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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airdrifting - Thursday, October 31, 2019 - link
What a joke and pos, and they have the audacity to claim 127W TDP?9900K out of box without messing with BIOS is drawing 180 watt at default 4.7GHz turbo, you expect me to believe 127W TDP? I know fanboys are going to defend TDP is not actual power usage blah blah blah, but it should be used as a point of reference and frankly actual power draw is 100% over TDP is not good enough for most people.
dullard - Thursday, October 31, 2019 - link
I'm confused by your post. It is a 4 GHz processor with 127W. When you ramp up the speed over 4 GHz, it of course uses more power. Plain and simple.Your problem is that you think it is a 5 GHz processor.
airdrifting - Thursday, October 31, 2019 - link
Are you not capable of reading? 9900K out of box runs 4.7GHz all core turbo without "ramp up" anything, that is its default speed without overclocking. Do you even own the processor?dullard - Friday, November 1, 2019 - link
Yes, the 9900K turbos at 4.7 GHz if given proper cooling. But, again, you do not understand the power rating nor do you understand turbo. The 9900K does not turbo to 4.7 GHz in many circumstances (think of a field application in a hot desert, or in an enclosed box without air holes, or in a dusty environment, or in a low pressure environment, or an application with passive cooling, etc).The 9900K is actually a 3.6 GHz processor at 95W of power. If you happen to be in an environment and application that allows great cooling, then the 9900K will go up to 4.7 GHz at far more power.
airdrifting - Friday, November 1, 2019 - link
Wow you are a pathetic loser. Just admit you are wrong instead of bringing up extreme cases like "hot desert" "enclosed box" to make yourself look ridiculous.Of all the processors sold, how many are going to run "in an enclosed box without air holes"? 1%? 2%? Even without proper cooling 9900K still runs 4.7GHz turbo as long as the motherboard can support it, hitting 100 Celsius without throttling, that is a FACT. Now go away, stupid fanboy.
dullard - Friday, November 1, 2019 - link
The answer is "Whatever percent of computers aren't regularly cleaned". Haven't you ever opened someone else's computer and found enough dust/fur to create a large stuffed animal? Reviews of new CPUs in new computer cases with sparkling new fans are nothing like the real life for the vast majority of CPU usage after real world usage.I'm only replying the way TDP is defined. TDP is the max power used at base speed. CPUs are only guaranteed to run at base speed. Turbo is NEVER a guarantee. And when a CPU is in turbo it will use more power than TDP. If that makes me a fanboy, then which product am I a fanboy of?
Sivar - Saturday, November 2, 2019 - link
I always know that someone is seasoned, wise, and definitely not a 14-yr-old when they throw personal insults out over a CPU wattage disagreement.AshlayW - Friday, November 1, 2019 - link
As airdrifiting said below, it's misleading because absolutely non (read: NONE) of the Intel Turbo capable CPUs run at their base clock only. I've seen 'reviewers' and people, comparing power use characteristics based on TDP, and conclude that the 9900K (non S, mind, this was before) is more efficient than the 3800X. Go Figure.vMax65 - Friday, November 1, 2019 - link
Just to add to this...der8aur jus tested the 9900KS and it runs games all core 5GHz at between 98w and 126w....Video showing this starts at 3:50..https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YWSn0cHauJ4
Korguz - Friday, November 1, 2019 - link
broken record