Aftertalking up Alder Lakefor more than a yr , Intel has released all of the CPUs in its 12th - genesis range . This unexampled generation bring the same tidy sum of performance improvements worthy of our roundup ofthe best processorsbut also tick off the first time Intel has used its 10 New Mexico manufacturing process on desktop and the first slot - in CPUs with a hybrid architecture .

There ’s a lot to peach about with Alder Lake . We rounded up everything you involve to know about twelfth - gen Alder Lake CPU , including how much they cost , what kind of performance you’re able to anticipate , and how they work with new Z690 motherboards .

Pricing and availability

The first batch of Alder Lake flake arrive on November 4 . The companyannounced them during the Intel Innovationevent on October 27 , revealing six newfangled CPUs to give up off the range . The Core i9 - 12900 K was the original flagship role model , but in April 2022,the Core i9 - 12900KSwas found and became the new flagship . Many example also have an “ F ” variation , which think of the integrate graphics are disabled , and F model are also cheaper than their non - F counterpart . There are now seven 12th - gen CPUs that are unlocked :

Intelannounced a further 22 Alder Lake processorsin other 2022 that have since released . These chips support the repose of the reach , proffer locked variations of the above manakin , as well as cheap Core i5 and Core i3 options .

At least in the U.S. , Intel did n’t raise prices much over eleventh - gen chips . The i9 and i5 models have seen a svelte bump , while the i7 ’s pricing is the same as the former genesis . Despite some Leontyne Price bumps , Intel ’s C.P.U. are generally priced lower than AMD ’s Ryzen C.P.U. , which is notable since Intel has usually been the more expensive choice .

The box excogitation are mostly unchanged from the late generation . However , the flagship Core i9 - 12900KS and the former flagship 12900 K amount slotted inside a lucky wafer replica in the corner .

Except for the Core i9 - 12900 K and 12900KS , the seven fleck heel above do n’t issue forth with anything but the CPU . The other 22 central processor come with one of Intel’sredesigned Laminar CPU ice chest .

Specs

Intel now has twelfth - gen screen background C.P.U. from 16 cores down to only two , offer options across the price and performance spectrum . Although Alder Lake is have a go at it for consume hybrid computer architecture , only about one-half of the bit get along with a mixing of performant ( P ) CORE and efficient ( E ) core . Here ’s a face at the desktop reach :

The balance of phosphorus - cores and einsteinium - cores is different for each model . Only the phosphorus - core funding hyperthreading , so the i9 model come with 16 core and 24 threads , the i7 fashion model arrive with 12 heart and 20 duds , and so on . cow chip without the hybrid architecture add up solely with P - cores , which support hyperthreading .

relative frequency - wise , it ’s hard to interlock Alder Lake down . The phosphorus - nucleus and E - cores run at unlike frequency , so there is n’t a single phone number to mention . With Intel ’s update Extreme Overclocking Utility ( XTU ) , you may tweak the P - core and eastward - cores severally to dial in an overclock .

The non - K models are n’t unbarred for overclocking , though some user have bring off to go around protective measurement tooverclock them anyway . Although Intel says not to overclock non - K models , it can ensue in as much as a 33 % increase in execution for midrange processors .

Performance

With Alder Lake finally here , we can validate some of Intel ’s performance claims . In ourtesting of the Core i9 - 12900 K , we found massive profit over the previous generation and a important lead over the competing Ryzen 9 5950X. The Core i9 - 12900KS , which is essentially an overclocked 12900 K , slimly strain Intel ’s lead over the 5950X.

Gaming isa big focus of Alder Lake . Intel says the coevals bring up to a 28 % improvement in games likeHitman 3over the former contemporaries . Some of that is on the back of Windows 11 , which is optimize for Alder Lake ’s Thread Director feature of speech , and DDR5 memory , which benefits games with its increase bandwidth .

Our own benchmarks back up the improvements in game . In the synthetic 3D Mark Time Spy , the Core i9 - 12900KS was about 9 % quicker than the Ryzen 9 5950X and Core i9 - 10900K. In a real game , Forza Horizon 4,the 12th - gen microchip manage a massive 19 % lead over the other two central processing unit .

Still , not all games saw a benefit . Red Dead Redemption 2is one example , as the Core i9 - 12900KS tied the Ryzen 9 5950X while the 12900 K took a 2 fps lead . likewise , inAssassin ’s Creed Valhalla , the chipproduced a moderately low-down frame rate than not only the 12900 K ( which is hypothesize to be the boring version ) .

Although play is important , Alder Lake is also concentrate on multitasking and content creation . In a rough-cut scenario where you ’re play a game while streaming and transcription , Intel claim the Core i9 - 12900 K can deliver an 84 % betterment in frame pace over the previous generation . Intel pronounce the new chips are also up to 36 % faster in photo - redaction applications like Adobe Lightroom , 32 % faster in Premiere Pro , and 37 % quicker in Autodesk Revit .

Those figure are precise based on our testing . In Photoshop , the Core i9 - 12900 K was about 30 % quicker than the Ryzen 9 5950X , and in Premiere Pro , it was about 7 % faster . The check also produced an telling 47 - moment render in Handbrake , distinguish a monumental 35 % improvement over the Core i9 - 10900K. In most of these bench mark , the new Core i9 - 12900KS extend Intel ’s booster cable over AMD and the older Core i9 - 10900K.

In world-wide computer science , the Alder Lake still shows its power . Take Geekbench 5 , for example , where the Core i9 theoretical account managed a 28 % spark advance over the Ryzen 9 5950X. Paired with DDR4 however , the Core i9 - 12900 K is actually slower .

We ’ve only tested the Core i9 - 12900 K and Core i9 - 12900KS , but the consensus among other reviewer is that the repose of Intel ’s lineup can hang just okay with AMD ’s . Though , when it comes to gaming execution , AMD has reclaimed the crown with the 5800X3D , which ca n’t beat the Core i9 - 12900KS in core group heavy workloads but does win in games .

Intel say AMDis “ in the rearview mirror ” with the release of Alder Lake , and performance backs up that claim . However , AMD is launching its next - generation Ryzen 7000 serial later this year , so Intel ’s overall principal is n’t on the button secure .

Architecture design

Alder Lake uses a hybrid computer architecture that bring together two types of processing kernel . The first is a performant core group that mirrors what you ’d typically get in a new processor generation , and the second is an efficient core that ’s used to handle ground task and beef up applications that like a lot of cores .

Intel is design both cores onIntel 7 , which is the new name for the Enhanced 10 nm SuperFin process node . Golden Cove cores are the giving ones , and they deal the bulk of work you ’d do on a computer . Gracemont nub are the little unity , and they ’re useful for handling backdrop tasks or conserve stamp battery life when a performant core is n’t needed .

Golden Cove core are focused on high - oftenness , single - thread performance . Utilizing Intel ’s newfangled Matrix engine , the company order that the cores should have high relative frequency across applications . The Matrix engine is a coprocessor that treat matrix multiplication , which can rush along up AI work load in peculiar .

Gracemont cores handle the other side of the carrying into action spectrum . Intel says they ’re all about multi - threaded execution , juggle several lightweight tasks across multiple cores . Intel says they can perform about 40 % above old Skylake cores at the same electric power .

Other change to Alder Lake include support forPCIe Gen 5 and PCIe Gen 4 , as well asDDR5and DDR4 computer memory . Though Alder Lake supports both generations of DDR system memory , it ’s up to the board manufacturer to decide which touchstone to affirm . Users ca n’t mix DDR4 and DDR5 module on the same board . Thunderbolt 4and Wi - Fi 6E Gig+ are also tolerate on Alder Lake .

hearsay suggest Intel willcontinue sustain DDR4for its thirteenth - gen Raptor Lake processors .

Although not relate to hardware architecture , Intel get rid of functionality for software safety equipment extension ( SGX ) in 12th - gen processor . In short , youcan’t roleplay 4 K Blu - Rayswith 12th - gen CPU . SGX is used to protect the disks from buccaneering , and Alder Lake processors wo n’t read them .

Overclocking

Alder Lake chips featurea thicker integrate heating spreader ( IHS ) , which should give them more overclocking potential difference . Intel trimmed the dice thickness and thermal port material down to increase the IHS sizing , adding more bulk metal to the top of the chip for greater cooling potential difference .

Alder Lake marks the launch of Extreme Tuning Utility ( XTU ) 7.5 , which allows you to tweak the ratio and voltage setting of Alder Lake ’s P - nitty-gritty and due east - cores . you’re able to overclock each of the cores severally . If you ca n’t be incommode , you may use Intel Speed Optimizer on the Core i9 - 12900 K and Core i9 - 12900KF to add a moderate overclock with a single push button .

In our examination , XTU promote the flake to 5.0GHz all - core without increasing heat or power hook . With some manual tweaking , we managed a 5.4GHz overclock without much of a hassle , though it came stockpile a 300W force draw with it .

New socket and motherboards

Intel is moving to the Z690 weapons platform with Alder Lake , which sport the new LGA1700 socket . Many motherboard manufacturers , including Gigabyte , MSI , Asus , Colorful , and ASRock , have boards available with the novel chipset and socket . Alder Lake tolerate DDR4 and DDR5 , but as mention above , you wo n’t be capable to use both on the same motherboard .

Z690 is Intel ’s flagship chipset , but the company also has budget - focused options — H670 , B660 , and H610 . These chipsets do n’t support CPU overclocking and they come with fewer PCIe lanes . They still bear out Alder Lake ’s other tentpole features , though , including DDR5 on the motherboard with the correct RAM slots .

A newfangled socket mean a newfangled layout for central processor cooler . Many CPU tank makers , including Noctua , are offering free brackets that work with the LGA1700 socket . If you ’re wondering what you require , check that to interpret our guide oneverything you need to raise to Intel 12th - gen Alder Lake .

Alder Lake mobile processors

Alder Lake is a platform for Intel . The company is using the same name and architecture across its desktop and mobile discharge , breaking from the launch cadence it has give . Intel has HX - serial publication ( 55W ) , H - series ( 45W ) , P - series ( 28W ) , and U - serial publication ( 15W and 9W ) peregrine chips available . Here ’s how the reach looks :

In our testing , the flagship Core i9 - 12900HK wipes the base with the contender . In some cases , we found the chip to be as much as 21 % quicker than the competing Ryzen 9 5900HX , and at times , it even rivaled a screen background Core i9 - 10900K. We have n’t reviewed down - end SKUs , but the consensus among other reviewers is that they are also quite safe , with AMD ’s flagship Ryzen 9 5900HX losing even to the Core i7 - 12700H. This is n’t surprising since the Ryzen 9 5900HX only has eight core , and while AMD ’s Zen 3 computer architecture is quite good , it ’s hard to compete when you ’re six centre down .

AMD’sRyzen 6000 chipsare here , as areIntel ’s newfangled HX models , so the mobile market place is still hot in the middle of 2022 .