Intel has come a long way with its mainstream processor platform. The platform has largely seen stagnation in terms of core and thread count over many generations since the first Core series CPU that launched back in 2010 but last year brought a big change to the CPU giant. What seemed to be a generational core clock bump has now turned into a generational core count bump while keeping the clock speed improvements.

The Coffee Lake-S 8th Generation family, was the first big core count jump on the mainstream 300 series platform. It was an opportunity for Intel to show that they don't only hold the IPC or clock speed advantage on the mainstream segment but they can also offer good multi-threading CPU performance. By the end of 2018, Intel launched its 9th Generation Core family, featuring up to 8 cores and 16 threads.

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The 9th Generation lineup, while good in its own perspective, has been facing two major issues since launch. One of the issue and an ongoing one is the competitive threat from AMD's Ryzen processors which aren't only tackling Intel in terms of pure core count but also in terms of IPC which has exceeded Skylake levels and also pricing in which AMD has simply made Intel's once iconic Core i5 and Core i7 lineups disappear from the game.

There's one key department however where Intel still holds the lead which is due to the process maturation of the 14nm node over the years. In terms of clock speeds, Intel has taken the battle to AMD which makes sense in a way since while their remerged rival can beat them in terms of price, cores, they can't beat them in clock speeds and Intel is flexing their muscles hard with their latest processor known as the Core i9-9900KS.

Today, I will be taking a look at the Core i9-9900KS flagship CPU on the AORUS Z390 Master board. The CPU retails for $513 US in the market and is supposed to offer high-end CPU multi-threaded performance with enthusiast-level overclocking capabilities, all at a premium price point.

Intel Z390 Express Chipset - The Top 300-Series PCH

Since the launch of Coffee Lake processors, Intel is also offering a new platform that is marked under the 300-series family. The Intel 300 series platform features several chipset SKUs but the top of the line is the Z390 PCH which replaces the Z370 PCH as the flagship mainstream SKU.

The Z390 platform is designed to support both the 8th and 9th Generation Coffee Lake CPUs. Since the new processors are part of a refresh, Intel did not restrict 9th Gen compatibility to just Z390 boards or 8th Gen compatibility to just Z370 boards. We have more details on this in the LGA 1151 socket section so here, we will be taking a look at the Z390 feature set and what it offers over the previous 200 and 100 series platforms.

Intel Z390 PCH Features:

The 9th gen desktop platform has a range of new features that mainly include:

  • First performance Intel Core i9 desktop S-series processor
  • Up to 8 cores
  • Intel Z390 chipset compatible
  • Solder Thermal Interface Material (STIM)
  • Intel Wireless-AC 802.11 AC and Bluetooth 5.0
  • Intel Wireless-AC Adapter
  • Up To 6 x USB 3.1 Gen 2 Ports
  • Up to 16 threads, 5.0 GHz, 16 MB cache, and 40 platform PCIe lanes (16 CPU + 24 PCH)
  • 9th Gen CPUs Compatible with all Intel 300 series chipsets
  • Intel Optane memory and Intel Optane SSD support
  • Thunderbolt 3 support

Intel Desktop Platform Chipset Comparison

Chipset NameMeteor Lake-S (MTL-S) PCH / 800 Series (Z890)Raptor Lake-S (RPL-S) PCH / 700 Series (Z790)Alder Lake-S (ADL-S) PCH / 600 Series (Z690)Rocket Lake-S (RKL-S) PCH / 500 Series (Z590)Comet Lake-S (CML-S) PCH / 400 Series (Z490)Coffee Lake S (CNL-H) PCH / 300 Series (Z390/H370, B360, Q370, H310)Coffee Lake S (KBL-R) PCH / Z370 Platform
Process NodeTBD14nm14nm14nm14nm14nm22nm
Processor22, 14 (TBD)24,16C,12C,10C,6C,4C (TBD)16C,12C,10C,6C,4C (Full corporate/consumer SKU stack at launch)8C, 6C (Full corporate/consumer SKU stack at launch)10C, 8C, 6C, 4C, 2C (Full corporate/consumer SKU stack at launch)8C, 6C, 4C, 2C (Full corporate/consumer SKU stack at launch)8C, 6C, 4C (6 Consumer SKUs at Launch)
MemoryUp To DDR5-5600+(Native)Up To DDR5-5600 (Native)
Up To DDR4-3200 (Native)?
Up To DDR5-4800 (Native)
Up To DDR4-3200 (Native)
Up To DDR4-3200 (Native)Up To DDR4-2933 (Native)Up To DDR4-2666 (Native)Up To DDR4-2666 (Native)
Media, Display & AudioeDP / 4DDI (DP, HDMI) Display CapabilitieseDP / 4DDI (DP, HDMI) Display CapabilitieseDP / 4DDI (DP, HDMI) Display CapabilitiesDP 1.2 & HDMI 2.0, HBR3
HDCP 2.2 (HDMI 2.0a w/LSPCON)
12-bit AV1/HEVC & VP9 10-bit Enc/Dec, HDR, Rec.2020, DX12
Integrated Dual-Core Audio DSP With USB Audio offload
SoundWire Digital Audio Interface
DP 1.2 & HDMI 1.4
HDCP 2.2 (HDMI 2.0a w/LSPCON)
HEVC & VP9 10-bit Enc/Dec, HDR, Rec.2020, DX12
Integrated Dual-Core Audio DSP
SoundWire Digital Audio Interface
DP 1.2 & HDMI 1.4
HDCP 2.2 (HDMI 2.0a w/LSPCON)
HEVC & VP9 10-bit Enc/Dec, HDR, Rec.2020, DX12
Integrated Dual-Core Audio DSP
SoundWire Digital Audio Interface
DP 1.2 & HDMI 1.4
HDCP 2.2 (HDMI 2.0a w/LSPCON)
HEVC & VP9 10-bit Enc/Dec, HDR, Rec.2020, DX12
Integrated Dual-Core Audio DSP
I/O & ConnectivityTBDIntegrated USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 (20G)
Integrated Intel Wireless-AC (Wi-Fi6E/ 7 BT CNVio) with Gig+
Integrated SDXC 4.0 Controller
Thunderbolt 4.0
Integrated USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 (20G)
Integrated Intel Wireless-AC (Wi-Fi6E/ 7 BT CNVio) with Gig+
Integrated SDXC 4.0 Controller
Thunderbolt 4.0
Integrated USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 (20G)
Integrated Intel Wireless-AC (Wi-Fi6E/ BT CNVi)
Integrated SDXC 3.0 Controller
Thunderbolt 4.0 (Maple Ridge)
Integrated USB 3.2 Gen 2
Integrated Intel Wireless-AC (Wi-Fi / BT CNVi)
Integrated SDXC 3.0 Controller
Thunderbolt 3.0 (Titan Ridge) w/ DP 1.4
Integrated USB 3.1 Gen 1 (5 Gbps)
Integrated Intel Wireless-AC (Wi-Fi / BT CNVi)
Integrated SDXC 3.0 Controller
Thunderbolt 3.0 (Titan Ridge) w/ DP 1.4
Integrated USB 3.1 Gen 1 (5 Gbps)
Thunderbolt 3.0 (Alpine Ridge)
StoragePCIe 5.0 (CPU Lanes), 6x SATA 3.0Next-Gen Intel Optane memory
PCIe 5.0 (CPU Lanes), 6x SATA 3.0
Next-Gen Intel Optane memory
PCIe 5.0, 6x SATA 3.0
Next-Gen Intel Optane memory
PCIe 4.0, 6x SATA 3.0
Next-Gen Intel Optane memory
PCIe 3.0, 6x SATA 3.0
Next Gen Intel Optane memory
PCIe 3.0, 6x SATA 3.0
Next Gen Intel Optane memory
PCIe 3.0, 6x SATA 3.0
Max PCH PCIe LanesUp To 24 (Gen 4)
TBD (Gen 3)
Up To 20 (Gen 4)
Up To 8 (Gen 3)
Up To 12 (Gen 4)
Up To 16 (Gen 3)
Up To 24 (Gen 3)Up To 24 (Gen 3)Up To 24 (Gen 3)Up To 24 (Gen 3)
Max CPU PCIe LanesUp To 20 (Gen 5)
Up To 4 (Gen 4)
Up To 16 (Gen 5)
Up To 4 (Gen 4)
Up To 16 (Gen 5)
Up To 4 (Gen 4)
Up To 20 (Gen 4)Up To 16 (Gen 3)Up To 16 (Gen 3)Up To 16 (Gen 3)
Max USB PortsTBDUp To 5 (USB 3.2 Gen 2x2)
Up To 10 (USB 3.2 Gen 2x1)
Up To 10 (USB 3.2 Gen 1x1)
Up To 14 (USB 2.0)
Up To 4 (USB 3.2 Gen 2x2)
Up To 10 (USB 3.2 Gen 2x1)
Up To 10 (USB 3.2 Gen 1x1)
Up To 14 (USB 2.0)
Up To 3 (USB 3.2 Gen 2x2)
Up To 10 (USB 3.2 Gen 2x1)
Up To 10 (USB 3.2 Gen 1x1)
Up To 14 (USB 2.0)
Up To 10 (USB 3.2)
Up To 14 (USB 2.0)
Up To 10 (USB 3.1)
Up To 14 (USB 2.0)
Up To 10 (USB 3.0)
Up To 14 (USB 2.0)
SecurityTBDN/AN/AN/AIntel SGX 1.0Intel SGX 1.0Intel SGX 1.0
Power ManagementTBDC10 & S0ix Support for Modern StandbyC10 & S0ix Support for Modern StandbyC10 & S0ix Support for Modern StandbyC10 & S0ix Support for Modern StandbyC10 & S0ix Support for Modern StandbyC8 Support
Launch2024202220212021201920182017

Intel LGA 1151 Socket Again - Now With 9th Generation Processor Support

Intel isn't moving away from the LGA 1151 socket anytime soon. We are once again looking at the same socket which has been doing the rounds in the mainstream market since 2015. There is, however, a major difference. There's no backward compatibility with Skylake and Kaby Lake processors.

That brings us to the next significant detail about the Intel 300-series platform. Intel is confirming that the 9th Gen Coffee Lake processors retain compatibility with the 300-series chipset. It's nice to see compatibility retained but it was also expected since 9th Gen is a refresh of Coffee Lake CPUs and high-end motherboards based on the Z370 chipset still allow for full overclocking support on the 8 core processors, even though the Z390 series is tailored around those CPUs with better PWM supplies.

A more detailed analysis was posted by David Schor a few days ago which confirms the change in pin configuration on Coffee Lake processors. This allows support for both 8th and 9th Gen CPUs without any major issues.

According to David, the reason we don't have Coffee Lake processors compatible with older series motherboards that feature the LGA 1151 socket is the change in pins. For instance, if the pin config changes on a processor, the sockets on the motherboard need to be configured as such. It's not a process that can be done via software as its more of a hardware level change.

When compared, the Coffee Lake processors have 391 VSS (Ground) pins which is an increase of 14 compared to Kaby Lake, 146 VCC (Electrical) pins which is an increase of 18 pins compared to Kaby Lake and about 25 pins that are reserved and a decrease of 21 pins from the 46 reserved on Kaby Lake.

Kaby Lake -> Coffee Lake

  • VSS (Ground): 377 -> 391 (+14)
  • VCC (Power): 128 -> 146 (+18)
  • RSVD: 46 ->25

Intel LGA 1151 CPU Pin Configuration (Coffee Lake vs Kaby Lake):

intel-coffee-lake-lga-1151-pin-configuration
intel-kaby-lake-lga-1151-pin-configuration

So one thing is clear, Intel was, in fact, telling the truth about electrical changes to the processors and socket in the 300-series platform. Furthermore, it's not just the reserved pins from Kaby Lake that have simply been populated. There are pins aside the reserved ones that were swapped with VCC pins and indicate a design tweak.

While we can put many theories to rest with this new detail, I think much of the confusion could have just been avoided if Intel clarified this themselves. Of course, if you are making the boards with a new PCH and new series of processors on the same socket that ran the previous CPU line, consumers would definitely want to know more about why the new platform that has the same socket cannot support their older chips. We previously heard about the LGA 1151 V2 naming scheme and that may have sorted some confusion but as we can tell, all motherboards still use the LGA 1151 naming scheme which may lead to people thinking that their 6th and 7th generation processors can run on the newer boards.

Cooler Compatibility With LGA 1151 Socket

Keeping the same socket has some advantages in the form of cooler compatibility. All users who are running the LGA 1151 socket or even LGA 1150 boards can use the same cooler on the Z390 boards without any hassle. The socket has the same dimensions and no changes are made aside from electrical changes that are specific to socket and processor pins. The socket assembly and mounting remain the same.

Intel does offer a separate boxed cooler but it will be a much better choice to get an AIB cooling solution since those offer better cooling performance. It is recommended for the unlocked SKUs that users run them on a high-end air cooler or liquid cooling solution. Custom loop cooling will deliver even better results.

9.2
Wccftech Rating

The Intel Core i9-9900KS is the fastest gaming processor on the planet, featuring 5 GHz across all cores, surprisingly lower power consumption, better temperatures and hitting AMD at their weakest spot.

Pros
  • Fastest Processor for Gaming right now!
  • All Core 5.0 GHz core clock out of the box
  • Excellent Overclock Capabilities
  • Excellent Multi-tasking Performance
  • New STIM Packaging for cooler temps
  • Lower power consumption than the 9900K
Cons
  • Very high price (8 cores for $500 US+)
  • High Temperatures when overclocked
  • No PCIe Gen 4.0 Support
  • Still 14nm

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