Wednesday, October 20th 2021

Retail Version of Intel Alder Lake Core i9-12900K Overclocked to 5.2 GHz on All Cores

Updated by
TheLostSwede
 Updated: Discuss (67 Comments)
Although we can't confirm it, the screenshot below is said to be of a retail version of the Intel Alder Lake Core i9-12900K that has been overclocked to 5.2 GHz on all P-cores, with the E-cores at stock clocks. It is said to be drawing a massive 330 Watts at these clock speeds, which is rather a lot for a consumer level CPU.

Sadly details such as the motherboard used and RAM clocks are absent. The E-cores are said to be locked at a maximum clock of 3.7 GHz, so there appears to be no overclocking potential in them. Yes, Intel does manage to edge out AMD's Ryzen 9 5950X at these clock speeds in the multithreaded test, which is no mean feat considering we're looking at eight threads less here, but Intel does so at over twice the power draw.

Update: Updated due to a slight misunderstanding, the E-cores were apparently enabled, but running at stock clock.
Sources: bilibili, via @9550pro

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67 Comments on Retail Version of Intel Alder Lake Core i9-12900K Overclocked to 5.2 GHz on All Cores

#26
b4psm4m
Surely this has to be using all 16 cores, as the delta between single cores (851 vs 648) cannot be overcome with just 8 cores. NB, I realise the single vs multi thread scores aren't directly comparible.
Posted on Reply
#27
TheLostSwede
News Editor
b4psm4mSurely this has to be using all 16 cores, as the delta between single cores (851 vs 648) cannot be overcome with just 8 cores. NB, I realise the single vs multi thread scores aren't directly comparible.
Yes, hence the update and correction.
Posted on Reply
#28
KarymidoN
Another Chiller bench by intel? 330W? thats 1.5x the total power comsumption of my computer... DAMMM
Posted on Reply
#29
Punkenjoy
TheoneandonlyMrKAny CPU sat idling, is cool.

Some of us don't Do idle though. .

So you being fine or for that matter me being fine is not everyone is fine with 330W.
I think his point is that a CPU in gaming is almost never running at 100% usage and a gamer will never reach 300 watt of CPU usage. They might if they do really multithreaded work but that's it.

In gaming, where you are mostly GPU limited or you are limited by the poor multithreading of the game, your CPU have plenty of idle cycle to cooldown. In real world scenario, i have very few game where my 5800x get higher than 60% average utilization. (with a 6800 gaming at 4K).

If CPU x use 110 watts in gaming and the other one use 85 watt, most people won't be able to tell witch one run hot and witch one run cool.


But yes indeed, if you were using a 300 watt GPU with a 300 watt CPU at full load in a small room, you will be able to tell fairly quickly.
Posted on Reply
#30
b4psm4m
TheLostSwedeYes, hence the update and correction.
Then I don't get how it's all that impressive that it can just about beat a stock, non-tuned 5950x in multicore (0.67% faster), while consuming over double the power?! Am I missing something?
Posted on Reply
#31
TheLostSwede
News Editor
b4psm4mThen I don't get how it's all that impressive that it can just about beat a stock, non-tuned 5950x in multicore (0.67% faster), while consuming over double the power?! Am I missing something?
Well, it has eight threads less and another eight are supposedly gimped and only running at 3.7GHz. I don't think I used the word impressive though, I said it was no mean feat.
Posted on Reply
#32
Turmania
Intel ceo made a public statement about being back and efficiency as well. So normal usage I assume is at least in competitors level or he is out of the job.
Posted on Reply
#34
TheoneandonlyMrK
PunkenjoyI think his point is that a CPU in gaming is almost never running at 100% usage and a gamer will never reach 300 watt of CPU usage. They might if they do really multithreaded work but that's it.

In gaming, where you are mostly GPU limited or you are limited by the poor multithreading of the game, your CPU have plenty of idle cycle to cooldown. In real world scenario, i have very few game where my 5800x get higher than 60% average utilization. (with a 6800 gaming at 4K).

If CPU x use 110 watts in gaming and the other one use 85 watt, most people won't be able to tell witch one run hot and witch one run cool.


But yes indeed, if you were using a 300 watt GPU with a 300 watt CPU at full load in a small room, you will be able to tell fairly quickly.
Fair enough, my point was that not everyone games occasionally and let's it idle besides that.

Some people leave their pc working all day everyday.

But mainly my point was what's it matter what he does with a two gen old CPU, it isn't this CPU is it, others will use this different to him and me so one man's.

I'm fine this is fine(on irrelevant tech), is another's wtaf moment.
Posted on Reply
#35
Darmok N Jalad
PilgrimActually more than 3X


Seriously why would you assume that "Gamers" are the only PC users that exist in the universe? These power draw numbers are ridiculous. No matter which way you look at it. That's just for 8 cores.
This is probably exactly what Intel is hoping for. They want people to buy it for its benchmark wins, knowing full well that most won’t really ever push it to its peak for sustained periods of time. How exciting is it to run benchmarks? The reality is, in everyday use, most modern CPUs feel pretty much the same. The problem with such designs is that peak power draw adds complexity, which adds to cost. Sure, it has e-cores, but idle use isn’t a huge concern, and it doesn’t tell the whole story. If boards need complex power delivery to feed 330W, will they actually be very efficient at idle? I’ll give Intel this, they’ve given reviewers a lot to do with Adler lake.
Posted on Reply
#36
Makaveli
fevgatosIf you want a space heater get a Ryzen and clock it to 5.2 ghz running blender. No need to wait for alderlake
Hmm you cannot get 300+ watts out of a 8 Core Ryzen cpu no matter how high you push the clocks.
Posted on Reply
#38
Bubster
Intel is still not Back yet like its ceo has claimed and every year they force people to buy new motherboards and new rams...What a hassle.
Posted on Reply
#39
ppn
intel has intel 4,3, 20A and 18A nodes all lined up next year, every year, probably a new socket or two. So this is clearly a stop gap measure. Considering my 10 year upgrade cycles I wouldnt touch it with a ten mile pole unless it is on the 16A node and like a second iteration of the second shrink on the next socket.
Posted on Reply
#40
Unregistered
It's looking like an AIO or Custom loop is gonna be a must for Alder Lake.
Posted on Edit | Reply
#41
DonKnotts
TiggerIt's looking like an AIO or Custom loop is gonna be a must for Alder Lake.
Didn't a Lenovo engineer already come out saying that Alder Lake processors were difficult to cool and draw a lot of power? That was a couple months ago now if I'm remembering right.
Posted on Reply
#42
Unregistered
DonKnottsDidn't a Lenovo engineer already come out saying that Alder Lake processors were difficult to cool and draw a lot of power? That was a couple months ago now if I'm remembering right.
Glad i'm on custom loop anyway. Not sure if there is an air cooler that will handle a load like these alders dish out.
Posted on Edit | Reply
#43
Bzuco
The Quim ReaperGaming...show me a game that maxes out cores to 100% whilst playing 100% of the time.
BeamNG.driver with 30+ AI cars :)
---------------------------------------------

I am glad that almost every CPU we are using, can operate at anyWattage, anyVoltage, anyFrequency, anyNumOfActiveCores, ...and so we are not bound to default CPU pressets.
I am also assuming, that until AMD will bring some hybrid architecture, user's opinions in terms of comparison latest intel and amd cpus (mostly perf/watt/price) will be completely disaster in comment sections/forums. :D
Posted on Reply
#44
sillyconjunkie
8 cores doing the same or better than 16 cores at the same power threshold is good..not bad. Basic math.. Performance per watt.. So many weighted Intel bash posts here.

All-core overclocks of the 5950x are in the same power draw threshold. Complaining about a 200 watt draw on a stock 5950x versus a 330 watt draw on an all-core overclock 12900k is rubbish.
Posted on Reply
#45
cadaveca
My name is Dave
TiggerGlad i'm on custom loop anyway. Not sure if there is an air cooler that will handle a load like these alders dish out.
Corsair Giveaway now makes too much sense. :P
Posted on Reply
#46
DonKnotts
sillyconjunkie8 cores doing the same or better than 16 cores at the same power threshold is good..not bad. Basic math.. So many weighted Intel bash posts here.

All-core overclocks of the 5950x are in the same power draw threshold. Complaining about a 200 watt draw on a stock 5950x versus a 330 watt draw on an all-core overclock 12900k is rubbish.
That's pretty disingenuous. An all core overclock of the 5950x in the review right here on TP was running nearly 100w less than this, and that's with all 16 cores, while It's not an all core overclock on the Alder Lake, it's only eight cores.
Posted on Reply
#47
dirtyferret
we have a live feed from the from the home of that initial user

Posted on Reply
#48
sillyconjunkie
DonKnottsThat's pretty disingenuous. An all core overclock of the 5950x in the review right here on TP was running nearly 100w less than this, and that's with all 16 cores, while It's not an all core overclock on the Alder Lake, it's only eight cores.
One review. One set of hardware. One set of software. One set of measurement variables. Numerous other variables. I'm not trying to pick a fight but we all tend to think our way of doing it is best. Regardless of test variables, the performance per watt can't just be ignored.

Other examples of all core overclocks show a range of 272 watts to 360 watts depending on test type and lots of other stuff. Call their data disingenuous and I'll stand by my statement that the performance per watt for 8 vs 16 cores is impressive. Banned? Probably imminent..


skatterbencher.com/2021/08/30/skatterbencher-27-amd-ryzen-9-5950x-overclocked-to-5117-mhz/

hothardware.com/reviews/amd-ryzen-5000-zen-3-processor-review?page=4

www.kitguru.net/components/cpu/luke-hill/amd-ryzen-9-5950x-zen-3-cpu-review/17/
Posted on Reply
#49
Makaveli
sillyconjunkieOne review. One set of hardware. One set of software. One set of measurement variables. Numerous other variables. I'm not trying to pick a fight but we all tend to think our way of doing it is best. Regardless of test variables, the performance per watt can't just be ignored.

Other examples of all core overclocks show a range of 272 watts to 360 watts depending on test type and lots of other stuff. Call their data disingenuous and I'll stand by my statement that the performance per watt for 8 vs 16 cores is impressive. Banned? Probably imminent..


skatterbencher.com/2021/08/30/skatterbencher-27-amd-ryzen-9-5950x-overclocked-to-5117-mhz/

hothardware.com/reviews/amd-ryzen-5000-zen-3-processor-review?page=4

www.kitguru.net/components/cpu/luke-hill/amd-ryzen-9-5950x-zen-3-cpu-review/17/
I'm going to assume you are referring to something like this?

However if I'm not mistaken that says Total System Power.

Posted on Reply
#50
napata
TiggerIt's looking like an AIO or Custom loop is gonna be a must for Alder Lake.
People said the same thing about RL and that was super easy to cool even at 200W+.
Posted on Reply
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