As expected, the non-K and with -K models retain the same CPU core specifications, the main difference is the clock frequency and thermal design power (TDP).
Let’s start with i9-12900 (F suffix stands for non-core display), which has 16C / 24T + 30MB L3 cache.
The basic frequency of the high-performance P core has been lowered from 3.2 GHz to 2.4 GHz (the turbo frequency has been fine-tuned from 5.2 GHz to 5.1 GHz), and the energy-saving E core has also been lowered from 2.4 GHz to 1.8 GHz.
The advantage is that the power consumption of i9-12900(F) is cut by almost half, from 125W to 65W, but the memory supports DDR5-4800 and DDR4-3200.
Next is the Core i7-12700 (F), which continues the i7-12700K / KF 12C / 20T + 25MB L3 cache, and the TDP changes from 125W → 65W.
Among them, the P core is from 3.6 GHz → 2.1 GHz (the turbo frequency is from 5.0 GHz → 4.9 GHz), and the E core is also from 2.7 GHz → 1.6 GHz.
For mainstream gamers, the 12-generation i5, which cut the E core and only the P core, is the most attractive. Both i5-12600 / 12400 have 6C / 12T and 18MB L3 cache.
The basic frequencies of the two processors are 3.3 / 2.5 GHz, but the maximum turbo frequency parameters are not yet known. In addition, the thermal design power consumption is 125W vs 65W.
SpeculateIntelThe i5-12600 / 12400 (and the supporting B660 chipset motherboard) will be released in early 2022.AMDRyzen R5-5600X has launched a more direct competition.