Intel Core i9 10980XE CPU Review

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Recommendations: Who is this for?

Existing X299 Owners without a 7980XE or 9980XE

If you already own an X299 motherboard, quad-channel DDR4 RAM and an older LGA 2066 CPU that isn’t the high end 7980XE or 9980XE, then you are in the perfect position to consider a 10980XE. Going to something like the 10980XE makes sense if you have either a Core i7 7740X or some older 28 PCIe lane CPU. In those instances, you’re talking about a simple drop-in upgrade as well as a substantial increase in performance. You pick up more PCIe lanes as well.

Not having to change the motherboard and potentially swap RAM due to compatibility issues has some value to it. Again, you won’t have to replace your motherboard, processor, cooling and potentially your RAM. While AMD compatibility is better than it used to be, going with an X470 or X570 motherboard will probably necessitate changing RAM if you went that route. The AM4 platform has trouble using four DIMMs and compatibility beyond that can be an issue. Even X399 or TR40X has the potential to force you into replacing your existing RAM.

Existing Owners of 7980XE or 9980XE CPU’s

If you already have an existing Core i7 7980XE or 9980XE, then the answer would be a definite “no.” You are already on X299 so there isn’t any buy-in with that or system memory but the 10980XE doesn’t offer enough of an improvement to justify the expense in my opinion. We are talking about an incremental upgrade that just isn’t going to do much for you. Sure, there will be people that will buy the new CPU anyway, but this isn’t cost-effective. I’m far from frugal about computer hardware myself, but, paying $1,000 to replace a CPU I spent nearly $2,000 on a year or two ago for a performance boost that’s going to clock in well under 10% (and that’s being generous) makes no sense to me.

Of course, the new CPU may overclock much better, but again you are still going to pay $1,000 for the new CPU. That will net you 200MHz or so increase in clock speed. If you think you can sell that older 7980XE or 9980XE to cover the cost, your going to be disappointed. Anyone who buys one of those used for anywhere near $1,000 is getting fleeced.

Considering the Switch to AMD

You could always opt to switch to AMD. There are some scenarios where that makes sense and the Core i9 10980XE simply doesn’t. It would be hard to recommend buying an X299 motherboard, quad-channel RAM and a 10980XE processor over a mainstream setup using an X570 motherboard with a 3950X. I don’t have performance data on the 3950X, but the fact is that even if the 10980XE is faster, (I’m sure it is in some tests), your talking about potentially more expensive motherboards, quad-channel RAM vs. dual-channel, and a CPU that costs $250 more. That 10980XE will also pull much more power and be more difficult to cool. I just don’t think you get enough with Intel to justify going that route if you don’t already have some investment in existing hardware.

If you go to AMD’s HEDT market, that gets complicated. Compared to X399 and either the 2920X or 2950X, the Intel 10980XE is going to be faster. A lot faster in some cases. However, those options will be cheaper. That is a dead-end path as sTR4 has no future. AMD also has the 2970WX and 2990WX. There are some scenarios where the 10980XE should be faster such as gaming, but in multi-threaded workloads, AMD is going to have Intel’s 10980XE beat there as well. However, when talking about value, it would depend on where prices on the 2970WX or 2990WX land in the short term. As of the time I’m writing this, those CPU’s are at the price points the new third-generation Threadripper’s are going to occupy.

Which neatly brings me to the third generation Threadripper and TR40X. Those motherboards will likely be pricier than most if not all X299 motherboards. Those CPU’s are also considerably more expensive at $1,399 for the 3960X. While I have zero doubt those CPU’s will both trounce the 10980XE, cost-wise, the 10980XE is simply the cheaper option. If you don’t need all those cores and threads, then the 10980XE could be for you. But if you do, (and can afford them) then there isn’t any reason to opt for the 10980XE over a Threadripper 3960X or 3970X. Those CPUs have better stock clocks, more cores, more threads, and just as much IPC.

Filling a Gap

I’ve seen many rumblings on forums about AMD targeting only the high end for HEDT and leaving the X570 and socket AM4 to handle both mainstream and the territory that used to be the lower end of the HEDT spectrum. While CPU’s like the 3900X and 3950X are certainly capable of doing so, replacing the entry-level 2920X and 2950X Threadrippers, some people want more PCIe lanes and the extra memory bandwidth that comes with the HEDT platform. I’m one of those myself. I tend to use more PCIe lanes than the mainstream platforms afford me.

While I can certainly make due with X570 or Z390, true HEDT motherboards are a better fit for me. Intel knew this and priced the Cascade Lake-X family with this in mind. The Core i9 10900X is priced just a bit higher than the 9900KS for that reason. It’s only 10c/20t, but you get X299 and the full feature set Cascade Lake-X has to offer. If you are a gamer with a lot of connectivity needs, this is a solid avenue to explore.

Final Points

The bottom line is that Intel’s Core i9 10980XE is a 9980XE with a couple of new tricks and a fresh coat of paint. It isn’t a bad CPU, but given the competition, it will have limited appeal. There are only a few cases where I would actually recommend this CPU to anyone. Not because the 10980XE (or by extension) Cascade Lake-X CPU’s are bad by any means, but because there are so many other options out there which are either faster or more cost-effective.

It is a good CPU. It’s a refresh of a refresh and its pricing makes it hard to find a place in a very competitive market. I think its worth a look for specific cases, so it shouldn’t be counted out if it would fit your needs and it makes sense to you.

Discussion

Dan Dobrowolski
Dan has been writing motherboard reviews for the past 15 years, with the first decade or so writing for [H}ard|OCP. Dan brings his depth of knowledge about motherboards and their components to his reviews here at The FPS Review to help you select the best one for your needs.

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