At 1:00 am (Japan time) on October 28, 2021, Intel held an online event "Intel InnovatiON", CPU for the next desktop PC "12th generation Intel Core processor" (development code name: Alder Lake-S) Announced details. The socket is LGA1700, which is not compatible with conventional motherboards. Therefore, it will be used in combination with the Intel Z690 chipset-equipped motherboard announced on the same day.
The manufacturing process adopts the "Intel 7" process known as 10nm Enhanced SuperFin, and since the 5th generation Intel Core processor (development code name: Broadwell-C) released in June 2015 as a desktop PC, it is actually 6 It was decided to significantly update the manufacturing process for the first time in a year.
Significantly redesigned manufacturing process and architecture
The architecture has also been revamped, and it has a hybrid configuration that combines a high-performance core such as the big.LITTLE structure of SoC for smartphones and a power-saving core. The high-performance core is called Performance-cores (P core), and adopts "Golden Cove" which is the successor to Willow Cove. The power-saving core is Efficient-cores (E-core), which uses "Gracemont", the successor to Tremont. It is said that they can be operated with high efficiency by a mechanism called Thread Director, and the appropriate power can be appropriately allocated at the appropriate time.
Power efficiency is improved with P core and E core with different roles
Move P core and E core properly with Thread Director
Alder Lake-S has also updated PCI Express and memory to the latest version. PCI Express newly supports 5.0, and the distribution of PCI Express lanes of the CPU is PCI Express 5.0 x 16 and PCI Express 4.0 x 4. The DMI has also been updated to DMI 4.0 (8 lanes), which is based on PCI Express 4.0, and connects to the Intel Z690 chipset over a wide band. Therefore, the Intel Z690 chipset is also PCI Express 4.0 compliant.
Compatible with the latest standard PCI Express 5.0 and DDR5 memory.Also, the built-in GPU is now the Inte UHD Graphics 770 with Xe architecture.
Intel Z690 chipset also supports DMI 4.0 and PCI Express 4.0
12th Generation Intel Core Processor for Desktop PCs and Intel Z690 Chipset Diagram
In addition to DDR4 memory, it also supports DDR5, and new features for overclocking include "XMP 3.0" and "Intel Dynamic Memory Boost Technology" that allow manufacturers to prepare more profiles. Intel Dynamic Memory Boost Technology is like an automatic memory overclocking setting, which is the default clock in normal times, but when work that requires that power occurs, the clock automatically rises to the XMP setting.
In addition, DDR4 module and DDR5 module have different notch positions and are not compatible, so it is necessary to confirm which model the motherboard supports before purchasing.
Added XMP 3.0 to overclocking profile for memory. More profiles can be set by the manufacturer than XMP 2.0, and you can enjoy overclocking more flexibly
The new Intel Dynamic Memory Boost Technology is the default clock in normal times, but the operating clock goes up to the XMP setting only when power is needed.