Like the 14-cores, 20-thread CPU, the alleged Core i9-12900K seemingly follows the uneven core and thread count; it seems to feature 16-cores, but only has 24-threads to help with its multi-threading performance. As to why this is the case, sources suggest that this is due to the processor using a hybrid architecture comprising eight Golden Cove cores, eight Golden Cove threads, and eight Gracemont cores. Add them up, and the thread count actually makes sense, on account that the Gracemont cores themselves lack any form of Hyperthreading. On another note, the same source also says that the CPU has a base and boost clock of 3.9GHz and 5.3GHz, respectively. The latter probably brought about via Intel’s Thermal Velocity Boost (TVB) technology. Performance-wise, they also say that the CPU clocks in a score of 11300 points on Cinebench R20, putting it neck to neck with AMD’s own Ryzen 9 5950X. However, seeing how this detail is still considered a wild card, we recommend that you take this bit of news with a very large grain of salt.
— 结城安穗-YuuKi_AnS (@yuuki_ans) July 11, 2021 Another rumour by Yuuki_AnS says that 12900K will require Windows 11 in order for it to achieve those numbers, leaving us to wonder if the source itself already has access to the yet unreleased operating system. (Source: NGA.cn, Hot Hardware)
