Core i7-12700K in the test: Intel’s new bestseller?
Not a cheap Core i3 and certainly not an expensive Core i9: Intel’s bestsellers from the last processor generation almost always came from the Core i7 series, regardless of whether they were called i7-9700, i7-10700 or i7-11700. Why? They offered a lot of performance, but were not overly expensive. This also applies to number 12, as the test of the Core i7-12700K shows.
The best processors
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Very high work pace
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Built-in graphics chip too weak for complex games
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High working pace
High gaming speed with separate graphics card
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Built-in graphics chip too weak for complex games
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High working pace
High gaming speed with separate graphics card
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Built-in graphics chip too weak for complex games
Slightly high power consumption under full load
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High working pace
High gaming speed with separate graphics card
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Built-in graphics chip too weak for complex games
Slightly high power consumption under full load
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High gaming speed with separate graphics card
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AMD
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Complete list: The best processors
Intel Alder Lake: It stays at 10 nanometers
As with the Tiger Lake processors, Intel manufactures the structures and circuits (transistors) with 10 nanometers. Confusion: The manufacturer calls the process “Intel 7”, although that has nothing to do with the finer manufacturing process. The designation hides the most recent expansion stage of the 10-nanometer process: 10 nm Enhanced Super Fin. In the case of the Tiger Lake processors, the expansion stage of the manufacturing process was still called 10 nm SuperFin.
Core i7-12700K in the test: New core structure
As with the models of the Alder Lake series Core i5-12600K and Core i9-12900K, Intel also uses completely newly developed computing units for the Core i7-12700K, which provide different levels of performance: It has eight powerful Golden Cove (P- cores), for example for performance-hungry programs such as Adobe Photoshop and Premiere. There are also four low-power Gracemont cores (E cores); they are responsible for completing simple office and Internet tasks, for example in Word or social media.
No hyperthreading for everyone
Caution: This also implies that not all cores are allowed to fool the Windows operating system with twice the number of processing units using hyperthreading technology for better task distribution. In the Core i7-12700K example, it’s just the Golden Cave units. Twelve real cores result in a total of 20 threads (8×2 + 1×4 = 20).
LGA 1700: New connector
Great: The third model in the Alder Lake series also works with fast DDR5 RAM (150 euros for two times 8 gigabytes). But because the i7-12700K has a new connection with 1,700 contacts on the underside, it requires a new mainboard with an LGA 1700 socket (from 200 euros).
Intel Core i7-12700K in the test: Compared to its predecessor Core i7-11700K, the new Alder Lake CPU is significantly faster.
Powerful leap in performance
And how do the innovations compare to the older Rocket Lake model 11700K? Much! While the speed advantages for internet and office tasks were still limited, the 12700K was significantly faster than its predecessor when it came to complex calculations with CAD programs, such as constructions. The 12700K also went to work with the so-called rendering of images and videos – i.e. the final creation of a photo or video file that can be displayed on PCs, smartphones or televisions. On average, the speed advantage compared to the 11700K was 18 percent, and that with a 6 percent lower energy requirement.
Intel is closing in on AMD
Remarkable: Intel came really close to the AMD Ryzen 9 5900X in the speed measurements. The surcharge of 90 euros does not justify the small speed advantage of the 5900X – Intel’s Core i7-12700K is therefore now the better choice in this price range.
Very high work pace
Very high gaming speed with separate graphics card
Built-in graphics chip too weak for complex games
Slightly high power consumption under full load
Intel Core i7-12700K in the test: conclusion
In the price range up to 500 euros, there is currently no better CPU than Intel’s Core i7-12700K. Compared to its predecessor, it offers significantly more performance while consuming less energy. Number 12 also has all the prerequisites for a future bestseller.
