End of an Era: Intel Retires Alder Lake Flagship & 10th Gen

Recently, Intel issued a new Product Change Notification (PCN), indicating the discontinuation of several processors, including the Core i9-12900KS (Alder Lake) and the 10th generation Core series. According to Intel’s schedule, customers can place orders until January 24, 2025, with deliveries expected by July 25, 2025.

Intel introduced the Core i9-12900KS processor in March 2022, and it was launched domestically on April 5 of the same year. This processor, designed for high-end enthusiasts and overclocking aficionados, is manufactured using the Intel 7 process and features eight performance cores based on the Golden Cove architecture and eight efficiency cores based on the Gracemont architecture. It boasts a 16-core, 24-thread configuration, with a maximum turbo frequency of 5.5 GHz. It supports Intel Thermal Velocity Boost and employs Intel Adaptive Boost Technology (Intel ABT) to deliver an ultimate gaming experience.

In May 2023, Intel updated the packaging for the Core i9-12900KS processor. The original packaging no longer includes the yellow plastic wafer, and the size has been reduced to more closely align with the standard design of the regular version, although the “Special Edition” label remains.

The 10th generation Core (Comet Lake) processors, released in the second half of 2020, will see the discontinuation of as many as 30 models, including all non-K series besides the K series, which ceased production at the end of 2023. Additionally, some Xeon, Pentium, and Celeron branded products will be affected. Currently, Intel’s shipments are predominantly focused on the 12th generation Core (Alder Lake) and subsequent models, so the impact on sales is expected to be minimal.

With the earlier discontinuation of the 11th generation Core (Rocket Lake), this recent termination of the remaining 10th generation Core processors effectively marks the end of the 14nm era for desktop CPUs.