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Overall rank

Core i9-12900TE

16 cores · 24 threads · up to 4.8 GHz on 1700.

4.1 · 10 votes

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Cores
16
Threads
24
Boost
4.8 GHz
L3 cache
30 MB
TDP
35W
Socket
1700

Performance breakdown

Gaming12
Productivity13
Single-core12
Multi-core67
Power efficiency10

Lab scores

Performance score12
Cores16
Threads24
Boost clock (GHz)4.8 GHz

Estimated gaming FPS

Paired with a high-end GPU. CPU impact is largest at 1080p.

1080p26 fps
1440p21 fps
4K14 fps

Full specifications

Processor & cores
Architecture
Alder Lake-S
Process node
10 nm
Socket
1700
Release year
2022
Total cores
16
Threads
24
Integrated graphics
Intel UHD Graphics 770
Clocks & cache
Base clock
1.1 GHz
Boost clock
4.8 GHz
L1 cache
1280 KB
L2 cache
20 MB
L3 cache
30 MB
Memory & platform
Memory support
DDR4
Base power (TDP)
35W
Max temperature
72°C
PCIe
PCIe 5.0
Technologies
Extensions
AES-NI, AVX, VT-x, VT-d, TXT, TSX
Community Feedback

What Owners Say

Owners like its strong multi-core performance for a low-power chip, but they gripe about the high idle power draw and the need for a decent cooler despite the low TDP.

Pros
  • Sips power, runs ice cold
  • Plows through heavy multitasking
  • Gaming with zero fuss
  • Future-proof socket compatibility
Cons
  • Only works with expensive motherboards
  • High idle power consumption
  • Not much faster than cheaper chips
Verdict

Our verdict on the Core i9-12900TE

Intel's 35-watt Alder Lake i9 is a low-power desktop CPU that trades raw clock speed for extreme energy efficiency.

Get it if you need a low-power CPU for a compact office PC that can still handle heavy multitasking without a dedicated graphics card. Skip it if you want top gaming performance or plan to overclock, as this chip is deliberately power-limited.

Buy it if…

  • You want a low-power office PC that still handles heavy multitasking.
  • You need a small, quiet home server or NAS that can transcode video.
  • You build a compact SFF workstation for software compiling on a tight power budget.
4.1

10 votes

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