Intel is bringing its twelfth-generation Alder Lake chips to laptops with a launch strangely limited to a few powerful mobile chips, even though manufacturers have already announced laptops with more economical variants.
Intel is bringing Alder Lake to the laptop. The CPU specialist launched its twelfth generation of Core chips late last year with some desktop products and is now dramatically expanding the overall lineup.
Alder Lake, baked on “Intel 7” (10 nm), includes a revolution in the Core range compared to all previous generations. For these chips, Intel took inspiration from the Big.Little principle of the ARM architecture. Specifically, Alder Lake chips combine P(restation) cores with E(fficiency) cores on a single CPU. P cores are the successors to the classic Core arithmetic cores, while E cores are an evolution of the cores in Atom and Celeron processors. P cores take care of performance tasks while E cores do lighter background work. In theory, that makes for a much more efficient chip: a promising case for laptops where battery life is so important.
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Intel launches 12th-generation Alder Lake processors for laptops
More or less following its own recent naming guidelines, Intel is splitting its 12th-generation mobile Core family into three categories. First are the “H” chips with a TDP of 45 watts, built for performance-oriented laptops. The P-series sits in the middle with a TDP of 28 watts and targets thinner laptops where performance is still paramount. In the U-Series come CPUs with TDPs of 9 watts and 15 watts. These chips are aimed at ultra-thin and lightweight notebooks.
As usual, Intel is integrating graphics performance into all its processors. To do this, the manufacturer is again relying on the Xe architecture, which also provided graphic violence in Tiger Lake. The number of Execution Cores differs according to the type of chip and has a direct impact on graphics capabilities. Intel makes no mention of major innovations on the graphics front, in contrast to AMD , which now integrates RDNA2 into its mobile chips. Furthermore, the new laptop processors are compatible with (LP)DDR5 and PCIe 4.0, just like AMD’s copies. Wifi 6E is also supported.
H-processors
In the H category, we find eight new CPUs divided between Core i5, Core i7 and Core i9. All Core i7 and Core i9 chips have six P cores, Core i5 processors stick to four. The number of E cores varies by model. The bulk of CPUs get eight, with two exceptions that make do with four E cores. The base clock frequency for the P cores of these chips varies between 2 GHz and 2.7 GHz. Turbo clock speeds peak at 5 GHz for the Core i9 models.
| CPU Core | Cores (P/E) | Threads | GHz P (Basic/Turbo) | GHz E (Basic/Turbo) | Graphics (EU) | L3 Cache |
| i9-12900HK | 6/8 | 20 | 2.5 GHz / 5 GHz | 1.8 GHz / 3.8 GHz | 96 | 24 MB |
| i9-12900H | 6/8 | 20 | 2.5 GHz / 5 GHz | 1.8 GHz / 3.8 GHz | 96 | 24 MB |
| i7-12800H | 6/8 | 20 | 2.4 GHz / 4.8 GHz | 1.8 GHz / 3.7 GHz | 96 | 24 MB |
| i7-12700H | 6/8 | 20 | 2.3 GHz / 4.7 GHz | 1.7 GHz / 3.5 GHz | 96 | 24 MB |
| i7-12650H | 6/4 | 16 | 2.3 GHz / 4.7 GHz | 1.7 GHz / 3.5 GHz | 64 | 24 MB |
| i5-12600H | 4/8 | 16 | 2.7 GHz / 4.5 GHz | 2 GHz / 3.3 GHz | 80 | 18 MB |
| i5-12500H | 4/8 | 16 | 2.5 GHz / 4.5 GHz | 1.8 GHz / 3.3 GHz | 80 | 18 MB |
| i5-12450H | 4/4 | 12 | 2 GHz / 4.4 GHz | 2 GHz / 3.3 GHz | 48 | 12 MB |
The absolute best in the series is the Intel Core i9-12900HK, whose K shows that the CPU is overclockable. This chip should perform a lot better than predecessor Intel Core i9-11980HK according to Intel’s own benchmarks. The manufacturer calls the processor “the most powerful laptop chip in the world,” but bases that on a comparison with the AMD Ryzen 9 5900HX. AMD replaced that chip yesterday with the newer Ryzen 9 6980HX. Comparisons between AMD and Intel’s latest flagship models are lacking for now, making the claim feel hollow. Apple’s M1 chips are matched or far exceeded in the benchmarks presented, depending on the workload. Of course, Intel’s processors do consume a lot more power than Apple’s ARM CPUs.
P-chips
In the 28 watt P-series, we find six new chips split between Intel Core i7, Core i5 and Core i3. These processors have between two and six P cores, but all feature eight E cores. The base clock speed for the P cores is between 1.5 GHz and 2.2 GHz, making them usable in thin laptop designs. When peak performance is needed, the turbo is cranked up. There the P processors fetch between 4.4 GHz and 4.8 GHz. In this category, the quality of cooling of specific laptop models will have a big impact on the actual performance delivered by the new P processors in real-world applications.
| CPU Core | Cores (P/E) | Threads | GHz P (Basic/Turbo) | GHz E (Basic/Turbo) | Graphics (EU) | L3 Cache |
| i7-1280P | 6/8 | 20 | 1.8 GHz / 4.8 GHz | 1.3 GHz / 3.6 GHz | 96 | 24 MB |
| i7-1270P | 4/8 | 16 | 2.2 GHz / 4.8 GHz | 1.6 GHz / 3.5 GHz | 96 | 18 MB |
| i7-1260P | 4/8 | 16 | 2.1 GHz / 4.7 GHz | 1.5 GHz / 3.4 GHz | 96 | 18 MB |
| i5-1250P | 4/8 | 16 | 1.7 GHz / 4.4 GHz | 1.2 GHz / 3.3 GHz | 80 | 12 MB |
| i5-1240P | 4/8 | 16 | 1.7 GHz / 4.4 GHz | 1.2 GHz / 3.3 GHz | 80 | 12 MB |
| i3-1220P | 2/8 | 12 | 1.5 GHz / 4.4 GHz | 1.1 GHz / 3.3 GHz | 64 | 12 MB |
Two variations for U
Then there is the U-Series. You traditionally find these in most laptops. Intel this time splits them into two sub-series: one with a TDP of 15 watts and another with a TDP of 9 watts. In both sub-series we find five very similar chips divided between Core i7, Core i3 and Core i5. As for the number of computing cores, there is no difference. All processors get two P cores and eight E cores, except for the Core i3s with four E cores. Not surprisingly, the 9 watt U chips get a lower clock frequency than their 15 watt variants. The base clock frequency is always lower in these models, but the turbo remains very capable. Again, there is a big role here for laptop manufacturers to squeeze the most out of these chips in their designs.
The classic 15 watt U chips get the digit “5” at the back of the type number, as you can see in the table below.
| CPU Core | Cores (P/E) | Threads | GHz (Basic/Turbo) | GHz E (Basic/Turbo) | Graphics (EU) | L3 Cache |
| i7-1265U | 2/8 | 12 | 1.8 GHz / 4.8 GHz | 1.3 GHz / 3.6 GHz | 96 | 12 MB |
| i7-1255U | 2/8 | 12 | 1.7 GHz / 4.7 GHz | 1.2 GHz / 3.5 GHz | 96 | 12 MB |
| i5-1245U | 2/8 | 12 | 1.6 GHz / 4.4 GHz | 1.2 GHz / 3.3 GHz | 80 | 12 MB |
| i5-1235U | 2/8 | 12 | 1.3 GHz / 4.4 GHz | 0.9 GHz / 3.3 GHz | 80 | 12 MB |
| i3-1215U | 2/4 | 8 | 1.2 GHz / 4.4 GHz | 0.9 GHz / 3.3 GHz | 64 | 10 MB |
The lighter 9 watt chips are almost identical. You can distinguish them from the 15 watt CPUs by their type number ending in “0. The base clock speed is several hundred MHz lower across the board, while turbo frequencies are more or less maintained.
| CPU Core | Cores (P/E) | Threads | GHz (Basic/Turbo) | GHz E (Basic/Turbo) | Graphics (EU) | L3 Cache |
| i7-1260U | 2/8 | 12 | 1.1 GHz / 4.4 GHz | 0.8 GHz / 3.5 GHz | 96 | 12 MB |
| i7-1250U | 2/8 | 12 | 1.1 GHz / 4.7 GHz | 0.8 GHz / 3.5 GHz | 96 | 12 MB |
| i5-1240U | 2/8 | 12 | 1.1 GHz / 4.4 GHz | 0.8 GHz / 3.3 GHz | 80 | 12 MB |
| i5-1230U | 2/8 | 12 | 1.0 GHz / 4.4 GHz | 0.7 GHz / 3.3 GHz | 80 | 12 MB |
| i3-1210U | 2/4 | 8 | 1.0 GHz / 4.4 GHz | 0.7 GHz / 3.3 GHz | 64 | 10 MB |
Pentium and Celeron with Alder Lake
To conclude, Intel is launching another Pentium and a Celeron processor, again with a 15-watt and a 9-watt variant. For these chips, Intel also uses the Alder Lake Big.Little principle, with one P-core and four E-cores. We put the four chips into one table. As above, those ending with a ‘5’ in the type number get a TDP of 15 watts, models ending with ‘0’ are clocked slightly slower and have a 9 watt TDP.
| CPU | Cores (P/E) | Threads | GHz (Basic/Turbo) | GHz E (Basic/Turbo) | Graphics (EU) | L3 Cache |
| Pentium 8505 | 1/4 | 6 | 1.2 GHz / 4.4 GHz | 0.9 GHz / 3.3 GHz | 48 | 8 MB |
| Celeron 7305 | 1/4 | 6 | 1.1 GHz / n/a | 0.9 GHz / n/a | 48 | 8MB |
| Pentium 8500 | 1/4 | 6 | 1.0 GHz / 4.4 GHz | 0.7 GHz / 3.3 GHz | 48 | 8 MB |
| Celeron 7300 | 1/4 | 6 | 1.0 GHz / n/a | 0.7 GHz /nvt | 48 | 8 MB |
Intel’s Alder Lake twelfth-generation Core chips for the laptop are once again numerous. A multitude of possible clock speeds, turbos and variable TDPs, combined with the combination of P and E cores, make it harder than ever to estimate the chips’ performance based on specifications alone. Moreover, these processors come in direct opposition to AMD’s Ryzen 6000 Mobile offerings. AMD takes a much simpler approach with one type of core, which should scale variably in power consumption. The competitor’s offerings are more limited, but therefore more manageable. The first devices with new CPUs will still appear in this quarter for both processor makers. We are already curious about the performance.
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