Intel launches its 12th-gen Alder Lake chips, led by the flagship Core i9-12900K CPU with 16 cores for $589, shipping November 4
The VergeChaim Gartenberg
Context & Ripple Effects
Intel’s previous flagship desktop launch centered on an eight-core Core i9-11900K, making Alder Lake a marked expansion of the company’s top-end desktop offering. The November availability gives PC builders a defined near-term upgrade point rather than just a roadmap announcement.
Intel gains a $589, 16-core flagship for its desktop CPU lineup on November 4, while enthusiasts and system builders gain a new top-tier Intel option.
The Core i9-12900K resets Intel’s flagship specification from the prior eight-core i9 generation, concentrating the launch message on substantially higher core count.
Second-order effects
The flagship’s $589 position creates a pricing and performance reference point for the lower-priced Alder Lake desktop range Intel later announced.
Intel’s laptop expansion brings the same generation into H-series systems, giving OEMs a common platform story across performance desktops and laptops.
Third-order effects
Intel’s next desktop generation continued the core-count escalation: the 24-core Core i9-13900K retained the $589 flagship price, signaling that higher core density was becoming a central way to refresh premium desktop CPUs without raising the headline price.
If that pricing pattern persists, desktop CPU competition shifts further toward delivering more capability per flagship dollar across successive architecture cycles.
The trend: Premium desktop CPUs are moving toward faster core-count increases while flagship list prices remain a key competitive anchor.
I havent been interested in an Intel chip in a looooong time but the12th gen Alder Lake CPUs look good - i hope the benchmarks hold up too
@tomwarren
Tom Warren on x
Intel claims Moore's Law is “alive and well.” CEO @PGelsinger says Intel's new Ribbon FET tech could even accelerate the doubling every 2 years in what he calls a “super Moore's Law” 🖥️ https://twitter.com/...
@cdemerjian
Charlie Demerjian on x
I am shocked that Intel would put a known fake benchmark up on #IntelOn. I am not shocked they stifled comments on it. Sad. @PGelsinger
@cstar_ow
CoolStar on x
Congrats to Intel for finally getting off 14nm+++++ after 6 years
@cdemerjian
Charlie Demerjian on x
@soft_fox_lad @PGelsinger They did a photo editing comparison vs a 5950X and used the crippled WIndows 11. When I asked on the comments, they killed the comment.
@tomwarren
Tom Warren on x
Intel tried to overclock its new i9-12900K with liquid nitrogen live on stage to break the world record. It failed live, but Intel says it's already broken the record and will be posting the results shortly https://twitter.com/...
@cdemerjian
Charlie Demerjian on x
@BlazeK_AMDRT ... Last week Intel came out and said the numbers were not good during the pre-brief and that they would update it when the patches came out. They didn't. They also ‘forgot’ to mention it at On. Then again, when do you think Intel had access to the patches, on relea…
@cdemerjian
Charlie Demerjian on x
Confirmed, Intel used a known crippled version of Windows to hobble the AMD scores at the #IntelON event. Unacceptable intentionally misleading lies. Applying widely available and known patches would have fundamentally changed the results. They lied. Again. @PGelsinger
@starfire2258
Sean Hollister on x
If you've been glazing over as Intel announces gen after gen of same-y chips, it might be time to lift your head again. https://twitter.com/...