On Twitter intel has been showing an Alder Lake processor with a 5.5 GHz boost frequency. Although the chipmaker did not release the precise model of the chip, the numbers correspond to the Core i9-speculated 12900KS's characteristics.

While the Core i9-12900K is already one of the best CPUs available, the Core i9-12900KS will undoubtedly outperform it. The former has a maximum boost clock of 5 GHz across all cores, however, this value changes depending on the workload. The Core i9-12900KS launches with a 4% faster boost frequency than the current Alder Lake flagship.

What's intriguing about Intel's tweet is that it implies that the chipmaker hasn't done tuning the chip and that 5.5 GHz is the next target. While it would not be silly to opt for a 5.5 GHz all-core boost frequency, the processor will require considerable cooling, such as the thermoelectric CPU coolers introduced with Rocket Lake. Intel's Turbo Boost Max Technology 3.0 enables the Core i9-12900K to reach 5.2 GHz. However, Intel's screenshot indicates that the Core i9-12900K runs at 5.5 GHz with ease. This is about 6% increase.

The Core i9-12900KS will be identical to the Core i9-12900K except for the increased clock speeds and increased power consumption. It will retain a total of 16 cores, eight of which will be Golden Cove cores and eight of which will be Gracemont cores. While the Alder Lake processor will fit into the LGA1700 socket, motherboards will almost certainly need to be updated to accommodate the Core i9-12900KS.

The Core i9-12900KS is expected to launch in the first quarter of this year, although the actual date and price remain unknown.

Update: Intel announced the processor, it's to be available at the end of this quarter.

Intel Demonstrates Core i9 12900KS Alder Lake CPU With 5.5 GHz Boost Frequency