Intel Core i7-980X Extreme Edition vs Intel Core i9-10900X

Every spec side by side, from each maker's published figures.

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Core i7-980X Extreme Edition compared with Core i9-10900X

	IntelCore i7-980X Extreme Edition	IntelCore i9-10900X
Overview
Released
Released	March 2010	2019
Cores and clocks
Cores
Cores	6	10 (better)
Threads
Threads	12	20 (better)
Base clock
Base clock	3.33 GHz	3.7 GHz
Boost clock
Boost clock	3.6 GHz	4.7 GHz (better)
L3 cache
L3 cache	12 MB	19.25 MB (better)
Cores
Cores	Six cores and twelve threads with Hyper-Threading; unlocked multiplier confirmed by bit-tech’s exact review.	Cascade Lake-X; Hyper-Threading and an unlocked multiplier, confirmed by Intel’s exact-model family product brief.
Clocks
Clocks	3.33 GHz base and up to 3.6 GHz Turbo Boost. Intel’s 16 March 2010 release states availability that day; the earlier 11 March review embargo was not the sale date.	Turbo Boost Max 3.0 up to 4.70 GHz on the preferred cores; ordinary Turbo Boost 2.0 up to 4.50 GHz. Intel targeted November 2019 availability, but first actual sale was not established in the bounded source pass; conservative year precision is retained.
Cache
Cache	12 MB shared L3 cache.	19.25 MB Intel Smart Cache; Intel’s exact-model product-brief table identifies it as L3 cache.
Graphics and AI
Built-in graphics
Built-in graphics	No	No
Graphics
Graphics	Intel's exact-model comparison chart lists no processor graphics.	No processor graphics, explicitly confirmed by Intel’s exact-model support table.
AI engine
AI engine	–	Intel Deep Learning Boost provides CPU inference instructions; this is not a separate NPU.
Platform
Socket
Socket	LGA1366	LGA2066
Base power
Base power	130 W	165 W
Unlocked
Unlocked	Yes	Yes
Cooler in the box
Cooler in the box	Yes	No
Memory support
Memory support	Three-channel DDR3; Intel’s exact-model chart specifies DDR3-1066. bit-tech’s review lists DDR3-1333, so the maker’s rated figure is retained.	Up to 256 GB; four channels of DDR4-2933; 94 GB/s maximum published bandwidth; no ECC.
PCIe
PCIe	6.4 GT/s QPI in Intel’s exact WX58BP processor compatibility table. PCIe is supplied through the platform chipset.	48 CPU lanes; PCIe 3.0. The 72-lane family platform figure includes chipset lanes.
Chipsets
Chipsets	–	Intel X299; LGA2066.
Process
Process	32 nm; Gulftown.	14 nm; Cascade Lake-X.
Cooler
Cooler	Intel's 32 nm Core i7-900 datasheet includes an unattached fan heatsink with boxed processors. Tray and second-hand packages may differ.	Intel explicitly excludes a fan and heatsink from the boxed product. Intel’s support article confirms solder thermal interface material for this exact model; published junction limit 94°C.