Divide and conquer. Intels new performance hybrid architecture integrates two core families into a single CPU, keeping everything in your gaming universe running smoothly. 6 Performance-cores - P-cores are built for performance across single and lightly-threaded workloads, enhancing activities like gaming and productivity. 4 Efficient-cores - E-cores are optimized for multi-threaded performance, minimizing interruptions from secondary tasks. Intel® Thread Director - Prioritizes and manages workloads, sending tasks to the best core for the job. Performance beyond the cores. The new processor architecture is also compatible with the latest platform innovations, giving you performance improvements throughout your PC. Ready for whats next - Support for PCIe Gen 5 and DDR5 for high-performance components like memory and graphics. Best-in-class connectivity -Thunderbolt™ 4 and Intel® Killer™ Wi-Fi 6/6E (Gig ) deliver fast transfer speeds and connections to peripherals.5 Streamlined overclocking - Separate overclocking controls for both types of cores gives you nuanced personalization. Revolutionary performance and multitasking. With the highest clock speeds and a groundbreaking new architecture, youll be able to push your gameplay to new heights while secondary apps run seamlessly in the background. Up To 5.2 GHz Max Clock Speed 16 Cores 8 Performance-cores/8 Efficient-cores 24 Threads 16 on Performance-cores 8 on Efficient-cores Unlocked and overclockable2 Single P-core Max/Base clock speed: 5.2/3.2 GHz Single E-core Max/Base clock speed: 3.9/2.4 GHz Intel® Turbo Boost Max Technology 3.0 Processor base power: 125W Intel® Smart Cache: 30MB Motherboard compatibility: 600 series Total CPU PCIe lanes: 20 Intel’s 12th generation CPUs mark a shift in the company’s approach to processor design. It describes Alder Lake as a ‘hybrid’ architecture with Alder new chips featuring a combination of ‘P-cores’ and ‘E-cores’ rather than the standard homogenous core layout we’re accustomed to with previous generations. P-cores Short for performance cores, are designed for tasks such as gaming and productivity workloads and are the closest thing to the standard core model. E-cores Short for efficient cores, handle background tasks while running at a lower clock speed with lower power consumption. The new chips will be the first to support DDR5 RAM and PCIe 5 which should make them perfect partners for the best gaming RAM and best SSDs of the future. 12th Gen Intel® Core™ i9-12900K unlocked desktop processor. Featuring Intel® Turbo Boost Max Technology 3.0 and PCIe Gen 5.0 & 4.0 support, DDR5 and DDR4 support, unlocked 12th Gen Intel® Core™ desktop processors are optimized for enthusiast gamers and serious creators and help deliver high performance overclocking for an added boost. Thermal solution NOT included in the box. Compatible with 600 series chipset based motherboards. Socket - 1700 Base Frequency (GHz) - 3.2 Intel® Smart Cache (L3) Size - 30MB Processor Cores (P-cores E-cores)9 - 16 (8P 8E) Processor Threads - 24 Memory Speed - DDR5 Memory Speed Support - 3200MHz Intel® Turbo Boost Technology 2.0 (single core) Frequency (GHz) - 5.1 Intel® Turbo Boost Max Technology 3.0 Frequency (GHz) - 5.2 Total CPU PCI Express Lanes - 20 PCIe Gen 5.0, 4.0, 3.0 Support - Yes Unlocked - Yes Chipset Compatability - Intel® 600 Series Chipset Processor Graphics - Intel® UHD Graphics 770 Integrated Memory Controller - 2 ch Processor Base Power (W) - 125 Intel® SIPP3 - Yes Intel® vPro™ Technology4 - Yes