Skip to main content

Core X-Series CPU prices, hardware details spill out from a leaked Intel slide

Core X-Series
Image used with permission by copyright holder
A leaked slide recently surfaced showing the prices and specifications of Intel’s entire Core X-Series processor family. The news arrives after Intel updated its price sheet to reflect the 12-core i9-7920X processor arriving in August. There are three more Intel Core i9 chips slated to arrive in October as well, and now we know their current unofficial pricing.

Here is the entire list of Intel’s Core X-Series processor family:

Cores Threads Base Speed Boost Speed Max Speed PCI
Express
Lanes
Power
Draw
Price
i9-7980XE 18 36 2.6GHz 4.2GHz 4.4GHz 44 165 watts $1,999
i9-7960X 16 32 2.8GHz 4.2GHz 4.4GHz 44 165 watts $1,699
i9-7940X 14 28 3.1GHz 4.3GHz 4.4GHz 44 165 watts $1,399
i9-7920X 12 24 2.9GHz 4.3GHz 4.4GHz 44 140 watts $1,199
i9-7900X 10 20 3.3GHz 4.3GHz 4.5GHz 44 140 watts $999
i7-7820X 8 16 3.6GHz 4.3GHz 4.5GHz 28 140 watts $599
i7-7800X 6 12 3.5GHz 4.0GHz N/A 28 140 watts $389
i7-7740X 4 8 4.3GHz 4.5GHz N/A 16 112 watts $339
i5-7640X 4 4 4.0GHz 4.2GHz N/A 16 112 watts $242

We are not exactly sure where the slide originated from but it definitely resembles an official slide Intel would typically release prior to an official announcement. It also puts to rest some of the rumors surrounding the speeds for the unreleased products. However, we like to point out that the pricing found on the slide slightly varies from what is shown on the price sheet dated July 14, 2017. For instance, the slide shows a $10 increase in the i9-7920X, i9-7900X, and i7-7820X per-chip cost versus what is listed on Intel’s pricing sheet.

Just for giggles, here is what we will see in the eight-core and higher desktop processor space this October once Intel’s three crazy high-end CPUs hit the market. By then, AMD’s two Ryzen Threadripper chips will have already simmered in the desktop market for two months.

Cores Threads Base
Speed
Boost
Speed
Max
Speed
Price
Core i9-7980XE 18 36 2.6GHz 4.2GHz 4.4GHz $1,999
Threadripper 1950X 16 32 3.4GHz 4.0GHz 4.1GHz $999
Core i9-7960X 16 32 2.8GHz 4.2GHz 4.4GHz $1,699
Core i9-7940X 14 28 3.1GHz 4.3GHz 4.4GHz $1,399
Threadripper 1920X 12 24 3.5GHz 4.0GHz 4.1GHz $799
Core i9-7920X 12 24 2.9GHz 4.3GHz 4.4GHz $1,199
Core i9-7900X 10 20 3.3GHz 4.3GHz 4.5GHz $999
Core i7-7820X 8 16 3.6GHz 4.3GHz 4.5GHz $599
Ryzen 7 1800X 8 16 3.6GHz 4.0GHz 4.1GHz $399
Ryzen 7 1700X 8 16 3.4GHz 3.8GHz 3.9GHz $299
Ryzen 7 1700 8 16 3.0GHz 3.7GHz N/A $269

As the chart shows above, the big war will be between the Ryzen Threadripper 1950X and the Core i9-7960X. Both will sport 16 cores and 32 threads, but AMD’s chip will have a higher base speed for $700 less. Then again, Intel’s chip will have a higher boost speed via Intel Turbo Boost Technology (ITBT) 2.0, and a higher maximum speed via ITBT version 3.0. The maximum Threadripper numbers stem the Extended Frequency Range (XFR) feature provided in AMD’s new “Zen” processor design.

Meanwhile, AMD’s Threadripper 1920X will also have a higher base speed than Intel’s Core i9-7920X for $400 less. Yet AMD’s Zen-based chip will have a lower boost speed and a lower maximum speed (via XFR) than Intel’s Core X-Series competitor. Currently, AMD does not have any desktop processors on its known roadmap to take on Intel’s 18-core i9-7980XE, 14-core i9-7940X, and 10-core i9-7920X processors. Everything else in AMD’s Ryzen arsenal are all eight cores and lower.

Kevin Parrish
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Kevin started taking PCs apart in the 90s when Quake was on the way and his PC lacked the required components. Since then…
The iPhone 15’s chip challenges Intel’s fastest desktop CPU — but there’s a catch
Intel Core i9-13900K held between fingertips.

Who would have thought that some of the best CPUs would face competition not from a desktop or laptop CPU, but from a mobile system-on-a-chip (SoC)? Well, the latest Geekbench 6 scores prove that it's possible. Apple's new A17 Pro chip, announced during the September 2023 Apple event and found in the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max, challenges AMD and Intel -- but there's a catch.

Yes, it's real. The Geekbench 6 test gives the A17 Pro chip a score of 2,914 in single-core operations, and that's mighty impressive for something that will end up in a smartphone. However, the generational leap is not that impressive -- the last-gen A16 Bionic chip is only around 10% behind in terms of single-threaded performance. The A17 Pro was built based on TSMC's 3nm technology, while the A16 Bionic is a 5nm chip, also made by TSMC.

Read more
Intel Core i5 vs. i7: Which CPU is right for you in 2023?
Intel Core i5-12400F box sitting in front of a gaming PC.

Intel's Core i5 and i7 CPUs continue to be the most popular choice in the realm of processors, and rightfully so. But understanding the distinctions between them is not a straightforward task. Similar to numerous other computer components, there are various models within each tier, which can potentially lead to a somewhat overwhelming selection process.

We're here to break down all the differences between Intel's Core i5 and Core i7 CPUs, both on desktop and mobile. They're closer than they were in previous years, and rumor has it that the naming scheme will be replaced outright later this year. But for now, it's still an important comparison to wrap your mind around if you're in the market.
Intel Core i5 vs i7: what’s the difference?

Read more