We’re not gonna waste anytime with all the details of this CPU. You can read about the architecture, the Z690 chipset, the hybrid approach and all of that in our early preview article. What we have today is Intel’s attempt at claiming back its performance crown: the 12th-gen Intel Core i9-12900K. Featuring Intel’s new hybrid architecture that mixes eight(8) high-performance CPU cores built on Golden Cove microarchitecture and is mixed in with eight(8) more efficiency cores based on the Gracemont architecture and built on Intel’s 10nm Enhanced SuperFin aka Intel 7. So if you’re not up to speed with all of that and want to educate yourself on what happened since March 30, 2021 (yes, 11th-gen was this year), then read the article below:
If you just want the short version of the story: Intel has lost the performance crown to AMD and are very aware of it and they want it back. They want it badly but want to do it their own way. The solution: hybrid cores. Intel is still chasing frequency and their 5Ghz dream, while realized, is still not an all-core situation and their race to increase core count is still plagued with extreme heat and power draw. Spoiler: many of these issues persist but Intel manages to offset it to a point.
But the main fact of the matter here is if the new flagship from Intel able to at least give them a fighting chance? In this review we’ll look closely at the performance of the Core i9-12900K and see if the new strategy works while they rebuild their company’s former luster.
Again, this article will not discuss the details and will dive straight to the actual review. Please refer to this article for a brief on the nitty-gritty details on the Intel 12th-gen Core CPUs, the Z690 chipset and what’s new with this generation.
