Intel may already be prepping a super-clocked version of its high-end Core i9-12900K, in response to AMD's upcoming 3D Vcache Ryzen processors. The 12900KS, as it is allegedly called, will feature a reported 5.2GHz all core boost clock, adding an extra few hundred megahertz to the already super high clock speed of Intel's Alder Lake flagship. These chips will be especially binned versions of the 12900K, with the same core counts, but will likely have a higher price tag for it, and a higher power consumption.
Intel's 12th-generation Alder lake processors were a major turning point for Intel. After a disappointing 11th generation, Alder Lake made major leaps in single threaded and multi-threaded performance. They eclipsed most of AMD's Ryzen 5000 series, but then they should -- those AMD chips are over a year old. AMD is swinging back in early next year, with its Ryzen 5000 3D Vcache chips, which could offer a 15% uplift in gaming -- easily enough to retake the crown.
Intel's response may be to super clock its existing Alder Lake chips ahead of Raptor Lake launching in late 2022. The 12900KS would be similar to the 9900KS released a few years ago, though that chip proved a little underwhelming compared to the storming gains AMD's Ryzen CPUs were making.
Intel, Nvidia, and AMD all have their pre-CES Keynote speeches on the same day, January 4th. So expect some emajor announcements in the coming weeks.