Here’s What We Know About Intel’s New i9-12900KS Processor GA S REGULAR Menu Lifewire Tech for Humans Newsletter! Search Close GO News > Computers

Here’s What We Know About Intel’s New i9-12900KS Processor

Boasting performance up to 5.5 GHz

By Rob Rich Rob Rich News Reporter College for Creative Studies Rob is a freelance tech reporter with experience writing for a variety of outlets, including IGN, Unwinnable, 148Apps, Gamezebo, Pocket Gamer, Fanbolt, Zam, and more. lifewire's editorial guidelines Published on March 28, 2022 12:04PM EDT Fact checked by Jerri Ledford Fact checked by Jerri Ledford Western Kentucky University Gulf Coast Community College Jerri L. Ledford has been writing, editing, and fact-checking tech stories since 1994. Her work has appeared in Computerworld, PC Magazine, Information Today, and many others. lifewire's fact checking process Tweet Share Email Tweet Share Email Computers Mobile Phones Internet & Security Computers & Tablets Smart Life Home Theater & Entertainment Software & Apps Social Media Streaming Gaming Intel has revealed its next high-performance desktop processor, the i9-12900KS, which it claims can provide speeds up to 5.5 GHz. Intel believes it will "provide the ultimate gaming experience"—until the next ultimate experience comes along, anyway—and will allow even more speed for overclocking enthusiasts. However, we'll have to wait until the i9-12900KS has been publicly released to put all of this to the test.
Intel Corporation Key features and capabilities for the i9-12900KS, as listed by Intel, start with a maximum speed of up to 5.5 GHz (when using Intel's Thermal Velocity Boost feature). The hardware also contains eight performance and eight efficient cores (16 cores total) for higher processing speeds and 24 threads so it can handle more processes simultaneously. It also supports DDR5 4800 and DDR4 3200 RAM and is compatible with current Z690 motherboards "Intel continues to push the envelope for desktop gaming with the new 12th Gen Intel Core i9-12900KS processor," said Intel's general manager of Gaming, Creator & Esports Segment, Marcus Kennedy, in the press release, "Based on Intel's 12th Gen performance hybrid architecture, this processor can hit 5.5 GHz on up to two cores for the first time, giving the most extreme gamers the ability to maximize performance." The i9-12900KS will be up for sale on April 5, starting at $739. Intel says it will be available on its own (so you can manually install it yourself) or as a component in new systems purchased from Intel or its distributors. Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day Subscribe Tell us why! Other Not enough details Hard to understand Submit More from Lifewire What to Look For in a Gaming PC 5G: The Latest News & Updates (October 2022) What Is a CPU? (Central Processing Unit) What To Look For in a Gaming Laptop The 7 Best i7 Processors of 2022 How to Overclock Your Intel CPU The 7 Best Processors of 2022 HP OMEN Obelisk Review: Great Value for a High-Performance Gaming Desktop AMD vs Intel: Which Processor Is Best for You? The 10 Best DDR4 RAM What Is an Ultrabook? What Is Overclocking? Should You Ever Overclock Your Computer? How to Overclock a Laptop Multiple Core Processors: Is More Always Better? Where Is 5G Available in South Korea? (Updated for 2022) The 7 Best Mini PCs for Gaming in 2022 Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookies Settings Accept All Cookies