In our recent Comet Lake, Intel 10th Core Processor reviews we've tried to explain elaborately the power states and duration that Intel enforces. Eample, we write that the Core i9 10900K has a 125 Watt TDP (PL1), but can run an extended power state (PL2) to 250 Watts for 56 seconds (Tau). 

Intel now has updated its reference guides to reflect the duration of the PL2 states per processor, for all processors. Now we know it, it all can get a little confusing when I say all this fast, but we'll explain happily. So that last bit is referred to as Tau state, the duration of the power states. Let's bring back the Core i9 10900K again, it has has a rated 125 Watt TDP, this is the normalized state of the processor also referred to as (PL1), in the first 56 seconds of operation it can apply high boost frequencies and can run an extended power state called PL2) and at that timeframe utilize 250 Watts for that 56 seconds duration. So the duration is called Tau. I hope I am making it clear enough.

Computerbase noticed that Intel in its whitepaper now has released TDP, PL1, PL2 and Tau for all processors. And we tabled that up, so now you know precisely what the reference values are. BTW Motherboard manufacturers can divert (and they do)  from these Tau states, and allow for shorter or longer PL2 states. 

Intel Comet Lake-S CPUs TDP, PL1, PL2 and Tau
CPU	PL1	PL2	Tau
OC models
Core i9-10900K (10C/20T)	125 watts	250 watts	56 seconds
Core i7-10700K (8C/16T)	125 watts	229 watts	56 seconds
Core i5-10600K (6C/12T)	125 watts	182 watts	56 seconds
Non-OC models
Core i9-10000 (F) (10C/20T)	65 watts	224 watts	28 seconds
Core i7-10000 (F) (8C/16T)	65 watts	224 watts	28 seconds
Core i5-10000 (F) (6C/12T)	65 watts	134 watts	28 seconds
Core i3-10000 (4C8T)	65 watts	90 watts	28 seconds
Pentium and Celeron	58 watts	58 watts	28 seconds
Energy friendly models
Core i9-10000T (10C/20T)	35 watts	123 watts	28 seconds
Core i7-10000T (8C/16T)	35 watts	123 watts	28 seconds
Core i5-10000T (6C/12T)	35 watts	92 watts	28 seconds
Core i3-10000T (4C/8T)	35 watts	55 watts	28 seconds
Pentium and Celeron T	35 watts	42 watts	28 seconds

TDP, PL1, PL2 and Tau from Intel Comet Lake-S Xeon W CPUs
CPU	PL1	PL2	Tau
125 Watt models
10 cores + iGPU	125 watts	250 watts	56 seconds
8 cores + iGPU	125 watts	229 watts	56 seconds
6 cores + iGPU	125 watts	182 watts	56 seconds
Standard models
10 cores + iGPU	80 watts	224 watts	28 seconds
8 cores + iGPU	80 watts	224 watts	28 seconds
6 cores + iGPU	80 watts	134 watts	28 seconds
Energy friendly models
10 cores + iGPU	35 watts	123 watts	28 seconds

Intel Releases Detailed Power Limiter and Duration state information for Comet lake processors