i9-12900HK Processor - Why the 'K'?

Question

I´m looking at an XPS 15 and I see there is an option for an i9-12900HK processor.

What is that "K" going to do for me? Does it mean I can overclock it? Does it come with XMP?

Thanks for your help!

Tiny Tech

ejn63 · Accepted Answer

K means unlocked and therefore overclockable. However, I do not think you'll find the XPS models support overclocking -- you need an Alienware system to have that option. The fact that Dell ships the K models likely has more to do with component shortages than anything else.

XMP is memory technology -- it has nothing to do with the CPU. The XPS models (and even most Alienwares) do not support XMP.

Tiny_Tech · Answer

Thanks for such a great answer.  Very helpful! Tiny Tech

unlucku · Answer

xmp is literally overclocking your cpu memory controller. stop spreading misinformation

Tiny_Tech · Answer

Hi Unlucku,

Just a quick question for you. Did you actually *think* before you responded to my question?

No, really. Ask yourself. Did you actually *think* before you responded to my question?

ejn63 gave an outstanding answer to my question, as always.

To be clear, I asked a question, looking for an answer. ejn63 provided the correct answer.

You have contributed NOTHING to this discussion, except a misinformed assumption and an accusation.

I hope that someday that you will evolve into a person who will constructively reply to peoples´ queries, rather than immediately accuse others of spreading misinformation.

I humbly ask that you learn the difference.

Sincerely,

Tiny_Tech

ejn63 · Answer

While your post is correct (XMP RAM is overclocking capable and even considered factory overclocked), your answer is also irrelevant here, since the system does not support XMP memory (very few Dell systems if any do -- even Alienware systems do not tolerate RAM that requires XMP settings).

lolvatveo · Answer

@unlucku​ cpu i/o controller is actually ring bus, so it's not overclocked when loading xmp, if ram speed is too fast cpu i/o controller simply can't handle it

XPS

i9-12900HK Processor - Why the "K"?

Was this post helpful?