Intel Alder Lake: 28 New 12th Gen Laptop CPUs!

Although Intel produces according to proven manufacturing processes, the structure of the new processors is completely different. It starts with the actual computing units: Until now, Intel processors have almost always been equipped with components of the same strength. With Alder-Lake this is now over: Depending on the performance class, the new CPUs have cores of different strength. An example based on the top model for notebooks: The Core i9-12900HK has six strong cores of the “Golden Cove” type (performance cores, P cores) – for performance-hungry applications such as Adobe Photoshop and Premiere. Another eight power-saving cores of the “Gracemont” type (efficient cores, E-cores) handle simple office and Internet applications such as Word, Excel, Facebook, Instagram & Co.

Intel’s “Thread Director” evaluates pending tasks and distributes them to the different processor cores. All P-cores and E-cores work together via multitasking for performance-hungry tasks such as rendering videos. Caution: The thread director only works optimally under Windows 11. With Windows 10 it cannot use all functions.

Whether Windows 10 or Windows 11: Not all cores are allowed to fool the Windows operating system with twice the number of processing units (“threads”) using hyperthreading technology for better task distribution. In the Core i9-12900HK example, it’s just the Golden Cave units. 14 real cores result in a total of 20 threads (6×2 + 1×8 = 20).

Intel distributes the 28 new Alder Lake processors for notebooks across four model series:

• H series: Intel still has the strongest processors among the Alder Lake processors in the H series. The 45 to 115 watt models are equipped with up to 14 cores, which can clock at up to 5 gigahertz depending on the application. Their area of ​​application: Manufacturers mainly plant them in gaming notebooks and studio laptops for editing graphics, photos and videos. The top model of the H series is the already mentioned CPU Core i9-12900HK.
• P series: The CPUs of the P series are somewhat weaker but still powerful processors. Depending on the application, the TDP (thermal design power) is between 28 and 64 watts. Tasks can be distributed over up to 14 cores that work at a maximum of 4.8 gigahertz. The top model of the P series: Core i7-1280P. The processors of the P series are mainly used by the laptop manufacturers in classic work notebooks.
• U series 15 watts: Intel divides the energy-saving models of the U series into 9-watt CPUs (below) and processors with a base TDP of 15 watts. The Core i7-1265U is the strongest model among the 15-watt CPUs. It has ten cores that work at a maximum of 4.8 gigahertz. The 15 watt CPUs are mainly found in slim Evo laptops (Ultrabook successors).
• U series 5 watts: The smallest but most stingy processors in the Alder Lake series get by with a base power consumption of 9 watts, with a peak of 29 watts, says Intel. The strongest example, the Core i7-1260U, still has ten cores that work at a maximum of 4.7 gigahertz. Due to the small TDP and the associated low waste heat, these examples are particularly suitable for use in very thin notebooks, but also in laptops with foldable touchscreens.
• Celeron and Pentium: Both U series contain the weak Pentium and Celeron processors. The latter manage entirely without hyperthreading technology and turbo clock frequencies. As usual, these processors are intended for very cheap laptops and all-in-one PCs.

The Alder Lake processors for laptops should also work together with the super-fast DDR5 RAM. Advantage DDR5: In addition to a faster interface, the memory modules can clock significantly higher – for example with 4,800 megahertz (DDR4: maximum 4,000 megahertz).

Even if everything remains the same in terms of the manufacturing process: The Alder Lake processors are a huge step forward for Intel – at least on paper and according to the current status (end of February 2022). The upcoming tests will show whether Intel can keep the promises.