Intel’s Core i9-7980XE is an 18-Core Monster

Intel is to release a massive 18-core, 36-thread Skylake X processor, according to new rumours. VideoCardz reports that Intel is preparing the Core i9-7980XE as a powerful rival to AMD’s forthcoming Threadripper series. This information comes courtesy of “multiple sources,” though should be taken with the tiniest pinch of salt.

Core i9-7980XE – Intel’s New Flagship Chip

In addition to the Core i9-7980XE specs, VideoCardz has obtained details about the rest of Intel’s Core-X series. According to this information, the new chips range from the 18 cores of the i9-7980XE to the 4-core, 4-thread i5-7640K:

Intel vs AMD

Intel’s profits have plunged following the release of AMD’s Ryzen CPUs, though the company denies any direct impact.

Seeking Alpha’s Mark Hibben reported:

“With the launch of the long awaited Ryzen 7 at the beginning of March, one would expect to see some impact on Intel’s CCG business. The revenue impact, if any, may be obscured by Intel’s current modem sales to Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL), which were non-existent in 2016 Q1.

Overall CCG Platform unit shipments declined by 4% y/y, but ASP was up by 7%. Perhaps the most telling statistic is the 7% y/y decline in Desktop platforms, although ASPs still rose by 2% y/y.

“When asked about the competitive impact of AMD during the conference call, Intel management claimed they hadn’t “seen anything unusual”, but it’s likely that at least some of the 7% Desktop unit decline was due to the impact of Ryzen.”

Intel’s Loss is AMD’s Gain

The value of Intel’s declining desktop sales is around $150 million. Conversely, AMD has seen a $152 million increase in its desktop sales. Hibben adds:

“The decline in Desktop platform units implies about a 5% y/y revenue decline for the Desktop platform. Assuming that Desktop platforms generate about 40% of CCG platform revenue (as a rough estimate from the Statista data), this implies that Intel is down about $150 million in Desktop platform revenue. Some, or all, of this may have been transferred to AMD in the form of Ryzen sales.”

Can Intel’s Core i9-7980XE Rescue Lost Sales?

Though the CPU has no release date thus far, we will surely know the answer before 2017 is done.