Earlier this month, Intel introduced Alder Lake HX, a brand new collection of 12th-generation cell processors. Well—not strictly cell. These new work-focused laptop computer CPUs are primarily based on the corporate’s desktop Alder Lake chips, however in a BGA bundle. (That is, it’s soldered onto the motherboard, quite than being in a normal socketed LGA bundle that you could swap out like in a desktop PC.)
As you may guess, these new 12th-gen Core HX chips are a lot beefier than their standard H-class siblings present in typical gaming laptops. Alder Lake HX are 55W chips with a max turbo energy score of 157W, whereas Alder Lake H are 45W with 115W max turbo energy.
But what does that really imply while you’re utilizing a laptop computer with an HX CPU as an alternative of an H processor? When we acquired the prospect to have a preview have a look at the brand new MSI GT77 Titan, we determined to place its Core i7-12800HX to the take a look at and discover out. Spoiler alert: It’s an absolute massacre in a number of eventualities, although the HX can’t declare a clear sweep throughout the board. In the correct eventualities, nonetheless, this desktop-based chip demolishes the competitors.
The take a look at laptops
Our specific MSI GT77 configuration bundled its Core i7-12800HX with an Nvidia GeForce RTX 3070 Ti and 32GB DDR5/4800 reminiscence. Like different high-end Alder Lake CPUs, the HX collection options Intel’s new hybrid architecture, packing each efficiency and effectivity cores. (Sorry, no all-performance-core chips.) The 12800HX options 8P/8E cores and 24 whole threads (e-cores lack hyperthreading), with a max turbo clock velocity of 4.8GHz on the efficiency cores and 3.40GHz on the effectivity cores. It’s not the highest of the stack—that distinction belongs to the Core i9-12950HX—but it surely nonetheless can ship fairly a punch.
Intel
Going up in opposition to this beastly processor had been two different Intel cell CPUs and one from AMD, too. An MSI GE76 Raider with Intel’s flagship Core i9-12900HK (6P/8E cores, 20 threads), an Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 Ti, and 32GB DDR5/4800 reminiscence served because the tribute for Alder Lake H. The 12900HK boasts a max turbo velocity of 5.0GHz on the efficiency cores and 3.8GHz on the effectivity cores. Meanwhile, an older MSI GE76 Raider with an 11th-gen Core i9-11980HK, RTX 3080, and 32GB DDR4/3200 reminiscence was introduced out from mothballs to characterize last-gen Tiger Lake H CPUs. Its chip sports activities 8 cores and 16 threads, with a max turbo velocity of 5GHz.
As for our AMD consultant, an Asus ROG Strix Scar G17 and its Ryzen 9 5900HX, RTX 3080, and 32GB DDR4/3200 reminiscence was added to the combo. This chip is from AMD’s 2021 cell processor launch—the 6900HX is probably the most present providing from AMD, however sadly, the 5900HX is all we had available. The 5900HX has 8 cores and 16 threads, with a most enhance clock of 4.6GHz.
The lowdown
Getting a real apples-to-apples comparability between laptops is tough, particularly when evaluating processors from totally different courses. A laptop computer’s dimension and particular design affect efficiency, so you may’t make exhausting and quick statements primarily based on benchmarks as when evaluating desktop CPUs.
Still, the numbers may give you a normal concept of what to anticipate, even on this preview have a look at the HX collection. Here are 4 fast takeaways to satiate your curiosity about Alder Lake HX.
(For a deeper dive into these outcomes, try the embedded YouTube video beneath—my colleague Gordon Mah Ung discusses the MSI GT77 and his benchmark findings intimately.)
1) Mighty efficiency in multithreaded duties
Intel HX processors are clearly for while you want desktop PC energy in a laptop computer physique. The Core i7-12800HX tore by way of encoding, rendering, and different closely multithreaded duties at a tempo that different laptop computer chips couldn’t sustain with.
Gordon Mah Ung / PCWorld
Gordon Mah Ung / PCWorld
Gordon Mah Ung / PCWorld
In Maxon’s Cinebench R23 rendering benchmark, the Core i9-12800HX simply nabbed the highest spot. It outperformed the runner-up, the Core i9-12900HK, by 32.23 p.c. It additionally crushed the last-gen Core i9-11980HK and Ryzen 9 5900HX by 68.45 and 54.61 p.c, respectively. The story’s comparable in our Handbrake encoding take a look at, during which we now have this system crunch down Blender.org’s Tears of Steel 4K video right into a smaller HEVC H.265 format. The 12800HX finishes the duty about 30 p.c quicker than the 12900HK, 41 p.c quicker than the 5900HX, and 63 p.c quicker than the 11980HK (oof).
Gordon Mah Ung / PCWorld
The outcomes are much more stark in V-Ray 5, one other rendering benchmark. Here the 12800HX stomps everywhere in the laptop computer processors. The enchancment over the 12900HK is a whopping 98.21 p.c, and it posts triple-digit share uplifts over the 11980HK and 5900HX.
2) A CPU alone can’t win all battles
Gordon Mah Ung / PCWorld
The Core i7-12800HX doesn’t dominate in all the things. A have a look at the outcomes from Pugetbench’s Premiere Pro benchmark present this consequence—and extra particularly, how uncooked CPU firepower can’t at all times win each spherical. In Premiere Pro, which makes use of each the CPU and GPU, the Core i9-12900HK and its quicker RTX 3080 Ti took the highest spot.
No surprises right here, but it surely’s an excellent reminder {that a} laptop computer’s graphics can affect efficiency outcomes. Moreover, how a lot a discrete GPU can stretch its legs in a specific laptop computer makes a distinction too. For instance, the 12800HX’s paired RTX 3070 Ti has a decently hefty 150W TGP, however the Ryzen 9 5900HX’s RTX 3080 will get capped at simply 130W TGP. That design has actual world repercussions, with that Asus Scar 17 sitting firmly on the backside of the heap.
Incidentally, we selected to run this benchmark with the discrete graphics enabled to be extra true to life. You’ll by no means discover these CPUs in a configuration missing a devoted GPU. However, in case you’re curious, switching off the discrete graphics wouldn’t have made for an excellent enjoying floor. The 12900HK’s built-in graphics pack 96 execution models (EU), whereas the 12800HX sports activities simply 32.
3) Size could make up for may
During the HX collection announcement, Intel stated the Core i9-12900HK would stay the highest gaming CPU—however the HX chips would nonetheless be “great gaming processors as well.” Initial take a look at outcomes bear that out, even given the disparity in our take a look at laptops’ specs. The 12800HX and its RTX 3070 Ti dipped beneath the 12900HK and its RTX 3080 Ti by solely a handful of frames per second in two of our three gaming benchmarks, and it even took the lead in Counter-Strike: Global Offensive by about 5 p.c. CS: GO tends to lean extra on the CPU, which is probably going how the 12800HK good points a bonus.
Gordon Mah Ung / PCWorld
Gordon Mah Ung / PCWorld
Gordon Mah Ung / PCWorld
That stated, recall what we stated earlier about laptop computer dimension and design. We can make certain that this 12800HX + RTX 3070 Ti laptop computer solely barely underperforms the MSI GE76’s 12900HK + RTX 3080 Ti, however for different laptops with comparable configurations, it’s possible you’ll not see the very same consequence. The MSI GT77 Titan is a large seven-pound laptop computer, whereas the MSI GE76 Raider is smaller at 6.4 kilos. Put the GE76’s parts into a bigger pocket book and you might see a wider efficiency hole. And it stays to be seen what an apples-to-apples 12900HX vs a 12900HK showdown will appear to be.
4) Laptop housing, desktop energy consumption
Gordon Mah Ung / PCWorld
Those who’re aware of processors already knew that the Core i9-12800HX was going to guzzle extra electrical energy than the true laptop computer CPUs. When we measured energy consumption throughout Cinebench R23’s default take a look at, which takes 10 minutes to finish, the Core i9-12900HK hovered roughly between 120W and 130W for a lot of the benchmark. The 12800HX frolicked nearer to 180W, however with larger drops after ending a body in comparison with the 12900HK.
What’s attention-grabbing right here is seeing affirmation that 12800HX falls in step with what we normally see from extra power-efficient desktop processors. (We don’t presently have this actual information for Alder Lake chips, however you may have a peek at our recent Ryzen retrospective data.) And in fact, with extra energy comes quicker and better efficiency—16 frames rendered vs the 12900HK’s 13, and in much less time.
Final ideas
Even with out figuring out what additional {hardware} and software program tuning might enhance, this efficiency preview makes it clear that the Core i7-12800HX is a ferociously spectacular CPU. Squishing a desktop Alder Lake processor right into a laptop computer offers fairly a lift to hurry. Content creators and different customers who want workstation-level efficiency ought to love what’s on supply right here.
That doesn’t essentially make the HX collection of chips the best for everybody, although. As enjoyable as high-powered {hardware} is, the totally different courses of processors exist for a cause. If your main want revolves round portability, a featherlight PC with an Intel or AMD U-class processor (just like the recently launched Ryzen 9 6800U) is the correct selection. Same for avid gamers—until you’re additionally typically creating movies primarily based in your gameplay, you may nonetheless get loads of enjoyment out of a laptop computer with a normal H-series processor. What issues extra is the highest performers in that class, in addition to the efficiency of the particular laptops you’re contemplating.
Regardless of what you most want out of a laptop computer, the most recent releases make selecting a brand new PC each simpler and more durable. Competition is presently so fierce between Intel and AMD that every new technology affords materials advantages. Anyone attempting to resolve between future-proofing their buy and saving cash by going with the earlier gen faces a tricky name. At the identical time, CPUs that stink are way more uncommon. It’s an excellent downside, all issues thought-about.
If you’re questioning which particular pocket book is the very best on your private wants, make sure to try our roundup of the best laptops. It’s loaded with concrete suggestions culled from dozens upon dozens of latest critiques, with picks for each want and finances.