Intel Core i9-12900K Alder Lake CPU (2021)
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Product Overview
Intel Core i9-12900K is a flagship 10nm desktop microprocessor based on the Alder Lake architecture. It uses a new-to-x86 "hybrid" architecture with 8 performance cores and 8 efficiency cores in a 16-core, 24-thread setup. At its launch, it has the most extensive support for modern hardware and peripherals in the PC market.
Most notably, the new Alder Lake CPUs support DDR5 and PCIe 5. Thunderbolt 4 is also supported. There is still only 20 PCIe lanes, and those who wish for support for more expansion cards (such as in machine learning applications) have to look for workstation-grade processors instead.
With the efficiency cores taken out, the i9-12900K is suspiciously similar to the i9-11900K otherwise. Still, we cannot discount the added computing power as well as the possibilities to run more efficiently with this hybrid design.
The i9-12900K comes with an integrated UHD 770 GPU with some basic, though hardly exciting, graphics capabilities. Those who do not need it can opt for the i9-12900KF instead. As usual, the "K" designation means that this CPU is unlocked, though in recent years overclocking the CPU is less of a sport than it was two decades ago.
Intel now refers the 10nm process as Intel 7, ostensibly in an attempt to close the "nanometer" gap.
Ratings
What we found**
Neofiliac score 82% (not directly comparable across industries)
Pros
- 16 cores / 24 threads
- Supports DDR5 memory
- ECC memory
- Has integrated graphics
- PCIe 5.0 support
Cons
What external reviewers found***
External score 75% (not directly comparable across industries)
Pros
- Good value for money
- Excellent performance at 1080p and 4K
- Great performance for single-threaded workloads
- Strong overclocking performance
- High-quality case
- Competitive performance
Cons
- Lacks AVX-512 support
- Expensive compared to the competition
- Lackluster performance on Alder Lake platform
- Power consumption could be better
- No overclocking
Price Comparison
Specifications
Connectivity
CPU Socket
FCLGA1700
PCI Express
5.0 and 4.0, 20 lanes (Up to 1x16+4, 2x8+4)
Ports
eDP 1.4b, DP 1.4a, HDMI 2.1
Construction
Form Factor
Desktop microprocessor Box
Lithography
Intel 7
Platform
Alder Lake
Dimensions
Size | Depth
37.5 mm
Size | Width
45.0 mm
Function
Graphics
Intel® UHD Graphics 770, 32 execution units, Base 300 MHz, Boost 1.55 GHz, Max 4 displays, DirectX 12, OpenGL 4.5, OpenCL 3.0
Operating Temperature
Max Tjunction 100°C
Processor | Cores
16 Cores (8 performance cores / 8 efficient cores)
Processor | Threads
24 Threads
Resolution
Max res DP 7680 x 4320 @ 60Hz / Max res HDMI 4096 x 2160 @ 60Hz
Security
vPro Enterprise, Threat Detection Technology (TDT), Active Management Technology (AMT), Standard Manageability (ISM), One-Click Recovery, Hardware Shield Eligibility, Control-Flow Enforcement Technology, Total Memory Encryption - Multi Key, Total Memor...
Supported Technologies
Gaussian & Neural Accelerator 3.0, Thread Director, Deep Learning Boost (Intel DL Boost), Optane™ Memory Supported, Speed Shift Technology, Turbo Boost Max Technology 3.0, Hyper-Threading Technology, Enhanced Intel SpeedStep Technology, Thermal...
Thermal Solution
PCG 2020A
Video
Clear Video HD Technology
Performance
Cache
30 MB Intel® Smart Cache14 MB L2
Frequency
Max Turbo: 5.20 GHz(Max P-core: 5.10 GHz / Max E-core: 3.90 GHz) | (Base P-core: 3.20 GHz / Base E-core: 3.20 GHz)
Memory | Capacity
Supports up to 128 GB
Memory | Type
Up to DDR5 4800 MT/s, Up to DDR4 3200 MT/s, Max 2 channels, ECC supported, Max bandwidth 76.8 GB/s
Power Consumption
125 W Base / 241 W Turbo
Production
Debut
2021 Q4
Model Name
i9-12900K
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Launch Comparison
Clear List
3rd-Party Review Videos
External Reviews
anandtech[1]
Reviewer score 76%The new memory standard offers a substantial uplift when it comes to memory bandwidth. DDR5 had a minor lead in single threaded tests but in a lot of multithreaded tests, the lead was significant. The Golden Cove core inside Alder Lake has reclaimed the single-threaded performance crown with an uplift in SPEC of 18-20%.
Find the original article here.
Pros
- Great performance for single-threaded workloads
- Dedicated E-cores
- Good value for money
Cons
- Expensive compared to the competition
- Lacks AVX-512 support
digitaltrends[2]
Reviewer score 73%The Core i9-12900K boasts a single-core boost of 5.2GHz, which I hit time and again during testing. In a 30-minute AIDA64 stress test, the chip managed an all-core frequency of 4.8GHz, reaching a peak of 84 degrees Celsius while drawing 210W of power. The chip represents a lot of things for Intel, but more than anything, it represents a company that’s ready to get competitive again.
Find the original article here.
Pros
- Competitive performance
- High power demands
- Strong overclocking performance
Cons
- Power consumption could be better
pcmag[3]
Reviewer score 70%The Intel Core i9-12900K is an impressive first showing for its desktop processors built off the new 7 Process. For content creators, the cost proposition of 12th Gen perks up, thanks to several outright wins. But on cost of adoption, the percentages are still skewed in AMD's favor.
Find the original article here.
Pros
- Competitive price-per-core for a desktop processor built off Ryzen 9 5950X
- Competitively priced
Cons
- Lackluster performance on Alder Lake platform
trustedreviews[4]
Reviewer score 81%The Intel Core i9-12900K was the most powerful processor in the group test, but only saw marginal gains over its 11th Gen predecessors. It’s certainly a power hog, consuming more power than any of the other processors on test – but it didn’t consume quite as much power as you might expect. You’ll still need a fairly high-spec power supply if you’re going to pair this chip with a high-end power supply. The added outlay of a cooler also pushes up the cost of the chip.
Find the original article here.
Pros
- Extremely powerful
- Excellent performance at 1080p and 4K
- High-quality case
Cons
- No overclocking
User Reviews
Comments
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References
- ^ The Intel 12th Gen Core i9-12900K Review: Hybrid Performance Brings Hybrid Complexity. [anandtech]. https://www.anandtech.com/show/17047/the-intel-12th-gen-core-i912900k-review-hybrid-performance-brings-hybrid-complexity. 2021-11-04. Retrieved 2021-11-19.
- ^ Intel Core i9-12900K review: Call it a comeback. [digitaltrends]. https://www.digitaltrends.com/desktop-computer-reviews/intel-core-i9-12900k-review/. 2021-11-04. Retrieved 2021-11-19.
- ^ Intel Core i9-12900K Review. [pcmag]. https://www.pcmag.com/reviews/intel-core-i9-12900k. 2021-11-04. Retrieved 2021-11-19.
- ^ Intel Core i9-12900K Review. [trustedreviews]. https://www.trustedreviews.com/reviews/intel-core-i9-12900k. Retrieved 2021-11-08.
The MSRP provided on this page may not apply to all regions equally. For the current price, please refer to the Price Comparison section.
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Scores are not directly comparable across industries.
These key takeaways ("pros" and "cons") and summaries are identified from third-party reviews. They may differ from the original texts.
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