Intel 18-Core i9-7980XE Monster Processor Could Be In The Works

Although it has been at the head of the computer processor chip game for decades, Intel has not exactly had a commanding enough lead against its competitors. On that note, reports are coming in that Intel’s next batch of processors could be sporting as many as 18 cores. If so, the company might just finally leave all of its rivals in the dust.

The reported processors are supposedly part of the upcoming Skylake-X batch based on its X299 platform, Forbes reports. If Intel had followed its normal progression with regards to processor chip development, a 12-core unit might have been the end result. Instead, customers could be getting a 14-core and 16-core processors on top of the 18-core unit.

Now, this isn’t to say that Intel always had the top spot in the high-end processor market as AMD recently revealed its Threadripper chips with a max core count of 16 cores. At the time, this trumped anything Intel had, which placed the company in a precarious position. Then again, customers who need that kind of computer muscle occupy only a small portion of the desktop market, so it might not have made much of an impact on Intel’s bottom-line.

It seems the company isn’t convinced, however, as it seems determined to beat out AMD in its own game. Of course, this doesn’t mean that Intel is betting it all in a pissing contest that involves the number of cores. The company is also using tactics like making some of its best products more affordable such as the Core i3-7350K.

As Digital Trends notes, this particular processor is in the mid-range section but it is still capable of tolerating overclocking sessions. This made it perfect for gaming and thanks to its new price of only $150, it’s now accessible to even budget-conscious gamers.