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Intel Core i9-12900T

Intel Core i9-12900T: Power and Efficiency in a Compact Package

March 2025

1. Key Specifications: Architecture, Process Technology, Performance

Hybrid Alder Lake Architecture

The Intel Core i9-12900T is a flagship processor featuring the hybrid Alder Lake architecture, which combines 16 cores (8 Performance-cores and 8 Efficient-cores) and 24 threads. P-cores (Performance) are responsible for high single-thread performance, while E-cores (Efficient) optimize multi-threaded tasks and power consumption. The Intel 7 process technology (10 nm Enhanced SuperFin) provides a balance between power and efficiency.

Frequencies and Cache

- Base Frequency P-cores: 1.40 GHz (in power-saving mode).

- Maximum Turbo Frequency P-cores: 4.80 GHz.

- L3 Cache: 30 MB (shared among all cores).

Despite a low TDP of 35 W, the processor shows impressive performance:

- Geekbench 6: 2331 (single-core), 12116 (multi-core).

In comparison, this performance level rivals top desktop CPUs from previous generations, but with half the power consumption.

Key Technologies

- Intel Thread Director: Optimizes task distribution between P- and E-cores, especially in Windows 11.

- Support for DDR5 and PCIe 5.0: Bandwidth of up to 4800 MT/s (DDR5) and 128 GB/s per PCIe 5.0 lane.

- Intel UHD Graphics 770: 32 execution units, supporting 4K@60 Hz and AV1 decoding.

2. Compatible Motherboards

LGA 1700 Socket and Chipsets

The processor uses the LGA 1700 socket and is compatible with the following chipsets:

- Z690/H670/B660/H610 (for desktops).

- W680 (workstations).

Selection Recommendations:

- Z690/H670: For maximum performance (PCIe 5.0, RAM overclocking). Example: ASUS ROG Strix Z690-A Gaming WiFi ($250–$300).

- B660: Budget-friendly option with DDR5 support. Example: MSI MAG B660 Tomahawk ($150–$180).

- Mini-PC and NUC: H610-based boards are suitable for compact builds.

Important: Not all boards support DDR5 — check the specifications.

3. Supported Memory: DDR4 vs DDR5

The processor works with DDR4-3200 and DDR5-4800, but the choice depends on the motherboard.

Comparison:

- DDR4: Cheaper (32 GB kit — $80), stable, but lower bandwidth.

- DDR5: More expensive (32 GB kit — $150), higher speed and energy efficiency, future upgrade potential.

Tip: For work tasks (rendering, virtualization), choose DDR5. For office PCs, DDR4 is sufficient.

4. Power Supply: Calculation and Recommendations

With a TDP of 35 W, the processor is modest in power consumption, but consider discrete graphics cards and peripherals:

- Minimum: 500 W (for systems with NVIDIA RTX 4060 level GPU).

- Recommended: PSUs with an 80+ Gold certification (stability + 90% efficiency). Examples:

- Corsair RM550x ($90).

- Seasonic FOCUS GX-550 ($85).

For compact builds without discrete graphics, a 300 W PSU is sufficient (e.g., be quiet! SFX Power 3 350W).

5. Pros and Cons of the i9-12900T

Pros:

- High performance with low TDP.

- Support for DDR5 and PCIe 5.0 (future-proofing).

- Integrated graphics for basic tasks.

Cons:

- Price ($450–$500) is higher than AMD counterparts.

- Requires efficient cooling under load.

- DDR5 is still expensive (but prices are dropping by 2025).

6. Use Cases

Gaming

- With a discrete graphics card (e.g., RTX 4070): 4K@60+ FPS in AAA titles.

- With UHD 770: CS2, Dota 2 at medium settings (1080p).

Work Tasks

- Rendering (Blender, Maya): 30% faster than i9-11900K thanks to 24 threads.

- Programming: 15–20% faster compilation in Visual Studio.

Multimedia

- Streaming (OBS + AV1 encoding).

- 8K video editing in DaVinci Resolve.

7. Comparison with Competitors

- AMD Ryzen 9 7900 (65 W): Higher multi-threaded performance (~13500 in Geekbench 6), but more expensive ($550) and 65 W TDP.

- Apple M3 Max: Better energy efficiency, but limited macOS ecosystem.

- Intel Core i7-12700T: 20% cheaper ($350), but fewer cores (12/20).

Conclusion: The i9-12900T is optimal for Windows systems where a balance of power and energy savings is important.

8. Practical Assembly Tips

1. Cooling: Even with a TDP of 35 W, under load, you need a cooler like Noctua NH-U12S ($70) or AIO (NZXT Kraken X53).

2. Memory: For DDR5, choose modules with heatsinks (e.g., Kingston Fury Beast 32 GB).

3. BIOS: Update to the latest version for compatibility with Alder Lake.

4. Case: Fractal Design Node 304 is suitable for mini-PCs; for gaming, Lian Li O11 Dynamic is recommended.

9. Final Verdict: Who is the i9-12900T For?

This processor is ideal for:

- Compact workstations (video editing, 3D modeling).

- Energy-efficient PCs (home servers, media centers).

- Gamers who prefer quiet systems with discrete graphics.

Why choose it? Its hybrid architecture, support for DDR5/PCIe 5.0, and low power consumption make it a versatile solution in 2025. However, if budget is a concern, consider the i7-12700T or AMD Ryzen 7 7700.

Prices are accurate as of March 2025. Check with local retailers for updates.

Basic

Label Name

Intel

Platform

Desktop

Launch Date

January 2022

Model Name

The Intel processor number is just one of several factors - along with processor brand, system configurations, and system-level benchmarks - to be considered when choosing the right processor for your computing needs.

i9-12900T

Code Name

Alder Lake

CPU Specifications

Total Cores

Cores is a hardware term that describes the number of independent central processing units in a single computing component (die or chip).

Total Threads

Where applicable, Intel® Hyper-Threading Technology is only available on Performance-cores.

Performance-cores

Efficient-cores

Max Turbo Frequency

Max Turbo Frequency is the maximum single-core frequency at which the processor is capable of operating using Intel® Turbo Boost Technology and, if present, Intel® Turbo Boost Max Technology 3.0 and Intel® Thermal Velocity Boost. Frequency is typically measured in gigahertz (GHz), or billion cycles per second.

4.90 GHz

Performance-core Base Frequency

1.40 GHz

Efficient-core Base Frequency

1.00 GHz

Performance-core Max Turbo Frequency

Maximum P-core turbo frequency derived from Intel® Turbo Boost Technology.

4.80 GHz

Efficient-core Max Turbo Frequency

Maximum E-core turbo frequency derived from Intel® Turbo Boost Technology.

3.60 GHz

Intel Turbo Boost Technology

Intel® Turbo Boost Technology dynamically increases the processor's frequency as needed by taking advantage of thermal and power headroom to give you a burst of speed when you need it, and increased energy efficiency when you don’t.

2.0

Intel Hyper-Threading Technology

Intel® Hyper-Threading Technology (Intel® HT Technology) delivers two processing threads per physical core. Highly threaded applications can get more work done in parallel, completing tasks sooner.

Yes

Intel Turbo Boost Max Technology 3.0 Frequency

Intel® Turbo Boost Max Technology 3.0 identifies the best performing core(s) on a processor and provides increased performance on those cores through increasing frequency as needed by taking advantage of power and thermal headroom. Intel® Turbo Boost Max Technology 3.0 frequency is the clock frequency of the CPU when running in this mode.

4.90 GHz

Intel Turbo Boost Max Technology 3.0

Yes

L3 Cache

30 MB

CPU Socket

The socket is the component that provides the mechanical and electrical connections between the processor and motherboard.

FCLGA1700

Technology

Lithography refers to the semiconductor technology used to manufacture an integrated circuit, and is reported in nanometer (nm), indicative of the size of features built on the semiconductor.

Intel 7

TDP

35 W

Processor Base Power

The time-averaged power dissipation that the processor is validated to not exceed during manufacturing while executing an Intel-specified high complexity workload at Base Frequency and at the junction temperature as specified in the Datasheet for the SKU segment and configuration.

35 W

Maximum Turbo Power

The maximum sustained (>1s) power dissipation of the processor as limited by current and/or temperature controls. Instantaneous power may exceed Maximum Turbo Power for short durations (<=10ms). Note: Maximum Turbo Power is configurable by system vendor and can be system specific.

106 W

Max. Operating Temperature

Junction Temperature is the maximum temperature allowed at the processor die.

100°C

PCI Express Version

PCI Express Revision is the supported version of the PCI Express standard. Peripheral Component Interconnect Express (or PCIe) is a high-speed serial computer expansion bus standard for attaching hardware devices to a computer. The different PCI Express versions support different data rates.

5.0 and 4.0

Number of PCI Express Lanes

A PCI Express (PCIe) lane consists of two differential signaling pairs, one for receiving data, one for transmitting data, and is the basic unit of the PCIe bus. Max # of PCI Express Lanes is the total number of supported lanes.

Intel 64

Intel® 64 architecture delivers 64-bit computing on server, workstation, desktop and mobile platforms when combined with supporting software.¹ Intel 64 architecture improves performance by allowing systems to address more than 4 GB of both virtual and physical memory.

Yes

Instruction Set

The instruction set is a hard program stored inside the CPU that guides and optimizes CPU operations. With these instruction sets, the CPU can run more efficiently. There are many manufacturers that design CPUs, which results in different instruction sets, such as the 8086 instruction set for the Intel camp and the RISC instruction set for the ARM camp. x86, ARM v8, and MIPS are all codes for instruction sets. Instruction sets can be extended; for example, x86 added 64-bit support to create x86-64. Manufacturers developing CPUs that are compatible with a certain instruction set need authorization from the instruction set patent holder. A typical example is Intel authorizing AMD, enabling the latter to develop CPUs compatible with the x86 instruction set.

64-bit

PCI Express Configurations

PCI Express (PCIe) Configurations describe the available PCIe lane configurations that can be used to link to PCIe devices.

Up to 1x16+4 | 2x8+4

Memory Specifications

Memory Type

Intel® processors come in four different types: Single Channel, Dual Channel, Triple Channel, and Flex Mode. Maximum supported memory speed may be lower when populating multiple DIMMs per channel on products that support multiple memory channels.

Up to DDR5 4800 MT/s Up to DDR4 3200 MT/s

Max Memory Size

Max memory size refers to the maximum memory capacity supported by the processor.

128 GB

Memory Channels

The number of memory channels refers to the bandwidth operation for real world application.

Max Memory Bandwidth

Max Memory bandwidth is the maximum rate at which data can be read from or stored into a semiconductor memory by the processor (in GB/s).

76.8 GB/s

ECC Memory Supported

ECC Memory Supported indicates processor support for Error-Correcting Code memory. ECC memory is a type of system memory that can detect and correct common kinds of internal data corruption. Note that ECC memory support requires both processor and chipset support.

Yes

GPU Specifications

Integrated Graphics Model

An integrated GPU refers to the graphics core that is integrated into the CPU processor. Leveraging the processor's powerful computational capabilities and intelligent power efficiency management, it delivers outstanding graphics performance and a smooth application experience at a lower power consumption.

Intel® UHD Graphics 770

Graphics Base Frequency

Graphics Base frequency refers to the rated/guaranteed graphics render clock frequency in MHz.

300 MHz

Graphics Frequency

Graphics max dynamic frequency refers to the maximum opportunistic graphics render clock frequency (in MHz) that can be supported using Intel® HD Graphics with Dynamic Frequency feature.

1.55 GHz

DirectX Support

DirectX* Support indicates support for a specific version of Microsoft’s collection of APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) for handling multimedia compute tasks.

Execution Units

The Execution Unit is the foundational building block of Intel’s graphics architecture. Execution Units are compute processors optimized for simultaneous Multi-Threading for high throughput compute power.

Max Resolution (HDMI)

Max Resolution (HDMI) is the maximum resolution supported by the processor via the HDMI interface (24bits per pixel & 60Hz). System or device display resolution is dependent on multiple system design factors; actual resolution may be lower on your system.

4096 x 2160 @ 60Hz

Max Resolution (DP)

Max Resolution (DP) is the maximum resolution supported by the processor via the DP interface (24bits per pixel & 60Hz). System or device display resolution is dependent on multiple system design factors; actual resolution may be lower on your system.

7680 x 4320 @ 60Hz

Max Resolution (eDP - Integrated Flat Panel)

Max Resolution (Integrated Flat Panel) is the maximum resolution supported by the processor for a device with an integrated flat panel (24bits per pixel & 60Hz). System or device display resolution is dependent on multiple system design factors; actual resolution may be lower on your device.

5120 x 3200 @ 120Hz

Number of Displays Supported

Graphics Output

Graphics Output defines the interfaces available to communicate with display devices.

eDP 1.4b | DP 1.4a | HDMI 2.1

Miscellaneous

Intel Deep Learning Boost (Intel DL Boost) on CPU

A new set of embedded processor technologies designed to accelerate AI deep learning use cases. It extends Intel AVX-512 with a new Vector Neural Network Instruction (VNNI) that significantly increases deep learning inference performance over previous generations.

Yes

Intel Virtualization Technology (VT-x)

Intel® Virtualization Technology (VT-x) allows one hardware platform to function as multiple “virtual” platforms. It offers improved manageability by limiting downtime and maintaining productivity by isolating computing activities into separate partitions.

Yes

Intel Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d)

Intel® Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d) continues from the existing support for IA-32 (VT-x) and Itanium® processor (VT-i) virtualization adding new support for I/O-device virtualization. Intel VT-d can help end users improve security and reliability of the systems and also improve performance of I/O devices in virtualized environments.

Yes

Intel Standard Manageability (ISM)

Intel® Standard Manageability is the manageability solution for Intel vPro® Essentials platforms and is a subset of Intel® AMT with out-of-band management over Ethernet and Wi-Fi, but no KVM or new life cycle management features.

Intel® SSE4.1 | Intel® SSE4.2 | Intel® AVX2

Enhanced Intel SpeedStep Technology

Enhanced Intel SpeedStep® Technology is an advanced means of enabling high performance while meeting the power-conservation needs of mobile systems. Conventional Intel SpeedStep® Technology switches both voltage and frequency in tandem between high and low levels in response to processor load. Enhanced Intel SpeedStep® Technology builds upon that architecture using design strategies such as Separation between Voltage and Frequency Changes, and Clock Partitioning and Recovery.

Yes

Execute Disable Bit

Execute Disable Bit is a hardware-based security feature that can reduce exposure to viruses and malicious-code attacks and prevent harmful software from executing and propagating on the server or network.

Yes

Cache

CPU Cache is an area of fast memory located on the processor. Intel® Smart Cache refers to the architecture that allows all cores to dynamically share access to the last level cache.

30 MB Intel® Smart Cache

Intel AES New Instructions

Intel® AES New Instructions (Intel® AES-NI) are a set of instructions that enable fast and secure data encryption and decryption. AES-NI are valuable for a wide range of cryptographic applications, for example: applications that perform bulk encryption/decryption, authentication, random number generation, and authenticated encryption.

Yes

Intel Active Management Technology (AMT)

Yes

Intel Volume Management Device (VMD)

Intel® Volume Management Device (VMD) provides a common, robust method of hot plug and LED management for NVMe-based solid state drives.

Yes

Intel Boot Guard

Intel® Device Protection Technology with Boot Guard helps protect the system’s pre-OS environment from viruses and malicious software attacks.

Yes

Intel Hardware Shield Eligibility

Yes

Intel Clear Video HD Technology

Intel® Clear Video HD Technology, like its predecessor, Intel® Clear Video Technology, is a suite of image decode and processing technologies built into the integrated processor graphics that improve video playback, delivering cleaner, sharper images, more natural, accurate, and vivid colors, and a clear and stable video picture. Intel® Clear Video HD Technology adds video quality enhancements for richer color and more realistic skin tones.

Yes

Intel VT-x with Extended Page Tables (EPT)

Intel® VT-x with Extended Page Tables (EPT), also known as Second Level Address Translation (SLAT), provides acceleration for memory intensive virtualized applications. Extended Page Tables in Intel® Virtualization Technology platforms reduces the memory and power overhead costs and increases battery life through hardware optimization of page table management.

Yes

Intel Control-Flow Enforcement Technology

CET - Intel Control-flow Enforcement Technology (CET) helps protect against the misuse of legitimate code snippets through return-oriented programming (ROP) control-flow hijacking attacks.

Yes

Intel OS Guard

Yes

OpenGL Support

OpenGL (Open Graphics Library) is a cross-language, multi-platform API (Application Programming Interface) for rendering 2D and 3D vector graphics.

4.5

OpenCL Support

OpenCL (Open Computing Language) is a multi-platform API (Application Programming Interface) for heterogeneous parallel programming.

3.0

Intel Quick Sync Video

Intel® Quick Sync Video delivers fast conversion of video for portable media players, online sharing, and video editing and authoring.

Yes

Benchmarks

Geekbench 6

Single Core Score

2331

Geekbench 6

Multi Core Score

12116

Geekbench 5

Single Core Score

1611

Geekbench 5

Multi Core Score

10542

Passmark CPU

Single Core Score

3818

Passmark CPU

Multi Core Score

30113

Compared to Other CPU

Geekbench 6 Single Core

Core Ultra 5 225H

2631 +12.9%

Core i5-12600KF

2461 +5.6%

Core i9-12900T

2331

Ryzen 5 PRO 8540U

2222 -4.7%

Ryzen 5 PRO 8640HS

2140 -8.2%

Geekbench 6 Multi Core

Core i5-14500

14623 +20.7%

Xeon w7-3455

13182 +8.8%

Core i9-12900T

12116

Ryzen 9 PRO 7940HS

11266 -7%

Core i5-13600H

10485 -13.5%

Geekbench 5 Single Core

Core i7-1360P

1750 +8.6%

Core i7-12800HL

1675 +4%

Core i9-12900T

1611

Core i5-12400T

1550 -3.8%

EPYC Embedded 9654P

1467 -8.9%

Geekbench 5 Multi Core

Core i9-9920X

12494 +18.5%

Ryzen 9 7900

11401 +8.1%

Core i9-12900T

10542

Xeon E5-2687W v2

9812 -6.9%

Core i9-10900X X-series

9229 -12.5%

Passmark CPU Single Core

Core i7-14700T

4031 +5.6%

Snapdragon X Elite

3895 +2%

Core i9-12900T

3818

Ryzen 7 7840H

3729 -2.3%

Ryzen 7 5800XT

3638 -4.7%

Passmark CPU Multi Core

Xeon D-2799

33792 +12.2%

Core i7-13650HX

31878 +5.9%

Core i9-12900T

30113

Ryzen 7 5800X3D

28296 -6%

Ryzen 5 7500F

26932 -10.6%