Fastest laptop CPU in the world? Intel introduces Core i9-12900HX

Sebastian Schenzinger, Michael Schmelzle

Intel today presented the latest addition to the 12th Core i generation based on Alder Lake as part of the Intel Vision: the HX series. For the first time in the mobile segment, this offers up to 16 overclockable computing cores with a processor base power (PBP) of 55 watts and clock rates of up to 5 GHz. In addition, the CPU series provides up to 48 PCIe lanes – and the memory controller can address up to 128 GB DDR5 ECC memory. The HX series, which is intended to replace the previous mobile Xeon CPUs, is aimed at enthusiasts on the one hand who need as much mobile computing power as possible and on the other hand at hardcore gamers who want to get the most out of their device.

Seven new processors for enthusiasts

With Alder Lake HX, Intel is porting the chip known from the 12th generation of desktop processors from the Land Grid Array (LGA) to the Pin Grid Array (PGA). In fact, the package is the same size with dimensions of 45 to 37.5 mm, there are only differences in the height, since the heat spreader is missing. Accordingly, the two top models Core i9-12950HX and Core i9-12900HX offer the same configuration as the Core i9-12900K (to the test report): eight performance and efficient cores each as well as 30 MB of L3 cache.

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The clock rates are of course lower, since the processor base power of all new processors is 55 watts and the maximum turbo power (MTP) is 157 watts. This is a decent power consumption for mobile processors, with the previous models the MTP was still 115 watts. The HX series is therefore clearly aimed at high-end gaming notebooks and mobile workstations.

The total of 48 PCI Express lanes that are available, specifically: 16x PCIe Gen5, 20x PCIe Gen4 and 12x PCIe Gen3 also speak in favor of the latter. This makes Alder Lake HX not only the first platform to offer PCIe 5.0 support in the mobile segment, but also supports up to four M.2 SSDs for as much and fast storage space as possible. In addition, all HX processors can be overclocked and support DDR5 RAM with XMP 3.0 profiles, whereby the RAM can be further tuned manually.

In addition, the chipset – called the Platform Controller Hub (PCH) at Intel – comes with factory controllers for up to 14x USB 2.0, 12x USB 3.0, 8x SATA 3.0, 2x Thunderbolt 4.0 and the fastest WiFi standard WiFi 6E. Intel has also drilled out the communication channel between CPU and PCH in the 12th core generation: The Direct Media Interface (DMI) in version 4.0 also benefits from 8 channels in the HX series, each with up to 16 gigatransfers per second.

Three of the new models also support Intel’s business platform vPro and can address ECC (Error Checking and Correction) memory, one i5, one i7 and one i9 each. Due to the fact that Intel ultimately recycles the desktop CPU, the integrated graphics unit offers a maximum of 32 execution units (EUs), as with the Core i9-12900K. Since Intel states that all systems based on the HX platform should be equipped with a dedicated graphics unit, that doesn’t matter too much.

The following table provides an overview of the mobile CPUs of the H and HX series, the new CPUs are included

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highlighted and the processors with vPro and ECC support

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