Intel has today announced its latest 12th Gen Core processors for the desktop. The company has introduced six new processor models based on the company’s Alder Lake architecture using a 10nm fabrication process. Three of these six models including Core i9-12900K, Core i7-12700K, and the Core i5-12600K are being launched today. The remaining models are KF variant that signifies a lack of an integrated GPU.
In these latest processors, Intel is switching to a signifies a lack of an integrated GPU. The Alder Lake design uses a combination of Performance-cores and Efficient-cores instead of using multiple cores of essentially identical performance. Theoretically, it works the same as in the theory used on smartphones, tablets, and Apple’s M-series desktops.
Intel confirms that only the performance cores are capable of multi-threading. That means the 16-core i9-12900K has 8 P-cores and 8 E-cores for a total of 24 threads. The 10-core i5-12600K has 6 P-cores and 4 E-cores for a total of 16 threads.
Due to the split design in Cores, Intel is now separately specifying base, boost, and max clock speeds for the P-cores and the E-Cores. The Core i9-12900K has 3.2GHz base clock speed, up to 5.1GHz boost clock speed and up to 5.2GHz max clock for the P-cores. The E-cores have 2.4GHz base clock and 3.9GHz boost clock speed.
Intel is also bumping up the cache size. The i9 models gets 30MB L3 cache, i7 has 25MB, and the i5 gets 20MB. In integrated GPU models, consumers will get Intel UHD Graphics 770.
Intel is also switching to a new chipset, the Z690 for these processors. It uses a new LGA1700 socket. That means, these new CPUs and the new motherboards can only work with each other for now. OEMs are expected to bring a new Z690 motherboard soon.
These 12th gen chips are also the first to support DDR5 memory. You can also use DDR4 memory with these chips but cannot use both DDR4 and DDR5 memory at the same time. While purchasing the motherboard, you need to get the one that supports either DDR5 or DDR4 memory.
Intel is also adding PCIe 5.0 support. You get 20 PCIe lanes in total from the CPU. Intel is also ditching TDP rating and will now provide direct power ratings. For example, Core i9-12900K has a power rating of 125W for base power consumption at base clocks and 241W at maximum turbo clocks.
The company also claims that the new 12th Gen processors are now the world’s best gaming processors.
Intel’s 12th Gen Core processors start at $264 for the Core i5-12600KF and go up to $589 for the Core i9-12900K.
