i9-12900 Perf. Comparison?

I'm looking to build a new gaming PC and I've been reading about the i9-12900 CPU. Does anyone have any experience with it or suggestions on how to optimize its performance?

Hey @RepresentsMe, I've used the i9-12900 in my system for a while now, and it's been performing great! It's really fast for gaming and heavy multitasking. What kind of games are you planning to run?

Hi there, I have a friend who is also considering getting an i9-12900 CPU. I'd like to learn more about the TDP and how that affects performance.

The i9-12900 has a base TDP of 65 watts and a max turbo TDP of 202 watts. This means it consumes a maximum of 65 watts at its E-core base frequency of 1.80 GHz and P-core base frequency of 2.40 GHz, reaching 202 watts when it reaches the 5.00 GHz max turbo frequency. The TDP is crucial for choosing the right CPU cooler, power supply (PSU), and PC case in a system build.

To add to what @Travelblind said, I've found an article that explains the importance of the i9-12900's TDP when building a PC. You can check it out at What Is the TDP of the Core i9-12900 CPU?. It goes into detail about choosing the right CPU cooler, power supply, and PC case based on the CPU's TDP.

Thanks for the info, everyone! I'll definitely check out that article, @ranmah76. What do you think about the 65 watt base TDP? Is it reasonable for a high-performance CPU like this one?

Yes, I'd say the 65 watt base TDP is quite reasonable. It allows the i9-12900 to maintain good performance while keeping power consumption relatively low. Of course, when it hits the max turbo frequency, it bumps up to 202 watts, but that's only for short periods of time when needed.

That makes sense. I'll definitely keep TDP in mind when building my system. What about the CPU cooler? Any recommendations?

For a CPU like the i9-12900 with a max turbo TDP of 202 watts, you'll want to choose a CPU cooler that can handle that heat output. A liquid cooling solution or a high-end air cooler should work well. I've personally had good results with the Noctua NH-D15, which is an excellent air cooler for high-performance CPUs.

Thanks for all the advice! It's really helpful. So if I go with a liquid cooler, what PSU should I be looking at? Any recommendations?

A liquid cooler will definitely help keep your i9-12900 cool under heavy load, but you'll still need to choose a power supply that can handle the CPU's power requirements. As @Travelblind mentioned earlier, recommended PSUs include Thermaltake Toughpower GF3 ATX 3.0 (750-1650 watts) and Corsair SF Series (650-1000 watts), both featuring 80 PLUS Gold efficiency ratings. I'd recommend going with at least a 750 watt PSU to be on the safe side.

Great, that's helpful advice. Thanks again everyone! I'll keep all these recommendations in mind when building my new gaming PC.