Intel’s next-gen Alder Lake-P mobile processors are slated to launch in the first half of 2022. Featuring a combination of Golden Cove and Gracemont cores, the 10nm parts are set to bring huge increments in performance in both multi-threaded and single-threaded workloads. According to well-reputed tipster @Raichu, the top-end Alder Lake-P SKU will even be competitive against Apple’s recently launched M1 Max SoC.
The Apple M1 Max features eight performance cores and two efficiency cores with a very scalable TDP. The former runs at a peak frequency of 3.2GHz while the latter tops out at roughly 2GHz. In comparison, the Alder Lake-P die consists of six performance cores and eight efficiency cores. The boost clocks are undetermined, but the Golden Cove cluster should be able to reach clocks of up to 5GHz, with the Gracemont cluster pulsating around 3GHz.
It’s worth noting that the Alder Lake-P top chip might beat the M1 Max in terms of raw performance, but the latter will likely win out in terms of sheer power efficiency. The M1 Max draws up to 40W of power in heavily multi-threaded applications, whereas the Core i9-12980HK should easily draw well over 50W in the same workloads.
