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Report: 9th Gen Intel Core i9-9900K Launching Oct. 1

Intel's first 9th generation Core desktop processor is expected to launch on Oct. 1, offering eight cores, 16 threads, and a base clock speed of 3.6GHz boosting to 5GHz on single and dual core operations.

August 13, 2018
Intel Generic Processor

If you're looking to buy or build a new gaming rig, then it's probably worth holding out until October to start deciding on components. It's thought that Intel is getting ready to launch 9th generation 14nm++ desktop Core processors, and the first one looks mighty impressive on paper.

As WCCFTech reports, sources are reporting that Intel intends to launch the 9th gen desktop processors on Oct 1. Three unlocked processors are planned for this year alongside a new Z390 series chipset. The flagship processor will be the Core i9-9900K offering eight cores and 16 threads with a base frequency of 3.6GHz turbo boosting to 5GHz for up to two cores.

Then there's the Core i7-9700K which also offers eight cores, but only eight threads. The base frequency is 3.6GHz boosting up to 4.9GHz for two cores. Finally there's the Core i5-9600K offering six cores and six threads with a base frequency of 3.7GHz boosting to 4.6GHz for one core.

All three processors have a TDP of 95W, with the only other key differences being the cache and price. The 9900K includes 16MB L3 cache, the 9700K includes 12MB, and the 9600K 9MB. We should expect to pay around $450 for the 9900K, $350 for the 9700K, and $250 for the 9600K. Z390 chipset motherboards are set to appear from the major motherboard manufacturers, but Asus, ASRock, MSI, and Gigabyte have already confirmed 9th gen Core chips will be supported on existing 300 series motherboards.

Other 9th generation chips are planned, including an i5-9600, 9500, 9400, and 9400T, as well as an i3-9100, 9000, and 9000T. They all run lower clock frequencies, core counts, and TDPs, but won't arrive until Q1 2019 at the earliest with pricing yet to be confirmed.

The wait for 10nm Intel chips is set to be a long one, with Intel's latest estimate being the end of 2019. So if you do need a new high performance PC and aren't considering switching to AMD Ryzen Threadripper, then the Core i9-9900K looks to be the chip for you. It will certainly last you well into the age of 10nm Intel chips even if they get delayed again.

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About Matthew Humphries

Senior Editor

I started working at PCMag in November 2016, covering all areas of technology and video game news. Before that I spent nearly 15 years working at Geek.com as a writer and editor. I also spent the first six years after leaving university as a professional game designer working with Disney, Games Workshop, 20th Century Fox, and Vivendi.

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