core I'm guessing

I would just be thinking about how high the electricity bill would be. 

[Fnige]

26 minutes ago, aezakmi said:

CEO: we need a new way to rip off users

Intel engineers: k, www.google.com FX 9590 specs, ctrl+c, ctrl+v

CEO: 

If there is a lawsuit for it being actually a FX 9590, I think we'd all be laughing here

[porina]

38 minutes ago, S w a t s o n said:

I'm surprised Intel even managed to convince 3 SI's to join the first auction. Who in their right mind wants 14 core 4ghz servers at the price of 28 core I'm guessing

It's not a server part. As for who would want it, there will be those who want systems for their purposes regardless of the cost. It almost doesn't matter what price Intel puts on it. The lower core count, if you can say 14 cores is lower, would help with keeping the clocks up.

 

The only question I have is, just how fast are people getting the exiting 14 core part without binning? It may be quite a premium for a few more MHz. There's no entries I can find on hwbot for the 14 core part, but another user has the 12 core part at 4.9 GHz watercooled.

[S w a t s o n]

1 minute ago, porina said:

It's not a server part. As for who would want it, there will be those who want systems for their purposes regardless of the cost. It almost doesn't matter what price Intel puts on it. The lower core count, if you can say 14 cores is lower, would help with keeping the clocks up.

 

The only question I have is, just how fast are people getting the exiting 14 core part without binning? It may be quite a premium for a few more MHz. There's no entries I can find on hwbot for the 14 core part, but another user has the 12 core part at 4.9 GHz watercooled.

If it's not a server part then threadripper still is better

[S w a t s o n]

Just want to remind everyone that AMD just showed they can beat intel 8 core vs 8 core, Ryzen 9 will be 16 core. Why would anyone buy this?

[Sauron]

1 hour ago, fasauceome said:

But it's still Skylake-X so how good can it really be?

Spoiler: not very much

[porina]

9 minutes ago, S w a t s o n said:

If it's not a server part then threadripper still is better

Depends on your use cases. Until Zen2 hits, Ryzen is still extremely FP weak and you need double the number of cores to come close (and not beat) Intel consumer CPUs. If you have an AVX-512 app, that gap is even bigger.

6 minutes ago, S w a t s o n said:

Just want to remind everyone that AMD just showed they can beat intel 8 core vs 8 core, Ryzen 9 will be 16 core. Why would anyone buy this?

We don't know enough yet. What clock were they running? A 16 core consumer part, if it will exist, will be ram bandwidth crippled and have lower clocks because they will have to power limit (although overclockers will push further as normal). If you need 16 Ryzen cores, threadripper makes more sense. I suspect they will keep 16 cores as an option, but would only deploy it if Intel tries to compete. 12 would seem more reasonable as a balance between clock and total power.

[Tristerin]

Why?  It got us talking about Intel.  Famous and Infamous are only separated by two letters and who you support.

[Sauron]

4 minutes ago, Tristerin said:

Why?  It got us talking about Intel.  Famous and Infamous are only separated by two letters and who you support.

I don't think Intel needs more notoriety than it already has... and this isn't even something we can directly buy.