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Intel Core i9-9900T

Intel Core i9-9900T: Review and Relevance in 2025

Who is this processor for years after its release?

Key Specifications: Coffee Lake Architecture in the Era of 3 nm

The Intel Core i9-9900T, released in 2019, is still found in builds thanks to its unique combination of features.

- Architecture and Manufacturing Process:

Codename — Coffee Lake, 14 nm manufacturing process. Despite the dominance of 5–3 nm chips (such as Intel Meteor Lake or AMD Zen 5) by 2025, 14 nm here is a compromise between cost and energy efficiency.

- 8 Cores/16 Threads: Even in 2025, this is relevant for multi-threaded tasks.

- Base Frequency 2.1 GHz, Max Turbo Boost — 4.4 GHz: The low base frequency is offset by the "turbo mode" for short bursts of load.

- TDP 35 W: The main selling point of the processor. Allows it to be used in compact PCs and systems with passive cooling.

- Performance:

- Geekbench 6: Single-Core — 1429, Multi-Core — 6074. For comparison, the Ryzen 7 5700G (2021) scores around ~1500/8000. In single-threaded tasks, the i9-9900T is comparable to modern budget CPUs, but its multi-threaded performance lags behind newcomers.

- Integrated Graphics UHD 630: Suitable for office tasks and 4K video, but gaming is only feasible at low settings (e.g., CS2 — 30–40 FPS at 720p).

Compatible Motherboards: What to Choose in 2025?

The processor uses the LGA 1151-v2 socket, which supports 300 series chipsets:

- Z390: The optimal choice for overclocking (although the 9900T has a locked multiplier). For example: ASUS ROG Strix Z390-I (~$120–150 on the second-hand market).

- H370/B365: For budget builds. No overclocking support, but includes USB 3.1 Gen2.

- Important: Motherboards for Coffee Lake Refresh require a BIOS update. Many new boards in 2025 no longer support this socket, so look for options on auctions or in the refurbished segment.

Memory: Is DDR4 Still Relevant?

The i9-9900T supports DDR4-2666 MHz (in dual-channel mode). In 2025, DDR5 is dominant, but DDR4 remains advantageous for budget projects:

- Recommendations:

- 16 GB (2x8 GB) — minimum for multitasking.

- 32 GB (2x16 GB) — for rendering or virtualization.

- Example: Kingston Fury DDR4-2666 32 GB — around $80.

Limitation: No support for DDR5, which reduces upgrade potential.

Power Supply: How Many Watts Are Needed?

With a TDP of 35 W, the processor is extremely undemanding on the power supply:

- Without a discrete graphics card: A 300–400 W unit is sufficient (e.g., be quiet! Pure Power 11 400W — $60).

- With a graphics card: For RTX 4060 (TDP 115 W), 500–600 W is enough. Choose models with 80+ Gold certification (Corsair RM550x — $90).

Tip: In compact cases (e.g., Fractal Design Node 202), use SFX power supplies.

Pros and Cons of the i9-9900T in 2025

Pros:

- Energy efficiency: Ideal for HTPCs, mini-PCs, and office systems.

- 8 cores/16 threads: Good for video editing or working in Docker.

- Low price: On the second-hand market — $150–200 (compared to $250 for a new Ryzen 5 7600).

Cons:

- Outdated manufacturing process: Higher thermal output under load.

- No PCIe 4.0/5.0: NVMe SSD speed is limited to 3.0 (up to 3500 MB/s).

- Weak iGPU: A discrete graphics card is needed for gaming.

Use Cases: Where It Still Excels

1. Office and Multimedia:

- Document work, a browser with 20+ tabs, 4K video.

- Example: Connect to a 4K monitor via HDMI 2.0.

2. Home Server/NAS:

- Virtualization (Proxmox, ESXi) thanks to 16 threads.

3. Light Gaming:

- Paired with a GTX 1660 Super GPU — gaming at 1080p (Cyberpunk 2077 — 45–50 FPS on medium settings).

4. Upgrading Older Systems:

- Replacing an i5-8400 in an existing build on LGA 1151-v2.

Comparison with Competitors

- AMD Ryzen 7 5700G (8/16, TDP 65 W):

- Pros: More powerful iGPU (Vega 8), PCIe 4.0 support.

- Cons: Higher price ($200–250), requires AM4 motherboard.

- Intel Core i5-12400T (6/12, TDP 35 W):

- Pros: Alder Lake architecture (10 nm), higher IPC.

- Cons: Fewer cores, more expensive ($180–220).

Conclusion: The i9-9900T excels in multi-threaded tasks but falls short in energy efficiency and graphics.

Assembly Tips

1. Cooling: Even with a TDP of 35 W, under load, the processor can heat up to 75°C. Choose low-profile coolers (Noctua NH-L9i) or AIO coolers with a 120 mm radiator.

2. Motherboard: Check CPU support for the 9th generation on the manufacturer’s website.

3. Storage: Use NVMe SSDs (e.g., Samsung 970 EVO Plus) to unlock the speed of PCIe 3.0.

4. Case: For compact builds — Silverstone ML09 or Cooler Master N200.

Final Conclusion: Who Is the i9-9900T Suitable For?

This processor is worth considering in three scenarios:

1. Upgrading an old system on LGA 1151-v2 without replacing the motherboard.

2. Building an energy-efficient PC for office use, a media center, or as a server.

3. A budget workstation for rendering or programming.

Target Audience:

- Enthusiasts who appreciate the balance between price and multi-threaded performance.

- Users who do not need PCIe 4.0 or DDR5.

In 2025, the i9-9900T is a "dark horse" for niche scenarios, but not for gamers or those pursuing the latest technologies.

Basic

Label Name

Intel

Platform

Desktop

Launch Date

April 2019

Model Name

The Intel processor number is just one of several factors - along with processor brand, system configurations, and system-level benchmarks - to be considered when choosing the right processor for your computing needs.

i9-9900T

Code Name

Coffee Lake

CPU Specifications

Total Cores

Cores is a hardware term that describes the number of independent central processing units in a single computing component (die or chip).

Total Threads

Where applicable, Intel® Hyper-Threading Technology is only available on Performance-cores.

Basic Frequency

2.10 GHz

Max Turbo Frequency

Max Turbo Frequency is the maximum single-core frequency at which the processor is capable of operating using Intel® Turbo Boost Technology and, if present, Intel® Turbo Boost Max Technology 3.0 and Intel® Thermal Velocity Boost. Frequency is typically measured in gigahertz (GHz), or billion cycles per second.

4.40 GHz

Intel Turbo Boost Technology 2.0 Frequency

4.40 GHz

Intel Turbo Boost Technology

Intel® Turbo Boost Technology dynamically increases the processor's frequency as needed by taking advantage of thermal and power headroom to give you a burst of speed when you need it, and increased energy efficiency when you don’t.

2.0

Intel Hyper-Threading Technology

Intel® Hyper-Threading Technology (Intel® HT Technology) delivers two processing threads per physical core. Highly threaded applications can get more work done in parallel, completing tasks sooner.

Yes

L3 Cache

16 MB

CPU Socket

The socket is the component that provides the mechanical and electrical connections between the processor and motherboard.

FCLGA1151

Technology

Lithography refers to the semiconductor technology used to manufacture an integrated circuit, and is reported in nanometer (nm), indicative of the size of features built on the semiconductor.

14 nm

TDP

35 W

Max. Operating Temperature

Junction Temperature is the maximum temperature allowed at the processor die.

100°C

PCI Express Version

PCI Express Revision is the supported version of the PCI Express standard. Peripheral Component Interconnect Express (or PCIe) is a high-speed serial computer expansion bus standard for attaching hardware devices to a computer. The different PCI Express versions support different data rates.

3.0

Number of PCI Express Lanes

A PCI Express (PCIe) lane consists of two differential signaling pairs, one for receiving data, one for transmitting data, and is the basic unit of the PCIe bus. Max # of PCI Express Lanes is the total number of supported lanes.

Intel 64

Intel® 64 architecture delivers 64-bit computing on server, workstation, desktop and mobile platforms when combined with supporting software.¹ Intel 64 architecture improves performance by allowing systems to address more than 4 GB of both virtual and physical memory.

Yes

Instruction Set

The instruction set is a hard program stored inside the CPU that guides and optimizes CPU operations. With these instruction sets, the CPU can run more efficiently. There are many manufacturers that design CPUs, which results in different instruction sets, such as the 8086 instruction set for the Intel camp and the RISC instruction set for the ARM camp. x86, ARM v8, and MIPS are all codes for instruction sets. Instruction sets can be extended; for example, x86 added 64-bit support to create x86-64. Manufacturers developing CPUs that are compatible with a certain instruction set need authorization from the instruction set patent holder. A typical example is Intel authorizing AMD, enabling the latter to develop CPUs compatible with the x86 instruction set.

64-bit

PCI Express Configurations

PCI Express (PCIe) Configurations describe the available PCIe lane configurations that can be used to link to PCIe devices.

Up to 1x16 | 2x8 | 1x8+2x4

Memory Specifications

Memory Type

Intel® processors come in four different types: Single Channel, Dual Channel, Triple Channel, and Flex Mode. Maximum supported memory speed may be lower when populating multiple DIMMs per channel on products that support multiple memory channels.

DDR4-2666

Max Memory Size

Max memory size refers to the maximum memory capacity supported by the processor.

128 GB

Memory Channels

The number of memory channels refers to the bandwidth operation for real world application.

Bus Speed

8 GT/s

Max Memory Bandwidth

Max Memory bandwidth is the maximum rate at which data can be read from or stored into a semiconductor memory by the processor (in GB/s).

41.6 GB/s

ECC Memory Supported

ECC Memory Supported indicates processor support for Error-Correcting Code memory. ECC memory is a type of system memory that can detect and correct common kinds of internal data corruption. Note that ECC memory support requires both processor and chipset support.

GPU Specifications

Integrated Graphics Model

An integrated GPU refers to the graphics core that is integrated into the CPU processor. Leveraging the processor's powerful computational capabilities and intelligent power efficiency management, it delivers outstanding graphics performance and a smooth application experience at a lower power consumption.

Intel® UHD Graphics 630

Graphics Base Frequency

Graphics Base frequency refers to the rated/guaranteed graphics render clock frequency in MHz.

350 MHz

Graphics Frequency

Graphics max dynamic frequency refers to the maximum opportunistic graphics render clock frequency (in MHz) that can be supported using Intel® HD Graphics with Dynamic Frequency feature.

1.20 GHz

Graphics Video Max Memory

64 GB

4K Support

Yes | at 60Hz

DirectX Support

DirectX* Support indicates support for a specific version of Microsoft’s collection of APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) for handling multimedia compute tasks.

Max Resolution (HDMI)

Max Resolution (HDMI) is the maximum resolution supported by the processor via the HDMI interface (24bits per pixel & 60Hz). System or device display resolution is dependent on multiple system design factors; actual resolution may be lower on your system.

4096 x 2304@24Hz

Max Resolution (DP)

Max Resolution (DP) is the maximum resolution supported by the processor via the DP interface (24bits per pixel & 60Hz). System or device display resolution is dependent on multiple system design factors; actual resolution may be lower on your system.

4096 x 2304@60Hz

Max Resolution (eDP - Integrated Flat Panel)

Max Resolution (Integrated Flat Panel) is the maximum resolution supported by the processor for a device with an integrated flat panel (24bits per pixel & 60Hz). System or device display resolution is dependent on multiple system design factors; actual resolution may be lower on your device.

4096 x 2304@60Hz

Number of Displays Supported

Miscellaneous

Intel Virtualization Technology (VT-x)

Intel® Virtualization Technology (VT-x) allows one hardware platform to function as multiple “virtual” platforms. It offers improved manageability by limiting downtime and maintaining productivity by isolating computing activities into separate partitions.

Yes

Intel Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d)

Intel® Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d) continues from the existing support for IA-32 (VT-x) and Itanium® processor (VT-i) virtualization adding new support for I/O-device virtualization. Intel VT-d can help end users improve security and reliability of the systems and also improve performance of I/O devices in virtualized environments.

Yes

Intel Standard Manageability (ISM)

Intel® Standard Manageability is the manageability solution for Intel vPro® Essentials platforms and is a subset of Intel® AMT with out-of-band management over Ethernet and Wi-Fi, but no KVM or new life cycle management features.

Intel® SSE4.1 | Intel® SSE4.2 | Intel® AVX2

Enhanced Intel SpeedStep Technology

Enhanced Intel SpeedStep® Technology is an advanced means of enabling high performance while meeting the power-conservation needs of mobile systems. Conventional Intel SpeedStep® Technology switches both voltage and frequency in tandem between high and low levels in response to processor load. Enhanced Intel SpeedStep® Technology builds upon that architecture using design strategies such as Separation between Voltage and Frequency Changes, and Clock Partitioning and Recovery.

Yes

Execute Disable Bit

Execute Disable Bit is a hardware-based security feature that can reduce exposure to viruses and malicious-code attacks and prevent harmful software from executing and propagating on the server or network.

Yes

Cache

CPU Cache is an area of fast memory located on the processor. Intel® Smart Cache refers to the architecture that allows all cores to dynamically share access to the last level cache.

16 MB Intel® Smart Cache

Intel AES New Instructions

Intel® AES New Instructions (Intel® AES-NI) are a set of instructions that enable fast and secure data encryption and decryption. AES-NI are valuable for a wide range of cryptographic applications, for example: applications that perform bulk encryption/decryption, authentication, random number generation, and authenticated encryption.

Yes

Intel Boot Guard

Intel® Device Protection Technology with Boot Guard helps protect the system’s pre-OS environment from viruses and malicious software attacks.

Yes

Intel Clear Video HD Technology

Intel® Clear Video HD Technology, like its predecessor, Intel® Clear Video Technology, is a suite of image decode and processing technologies built into the integrated processor graphics that improve video playback, delivering cleaner, sharper images, more natural, accurate, and vivid colors, and a clear and stable video picture. Intel® Clear Video HD Technology adds video quality enhancements for richer color and more realistic skin tones.

Yes

Intel Clear Video Technology

Yes

Intel VT-x with Extended Page Tables (EPT)

Intel® VT-x with Extended Page Tables (EPT), also known as Second Level Address Translation (SLAT), provides acceleration for memory intensive virtualized applications. Extended Page Tables in Intel® Virtualization Technology platforms reduces the memory and power overhead costs and increases battery life through hardware optimization of page table management.

Yes

Intel InTru 3D Technology

Yes

Intel OS Guard

Yes

OpenGL Support

OpenGL (Open Graphics Library) is a cross-language, multi-platform API (Application Programming Interface) for rendering 2D and 3D vector graphics.

4.5

Intel Quick Sync Video

Intel® Quick Sync Video delivers fast conversion of video for portable media players, online sharing, and video editing and authoring.

Yes

Benchmarks

Geekbench 6

Single Core Score

1429

Geekbench 6

Multi Core Score

6074

Geekbench 5

Single Core Score

1038

Geekbench 5

Multi Core Score

6276

Passmark CPU

Single Core Score

2460

Passmark CPU

Multi Core Score

13224

Compared to Other CPU

Geekbench 6 Single Core

Xeon E-2286M

1535 +7.4%

Core i9-9980XE

1480 +3.6%

Core i9-9900T

1429

Core i5-9400H

1381 -3.4%

Core i5-8400

1348 -5.7%

Geekbench 6 Multi Core

Xeon W-1250P

6868 +13.1%

Ryzen 5 PRO 5650GE

6431 +5.9%

Core i9-9900T

6074

Xeon Gold 6244

5661 -6.8%

Ryzen 5 PRO 5650U

5393 -11.2%

Geekbench 5 Single Core

Xeon E3-1240 v5

1080 +4%

Xeon Gold 5318H

1063 +2.4%

Core i9-9900T

1038

Core i3-N305

1016 -2.1%

Xeon E5-1660 v3

995 -4.1%

Geekbench 5 Multi Core

Ryzen 5 PRO 5645

7111 +13.3%

Ryzen 5 5500GT

6684 +6.5%

Core i9-9900T

6276

EPYC 9374F

5976 -4.8%

Xeon E5-2670 v3

5774 -8%

Passmark CPU Single Core

Core i5-11500T

2549 +3.6%

Core i9-7920X

2507 +1.9%

Core i9-9900T

2460

Xeon W-3345

2426 -1.4%

Core i7-7800X

2394 -2.7%

Passmark CPU Multi Core

Xeon E5-2697 v2

14306 +8.2%

Core i7-8700K

13679 +3.4%

Core i9-9900T

13224

Xeon W-2133

12636 -4.4%

Xeon E-2276M

11829 -10.5%