Intel Core i9-12900K review: Intel finally has an answer for AMD Ryzen 9
Source: Daniel Rubino / Windows Fundamental
Intel has felt the heat since 2022 subsequently AMD launched its new Ryzen family of processors. Intel had enjoyed countless years of little to no competition, particularly in the PC desktop space, but all that inverse with AMD "ryzing" from the ashes. The two competitors have traded blows since. While Team Bluish remained out alee, AMD'south line-up was considered the best CPUs.
AMD has been able to power alee as well in part to its manufacturing partner TMSC, which has been able to compress the marketed transistor size down to just 7nm with the latest Ryzen 5000 serial processors. Intel has been stuck on what it used to refer to as 14nm with the contempo 11th Gen CPUs on what Intel chosen its refined 14nm process using a 10nm design.
But that's all changed with Intel'due south latest 12th Gen processors. This latest generation of CPUs is based on the "Intel 7" process, previously referred to every bit Intel 10nm Enhanced SuperFin (10ESF) — you can merely think of information technology as on a roughly equal sitting with TMSC'due south 7nm process used by AMD.
Is this new generation of Intel processors enough to entice those who may have departed the visitor for AMD Ryzen? Nosotros've got Intel's new flagship, the Cadre i9-12900K right hither to find out!
Intel Core i9-12900K
Bottom line: Intel fabricated good use of the drawing table and returns with something truly special. The Cadre i9-12900K is a jump in the right management for those seeking a powerful, yet efficient desktop processor.
The Good
- Exceptional functioning
- 125W TDP at stock
- PCIe five.0 support
- DDR5 RAM support
- Great price
The Bad
- No arranged libation
- Requires new motherboard
- Can get real hot loaded/overclocked
Intel Core i9-12900K: Cost and availability
Source: Rich Edmonds / Windows Primal
Intel announced the Core i9-12900K alongside other 12th Gen processors on October 27. These new processors are available at total MSRP and you lot should expect to pay around $589. This is an aggressive price for a brand new processor with sixteen cores and 24 threads, largely in response to the success of AMD's Ryzen 9 range of CPUs.
One point to bear in mind is the cost of DDR5 RAM and a Z690 motherboard if you wish to take reward of all the new tech offered by this CPU. If you're holding out for this launch to construct a new PC from scratch, that shouldn't exist an issue, only an upgrade from a tenth Gen Intel CPU may require some boosted cost factored in.
twelfth Gen
Intel Core i9-12900K: Alder Lake
Source: Rich Edmonds / Windows Key
Alder Lake is Intel's codename for its twelfth generation of processors. These new CPUs are special in that they're built using Intel's new Intel 7 (10nm) manufacturing process and follow the "big.LITTLE" hybrid design principle we've seen with ARM chips like the M1 from Apple tree. The company is banking on high-functioning Gilded Cove and more power-efficient Gracemont cores.
Then what's all this hybrid core tech jargon? Simply put, it follows the aforementioned principle pioneered by British-based Arm Ltd, the company behind ARM chips constitute in countless devices, including your smartphone. The idea is to mix very power-efficient single-threaded cores that handle low-priority tasks with more traditional PC-grade multi-thread, high-operation cores to handle everything else.
Source: Daniel Rubino / Windows Central
Desktop processors, in detail, take ever been power-hungry but offering incredible levels of operation. This new approach cuts this ability down slightly in favor of some cores that are designed specifically with certain tasks in heed. This should result in better (and more than efficient) overall computing performance.
Gilded Cove cores will handle all the main tasks like of import processes, games, in-use apps, and other tasks while other, lower-priority apps and tasks become pushed off onto the Gracemont cores, freeing upwardly resources. The end issue is a core and thread count that seems out of place in 2022. The Intel Cadre i9-12900K, for instance, has 8 Gilded Cove cores (16 threads) with an additional 8 Gracemont cores (8 threads).
Alder Lake brought a new hybrid core design for twelfth Gen.
This is all handled by Intel's new scheduler chosen Intel Thread Director. It'southward supported by Windows eleven, which is what Intel recommends with its new processors. The software will be able to work with the CPU to manage tasks in the most efficient style possible, leading to considerable operation gains.
It's been the case for years that more cores and threads don't necessarily lead to better operation and Alder Lake offers further proof through impressive results. Too as this new array of cores and threads, Intel besides opened up back up for DDR5 RAM and PCIe 5.0 with Alder Lake, snatching the standards lead from AMD.
Whilst both PCIe 5.0 and DDR5 aren't mature enough to see positive gains across the board with new hardware, it does mean a PC with a twelfth Gen Intel CPU volition exist prepare for serious upgrades further down the line. If you lot were disappointed by the Intel Core i9-11900K, you lot'll be pleased to read the successor is anything but an evolution.
Impressive results
Intel Core i9-12900K: Benchmarks & functioning
Source: Daniel Rubino / Windows Central
The Intel Core i9-12900K is a fauna of a processor. On paper, Intel packed within xvi physical cores (consisting of eight efficient and 8 performance cores) with a total of 24 threads. Compared to the most capable desktop-class processor on the AM4 platform, it's more than a match for the AMD Ryzen 9 5950X.
Too as the AMD chip, which we gave a full 5-star rating for its performance and value, nosotros'll be comparing the i9-12900K against its predecessor to see but how much of a spring in the right direction Alder Lake is for Intel. The chart below shows the three processors lined up on clock speeds, cache, PCIe support, and more.
| Category | Intel Cadre i9-12900K | Intel Cadre i9-11900K | AMD Ryzen 9 5950X |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cores/Threads | 16/24 | eight/xvi | 16/32 |
| Base Frequency | P: 3.2GHz E: 2.4GHz | 3.5GHz | 3.4GHz |
| Heave | P: 5.1GHz E: 3.9GHz | 4.8GHz | 4.9GHz |
| Turbo Boost Max three.0 | five.2GHz | five.2GHz (favored cores) | ❌ |
| Memory | DDR4-3200/DDR5-4800 Upward to 128GB | DDR4-3200 Upwardly to 128GB | DDR4-3200 Upwardly to 128GB |
| L3 Enshroud | 30MB | 16MB | 32MB |
| Integrated Graphics | Intel UHD Graphics 770 | Intel UHD Graphics Xe 750 | ❌ |
| PCIe | PCIe Gen 5.0 10 20 | PCIe Gen 4.0 x twenty | PCIe Gen 4.0 x 20 |
| TDP | 125W | 125W | 105W |
| Manufacturing Node | 10nm | 14nm | 7nm |
| Socket | LGA1700 | LGA1200 | AM4 |
| Toll | $589 | $454 | $799 |
In order to test the Intel Core i9-12900K properly, both I and Executive Editor Daniel Rubino received the latest Z690 motherboards and DDR5 RAM. Both systems were running DDR5-4800 and PCIe four.0 GPUs from NVIDIA. The motherboards differed with one test rig running an ASUS ROG Maximus Z690 Hero and the other was built atop the MSI MPG Z690 Carbon WiFi.
The Core i9-12900K may be on 10nm, merely y'all wouldn't notice with the performance.
The story of how Intel'south Cadre i9-12900K compares to its predecessor, the Core i9-11900K, showcases how much of an upgrade Alder Lake is. CPU-Z showed a score increase of 99 for single-core and iv,620 for multi-core operation. Scores of 811 (single) and 11,154 (multi) are impressive, especially when you consider the AMD Ryzen 9 5950X came in at 648 and 11,906, respectively.
Nosotros observed similar results in Cinebench R23 with the Core i9-12900K pulling back and taking the fight to AMD. Time Spy and PCMark 10 saw considerable gains for the Intel fleck, surpassing the Ryzen 5950X without issue. The near impressive feat here is that Intel is still technically using a 10nm process, whereas AMD was already on 7nm with the Ryzen 5000 series.
The Intel Cadre i9-12900K doesn't get too hot, peculiarly if you have enough thermal capacity. An all-in-1 CPU cooler with a 360mm rad could exist viewed as overkill for a single component, just if yous want to push button a processor such as this into the realm of overclocking, you lot'll desire the additional headroom.
At stock, the Core i9-12900K has a TDP of 125W, but this can hit 250W when the turbo tech kicks in. Factor in overclocking and yous'll have even more than power and heat to deal with. Temperatures were great across all of our tests, using 360 AIO coolers. A stock Core i9-12900K tin can sit comfortably at 22C when idling and push button up to around 60C when nether load.
| Temp tests | ASUS ROG Ryujin 2 360 AIO | Corsair iCUE H150i Elite Capellix 360 AIO |
|---|---|---|
| Idle | 22C 72F | 27C 72F |
| Gaming | 43C 138F | 39C 91F |
| Stress | 81C 172F | 90C 194F |
| Idle (OC) | 22C 72F | - |
| Gaming (OC) | 51C 151F | - |
| Stress (OC) | 90C 194F | - |
These tests were performed in two different environments. Stress tests performed in Cinebench R23.
Overclocking the Core i9-12900K is an easy process and can fifty-fifty exist handled by the motherboard if y'all don't want to mess with clock and voltage settings. To simulate what an average PC owner would feel, we opted to use ASUS' AI overclocking feature to fix everything automatically. This as well increased RAM speeds from 4800MHz to 5200MHz.
The results were impressive, the 5400MHz heave bumped upwards our benchmark results, but the added heat did cause the 360mm AIO to ramp up to continue temperatures down. The Core i9 was hit 90C in Cinebench R23 synthetic tests, which wouldn't be the case in games (Ashes of a Singularity, GTA V, Mountain & Blade II, etc.) and more than realistic tasks, settling at around 66C across the board.
Equally 1 example for gaming, when paired with an NVIDIA RTX 3080, the Core i9 had no problems playing Doom Eternal at 3840x1600 resolution with graphics set to Ultra Nightmare (the highest) with DLSS (Quality), ray tracing enabled, and adaptive refresh — basically maxed out. Specifically, we consistently striking 144 frames-per-second (FPS) without a hitch. However, these results were achievable with the new Core i5-12600, which is just as impressive. As always, it's more than well-nigh your GPU than CPU still for many summit-tier games.
Finally, a Ryzen alternative
Intel Core i9-12900K: Competition
Source: Rich Edmonds / Windows Primal
The chief contest to the Intel Core i9-12900K would be the AMD Ryzen 9 5950X, though yous could likewise include the Ryzen nine 5900X with its still-impressive 12 core and 24 thread configuration. As one can run across from the higher up benchmarks, AMD remained ahead of Intel's older Core i9-11900K processor, simply that's all changed with Alder Lake.
Intel finally has an answer to AMD and it's corking for consumers.
For nearly people looking for a new processor to build or upgrade a gaming PC, we'd recommend the Cadre i9-12900K for value and functioning. Certain, you lose a few threads to AMD that results in a few losses with multi-core tasks, but Intel makes up for this with unmatched single-core capabilities. As an all-rounder, you can't falter the Cadre i9-12900K.
Where Intel may lose out to AMD is with pricing. Blackness Friday is just around the corner and you can bet AMD will be pushing for aggressive pricing across its processor range as more stock becomes available. This will brand it a tough conclusion to not just buy a new Intel CPU only also a new motherboard and potentially RAM too.
Intel Cadre i9-12900K: Should you purchase it?
Source: Daniel Rubino / Windows Central
You should buy this if ...
You want the latest Intel CPU
The Intel Core i9-12900K is part of the 12th Gen family of processors. If you lot're after the very latest and best the company has to offer in 2022, this is the processor to buy.
Yous want the best unmarried-core performance
AMD may yet be king of multi-cadre tasks with the Ryzen 9 5950X, merely that doesn't mean the Core i9-12900K is a slouch. Far from it as this CPU boasts impressive unmarried-cadre scores, besides as decent enough numbers for multi-core tasks that would make AMD sweat slightly.
You should not buy this if ...
You demand all the cores
While this is technically a 16-core processor, the Intel Core i9-12900K doesn't pack as many threads as AMD'southward Ryzen counterparts. If your workload demands every bit many cores and threads as possible, you'll need to become with AMD Ryzen or Threadripper.
Y'all don't demand top-level performance
If all you lot do on your PC is cheque some post, visit various websites, sentry some videos and play the odd game here and there, the Cadre i9 may exist an overkill option. We'd recommend the Cadre i7-12700K instead.
Since 2022, we've recommended AMD processors for near consumers, which offered great levels of performance at undercut prices compared to Intel's own range of CPUs. In the latter one-half of 2022, this is no longer the case. Intel is now once once more back in forepart of AMD, and non but on single-cadre functioning.
If you lot're after the latest Intel CPU and take the upkeep to spare, the Intel Core i9-12900K is an impressive feat of engineering. This processor has the best single-core operation compared to AMD'due south flagship offering, but it besides costs less (comparing MSRP) and even beats AMD in some multi-task tests.
Whether you need a CPU for gaming or for video editing, the Intel Core i9-12900K is an astonishing processor. The new hybrid engineering science Intel is using but works. The CPU uses very trivial ability when the arrangement is doing adjacent to null but is capable of ramping upwardly to impressive clock speeds when you need the performance.
Your turn, AMD.
Intel Core i9-12900K
Bottom line: Intel is now back in the game with the launch of Alder Lake processors. The Core i9-12900K is the flagship chip with plenty of cores and threads, as well every bit ample functioning for intensive tasks and gaming.
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Best motherboard
Best motherboards for Intel Core i7-12700K 2022
The Cadre i7-12700K can make good use of the best motherboards with a Z690 chipset. Connect DDR5 RAM and the latest GPUs, and you've got one amazing gaming motorcar. Here are some of our favorite boards.
Source: https://www.windowscentral.com/intel-core-i9-12900k-review
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