Intel Core i7-12700
Featuring revolutionary hybrid design, the 12th Gen Intel Core processor is a breakthrough in x86 architecture. The hybrid architecture incorporates two kinds of cores — for the first time in a desktop processor — Performance-cores (P-cores) and Efficient-cores (E-cores), delivering performance and / or efficiency when you need it. Other features include PCIe 5.0 readiness, DDR5 support, and Intel 7 process technology for higher core density.
The Intel Core i7-12700 has 8 P-cores, 4 E-cores, and 20 total threads, delivering a new level of performance for gaming, creation and productivity.
Revolutionary performance and multitasking.
- With the highest clock speeds and a groundbreaking new architecture, you’ll be able to push your gameplay to new heights while secondary apps run seamlessly in the background.
- Up to 4.9 GHz Max Clock Speed (1)
- 12 Cores (8 Performance-cores, 4 Efficient-cores)
- 20 Threads (16 on Performance-cores, 4 on Efficient-cores)
Divide and conquer.
- Intel’s new performance hybrid?architecture integrates two core families into a single CPU, keeping everything in your gaming universe running smoothly.
- Intel Thread Director prioritizes and manages workloads, sending tasks to the best core for the job. (2)
- P-cores are built for performance across single- and lightly-threaded workloads, enhancing activities like gaming and productivity.
- E-cores are optimized for multi-threaded performance, minimizing interruptions from secondary tasks.
Performance beyond the cores.
- The new processor architecture is also compatible with the latest platform innovations, giving you performance improvements throughout your PC.
- Support for PCIe Gen 5 and DDR5 for high-performance components like memory and graphics.
- Thunderbolt 4 and Intel Killer Wi-Fi 6/6E (Gig+) deliver fast transfer speeds and connections to peripherals.
1. On performance cores. Performance varies by use, configuration and other factors.
2.Intel Thread Director is designed into 12th Gen Intel Core processors and helps supporting operating system intelligently channel workloads to the right core. No user action required.
Pros: - You can overclock it on certain motherboards (at least two ROG STRIX B-660 and two STRIX Z690 boards I know of), which I've done on a B-660G, but I don't recommend it. - Performance with all cores synced and boosted is amazing, w/o overly sacrificing temps or fan noise. - A 240mm AIO will keep CPU package temps at less than 40C during light loads and 60C or less while gaming at 4K. - Efficiency cores can be disabled in bios (motherboard dependent), if needed. - Changed Windows Power Plan to power save, which set p-cores to 1.4 GHz, but e-cores could still max boost. Played a game at 4K on e-cores with only a 10% fps loss (it'll be a much larger loss at 1080).
Cons: - I messed around overclocking it to 4.95 (10% over max ratio) and 5.175 GHz (15% over max ratio). The 4.95 was stable enough at 1.3V, but 5.175 (1.4V) crashed on Time Spy UHD and QHD despite working on Fire Strike Ultra and Extreme QHD. Maybe someone else can get it stable, but temps topped 91C on a 240mm AIO and incredibly loud, so have some heavy cooling. - I don't recommend overclocking it, even once, because for days my cores remained synced and boosted between 4.5-4.9 GHz at idle. I re-flashed bios twice and power profile was balanced, but no luck. One day, with absolutely no changes/updates to bios, Windows, or logging software, it started acting normal with cores on Auto instead of sync and a frequency range from 0.5 - 4.9 GHz. AIO coolant temps dropped 5-6C during idle.
Overall Review: A locked, overclockable i7 that only pulls around the TDP rating while gaming, so it's very easy to cool and quiet about it, too. This thing does it all, but don't expect a great overclock as i7s are already near the limit of the silicon. Fortunately, the locked i3 and i5s can also be overclocked with much larger performance jumps due to more headroom. If you really want to know how to overclock them, there are a couple instructional vids out there, but be warned, there's no guarantee you can get it back to stock settings.