With the Core i9-12900KS, Intel offers a CPU that is supposed to hold its own against the Ryzen 7 5800X3D.
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The Core i9-12900KS could set you back $800.
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With the Ryzen 7 5800X3D, AMD wants to release what it says is the best CPU for gamers from April 20th. Intel counters this processor with the Core i9-12900KS. The CPU is already available from some US dealers. However, the prices are higher than expected. A pre-order had to put a whopping $790 on the table for the Core i9-12900KS. This means that the Intel chip costs almost twice as much as the Ryzen 7 5800X3D, which is to be offered for 449 US dollars.
Higher clock, higher TDP
The Intel Core i9-12900KS is a processor that is selected from regular Core i9-12900K CPUs. Both processors have eight performance and eight efficiency cores. This results in 24 threads, since the efficiency cores can only process one thread at a time. But while the K model can only clock up to 5.2 GHz on one core, the KS model has 5.5 GHz. The boost clock for multiple cores also increases to 5.2 GHz. The Core i9-12900KS may even be able to operate all cores at 5.4 GHz if the corresponding waste heat can be dissipated well. This could give the CPU 30,000 points in Cinebench. The TDP of the processor increases from 241 watts to 260 watts compared to the K model.
AVX-512 not deactivated yet
In return for this high performance, PC users will have to dig deep into their pockets. In addition, AVX-512 has not yet been deactivated in the first models. However, Intel has already announced that future models of the Core i9-12900KS will have to do without it. If you need the command set for your work, you should take a close look before you buy it. It is also not yet clear whether Intel actually wants to call an RRP of almost 800 US dollars for the Core i9-12900KS.
Benchmarks: Ryzen 7 5800X3D beats Ryzen 9 5900X
