Intel is dividing its TDP numbers into two new categories, starting with 12th generation Alder Lake CPUs, Processor Base Power (PBP) and Maximum Turbo Power (MTP).
12th generation Intel Alder Lake CPUs TDPs now defined as PBP PL1 & MTP PL2, up to 38% performance with MTP
The first category is the basic TDP of what a CPU is processing. Power Level 2 is described when a CPU is pushed past its PBP and is typically caused by long term usage (also known as Tau of PL2 by motherboard manufacturers). It has also been known when a CPU is overclocked, a feature enthusiasts tweak and tinker with to see how much they can put a load on a product before it doesn’t work as intended. Due to the needs of these enthusiasts, vendors and manufacturers are adding this to the descriptions so that consumers can have this information in advance.
Not only is TDP being replaced by PBP, but PL2 is now considered the maximum turbo performance of the CPU. These new terms, along with other official performance information, are now featured on slides from Intel’s marketing intelligence. With this new nomenclature for CPUs, reviewers must now ensure that the correct modes are used when comparing alternative solutions to avoid confusion among the audience and to make certain CPUs that are highly productive cheaper.
Twitter users @ 9550pro found a screenshot from Weibo user Wolfstame. Wolfstame happens to be Lenovo China’s Gaming Desktop Product Planning Manager. The user posted a chart showing the comparison of the new Alder Lake CPU lines in PL1 and PL2 modes in a Cinebench test, more precisely in the R20 multi-thread benchmark. This information has since been removed from the original poster, possibly for reasons of embargo. What is shown is the level of performance that MTP modes bring to all three of the new K-Series 12th generation Intel Core processors.
This information is closest to the exact performance we’ve seen since the AMD and Microsoft L3 latency issues plaguing Ryzen CPUs on Windows 11.
- Intel Core i9-12900K: PL2 – 10180, PL1 – 7492, PL2 / PL1 – 136%
- Intel Core i7-12700K: PL2 – 8677, PL1 – 6689, PL2 / PL1 – 130%
- Intel Core i5-12600K: PL2 – 6551 , PL1 – 5953 , PL2 / PL1 – 110%
If we look at these calculations, we can see that the Intel Core i5-12600K chipset in PL1 = PL2 mode promises a 10% increase in performance compared to the default settings. Intel’s Core i7-12700K CPU has 30% better performance, and the i9-12900K has an astonishing 36% better performance when using MTP mode.
Intel’s latest CPUs are slated to hit the market on November 4th, but dealers started taking pre-orders last week. Recently, Newegg appeared to have shipped the CPUs before the actual embargo date, and they’re probably not the only retailer to have made this mistake. Unfortunately, without access to the Z690 motherboard, the chips will be unusable until those devices are available.
12th Generation Intel Alder Lake Desktop CPU Specifications “Rumored”
CPU name | P-core number | E-Core number | Total core / thread | P-Core base / boost (max.) | P-Core Boost (All-Core) | E-core base / boost | E-core boost (all-core) | L3 cache | TDP (PL1) | TDP (PL2) | Expected (RRP) price |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Core i9-12900K | 8th | 8th | 16/24 | 3.2 / 5.3 GHz | 5.0 GHz (all cores) | 2.4 / 3.9 GHz | 3.7 GHz (all cores) | 30 MB | 125W | 241W | $ 599 |
Core i9-12900 | 8th | 8th | 16/24 | 3.2 / 5.2 GHz | 4.9 GHz (all cores) | TBA | TBA | 30 MB | 65W | ~ 200W | $ 509 |
Core i9-12900T | 8th | 8th | 16/24 | TBA / 4.9 GHz | TBA | TBA | TBA | 30 MB | 35W | TBA | TBA |
Core i7-12700K | 8th | 4th | 12/20 | 3.6 / 5.0 GHz | 4.7 GHz (all cores) | 2.7 / 3.8 GHz | 3.6 GHz (all cores) | 25 MB | 125W | 190W | $ 429 |
Core i7-12700 | 8th | 4th | 12/20 | 3.6 / 4.9 GHz | 4.6 GHz (all cores) | TBA | TBA | 25 MB | 65W | ~ 200W | $ 359 |
Core i7-12700T | 8th | 4th | 12/20 | TBA / 4.7 GHz | TBA | TBA | TBA | 25 MB | 35W | TBA | TBA |
Core i5-12600K | 6th | 4th | 10/16 | 3.7 / 4.9 GHz | 4.5 GHz (all cores) | 2.8 / 3.6 GHz | 3.4 GHz (all cores) | 20 MB | 125W | 150W | $ 279 |
Core i5-12600 | 6th | 0 | 6/12 | 3.7 / 4.8 GHz | 4.4 GHz (all cores) | TBA | TBA | 18 MB | 65W | ~ 200W | $ 249 |
Core i5-12600T | 6th | 0 | 6/12 | TBA / 4.6 GHz | TBA | TBA | TBA | 18 MB | 35W | TBA | TBA |
Core i5-12500T | 6th | 0 | 6/12 | TBA / 4.4 GHz | TBA | TBA | TBA | 18 MB | 35W | TBA | TBA |
Core i5-12400 | 6th | 0 | 6/12 | TBA | TBA | TBA | TBA | 18 MB | 65W | ~ 200W | $ 203 |
Core i5-12400T | 6th | 0 | 6/12 | TBA / 4.2 GHz | TBA | TBA | TBA | 18 MB | 35W | TBA | TBA |
Core i3-12200T | 4th | 0 | 4/8 | TBA / 4.2 GHz | TBA | TBA | TBA | 12 MB | 35W | TBA | TBA |
Core i3-12100T | 4th | 0 | 4/8 | TBA / 4.1 GHz | TBA | TBA | TBA | 12 MB | 35W | TBA | TBA |
Source: Wolfstame (on Weibo), @ 9550pro, VideoCardz