http://wccftech.com/intel-core-i9-7980xe-18-core-cpu-benchmarks-leaked-destroys-eeverything/

It’s been roughly four months since Intel first announced its brand new family of high-end desktop Skyalke X parts and just over three months since the company introduced the first batch of Skylake X parts into the market, which were based on the LCC — Low Core Count — die featuring up to 10 CPU cores.

It has taken Intel a little longer to roll out its higher core count Skylake X parts based on the HCC — High  Core Count — Xeon die, which many have speculated were never actually planned for the desktop. Although AMD’s Ryzen Threadripper launch has seemingly forced Intel’s hand. After all, the i9 7980XE’s only job is to dethrone AMD’s 1950X which is currently the most powerful desktop processor you can buy. The Core i9 7980XE also only happens to feature two more cores than AMD’s 1950X, go figure.