The Intel Core i9-9900KS Review: The 5 GHz Consumer Special
by Dr. Ian Cutress on October 31, 2019 10:45 AM ESTTest Bed and Setup
As per our processor testing policy, we take a premium category motherboard suitable for the socket, and equip the system with a suitable amount of memory running at the manufacturer's maximum supported frequency. This is also typically run at JEDEC subtimings where possible. It is noted that some users are not keen on this policy, stating that sometimes the maximum supported frequency is quite low, or faster memory is available at a similar price, or that the JEDEC speeds can be prohibitive for performance. While these comments make sense, ultimately very few users apply memory profiles (either XMP or other) as they require interaction with the BIOS, and most users will fall back on JEDEC supported speeds - this includes home users as well as industry who might want to shave off a cent or two from the cost or stay within the margins set by the manufacturer. Where possible, we will extend out testing to include faster memory modules either at the same time as the review or a later date.
| Test Setup | |
| Intel 9th Gen | Intel Core i9-9900KS |
| Motherboard | MSI Z390 Gaming Edge AC (A.60 BIOS) |
| CPU Cooler | TRUE Copper |
| DRAM | Corsair Vengeance 2x8 GB DDR4-2666 |
| GPU | Sapphire RX 460 2GB (CPU Tests) MSI GTX 1080 Gaming 8G (Gaming Tests) |
| PSU | Corsair AX860i |
| SSD | Crucial MX200 1TB |
Many thanks to...
We must thank the following companies for kindly providing hardware for our multiple test beds. Some of this hardware is not in this test bed specifically, but is used in other testing.
| Hardware Providers | |||
| Sapphire RX 460 Nitro | MSI GTX 1080 Gaming X OC | Crucial MX200 + MX500 SSDs |
Corsair AX860i + AX1200i PSUs |
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| G.Skill RipjawsV, SniperX, FlareX |
Crucial Ballistix DDR4 |
Silverstone Coolers |
Silverstone Fans |
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mattkiss - Friday, November 1, 2019 - link
The Processor Specification field in the CPU-Z screen shot has "(ES)" after the cpu name. Did you test and engineering sample or an actual retail sample?GreenReaper - Sunday, November 3, 2019 - link
It was only launched a couple of days ago, so they'd have to have had a sample, you couldn't run the tests and write the article having bought it at retail.BAF2782 - Friday, November 1, 2019 - link
Nice to see a 10+year old Thermalright True Copper: 2kg for a CPU that has a mini-nuclear thermal reactor powering itself. LoL. I can't really say much. I'm using a 11year old ZALMAN CNPS 9900MAX (300watt) AIR cooler on a 5.3GHz Golden 8700K with 1.380v in a z370 Aorus Gaming 7. I thought about getting a new cooler with the $400 open-box 9900K that i just found. But, after seeing the 9900KS running on the 10year old Thermalright True Copper: 2 kg. I don't have a doubt the ZALMAN 9900MAX (300watt) cooler will have any problems running a 5GHz (PO) 9900K.crotach - Saturday, November 2, 2019 - link
So, this is a direct competitor to 2700X, but costs twice as much?I wonder if we'll see intel as a budget offering in a couple of years, cutting the price of their 14nm tech to half of what AMD charges just to get some sales.
My my, how the tables have turned :)
Dragonstongue - Saturday, November 2, 2019 - link
if they can say 4ghs base, but 5ghz all core turbo, why not just have as 5ghz directly ??I confused, seems another marketing ploy of some sort (no real surprise there)
that being said, likely good for AMD as well as sets a new target for them TSMC et al.
Orkiton - Saturday, November 2, 2019 - link
It's like a Caterpillar engine that will need hydrogen fuel to beat most benchmarks. That means expensive Mobo, GPU, PSU, Mem, Cooler, Case.It's Intel stretching to the limits for PR purposes, yet much bellow AMD, in terms of value for money.
liquid_c - Sunday, November 3, 2019 - link
It's unbelievable, i swear. Even Anandtech's comment section has turned into a pcgamer shit show. Instead of just trying to take the article as it is - a piece of info, most of the people here either start a revolution against Intel or just plain dismiss it as "fake information" in regards to TDP. But i see nobody here admitting that Intel's 14nm is ON PAR with AMD's 7nm (i've heard they have the same density but don't quote me on that). Or that said products is not geared towards you or your acquaintances. I swear to God, it's like Intel has raped some family member or something. Just buy whatever you think is fit for you and leave others to enjoy proper journalism (which is so f*cking rare nowadays).liquid_c - Sunday, November 3, 2019 - link
*are not geared.Sigh, i miss an edit button :(
Korguz - Sunday, November 3, 2019 - link
cause it is fake info, 127 watts ?? nope, 200+ more then likely. and some i think, are tired of the lies, BS, and over charging intel has had us pay over the years. face it, if amd didnt bring out zen, the chances are we would still be stuck at quad core for the mainstream, and anything above that, would be HEDT. FYI, it may be on par, but intel should also be on 10nm by now... maybe even the next node size, and yet, intel kept saying, 10nm is on track. there are better, less expensive options then this cpu, this is just intel being intel, last ditch effort to try to save face.The Garden Variety - Sunday, November 3, 2019 - link
Thank you, liquid_c. This needs to be repeated over and over again. You have this stellar quality content, painstakingly researched and presented, and it's clear many of the readers (or at least the ones that comment) are neither understanding it, reading it in context, or even trying to think about it. The smartphone reviews are identical. It's all just "how do I read what I want so I can wage my emotional holy war because I have literally nothing else going for me."Here, I'll go one step further: there's zero reason for a site like Anandtech to have comments following articles at all. You could delete 9 out of 10 attached to this article and zero of value would be lost. Given how terribad the comment system is (no editing, tiny and unscalable input window, spam posts that go undetected for days, etc.) and the effort/investment it would likely take Anandtech's limited team to improve it, just getting the hell rid of it would be a far more sensible solution. Let the content be the star. Send people to the forums in a special board requiring a 500 post barrier in the broader community to contribute to article discussions.