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A 2021 teardown of a dead Intel Core i9-12900K showed solder beneath its integrated heat spreader (IHS), a thinner die than in the cited Core i9-11900K comparison, and an unusual off-center gold-plated area on the IHS underside. The measurements describe one processor, not Intel’s published production specifications.
What the Core i9-12900K delidding video showed
Overclocker Roman “der8auer” Hartung took apart a dead Core i9-12900K and displayed its silicon die, the material between the die and IHS, and the underside of the IHS. HotHardware reported that the processor had been killed after a cooler mounting screw fell onto the motherboard while the system was powered on; Hartung used the failed chip for the teardown. The account describes a thin layer of solder between the die and IHS, rather than thermal paste. HotHardware’s October 28, 2021 report is the source for this account and the dimensions below.
Measurements reported for the examined chip
Hartung’s measurements, as reported by HotHardware, suggested a package longer than the cited Core i9-11900K and Core i9-10900K packages, alongside a thinner die and thicker IHS than the Rocket Lake and Comet Lake comparisons discussed in the article.
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|---|---|
| Core i9-12900K package length | About 45 mm; HotHardware cited 37.5 mm for the Core i9-11900K and Core i9-10900K. |
| Die area | Around 208 mm². |
| Die height | 0.46 mm, compared with 0.56 mm for the Core i9-11900K; HotHardware described the 12900K die as about 22% thinner. |
| IHS thickness | Described as thicker than the cited Rocket Lake and Comet Lake chips; no specific thickness was stated in HotHardware’s report. |
These are measurements of Hartung’s single examined sample as relayed by HotHardware, not Intel-published tolerances. They should not be generalized to every Core i9-12900K. The report characterized the package as optimized and suggested thermal benefits, but the teardown measurements alone do not demonstrate a cooling improvement.
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What the gold area does—and does not—tell us
The underside of the IHS had gold plating in an unusual off-center position on this sample. HotHardware said it could have been intentional or a manufacturing variation but did not establish which explanation was correct. The observation is therefore a visual detail of this teardown, not evidence of a defect or a known design change. Igor’s Lab’s Alder Lake delidding and direct-die coverage also discusses the underside plating and related hardware.
Should you delid a working Core i9-12900K?
This video documents a teardown of a processor that was already dead; it is not a guide or recommendation to delid a functioning CPU. Removing an IHS is a specialist operation that can damage the processor. The cited coverage does not establish a general performance gain, and it does not verify the current availability or compatibility of specific tools or direct-die cooling products. Anyone investigating that hardware should confirm explicit LGA1700 compatibility and whether a product is intended for delidding or for direct-die cooling before relying on it.
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- 【Processor】 Powered by the Intel Core i9-12900K processor, this system features 16 cores and 24 threads to handle demanding applications and complex multitasking. It includes 30MB of Intel Smart Cache and 14MB of L2 cache, operates at a 3.2 GHz base frequency, and can reach up to 5.2 GHz with Intel Turbo Boost Max Technology 3.0—enabling responsive performance for content creation, data analysis, gaming, and professional-grade productivity.
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Later Alder Lake direct-die work
In a July 2022 update, KitGuru described a separate Core i9-12900K delid and direct-die cooling project involving EKWB and three Alder Lake cooling kits identified as prototype samples. That later project shows further enthusiast experimentation, but does not establish that those prototypes became retail products or are currently available. KitGuru’s July 22, 2022 coverage reports on that work.
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- 【Processor】 Powered by the Intel Core i9-12900K processor, this system features 16 cores and 24 threads to handle demanding applications and complex multitasking. It includes 30MB of Intel Smart Cache and 14MB of L2 cache, operates at a 3.2 GHz base frequency, and can reach up to 5.2 GHz with Intel Turbo Boost Max Technology 3.0—enabling responsive performance for content creation, data analysis, gaming, and professional-grade productivity.
- 【RAM and Storage】 Supports configurations of up to 64GB of DDR5 RAM for efficient multitasking across memory-intensive applications and browser tabs. Storage options include up to 4TB of PCIe M.2 SSD, offering faster boot times, improved file access speeds, and ample space for projects, media libraries, and software installations.
- 【Operating System】 Comes with Windows 11 Home (64-bit, English) pre-installed, providing a familiar and secure interface with built-in productivity features and regular updates for a reliable out-of-the-box experience.
- 【Keyboard and Mouse】 Includes a Lenovo Black Wired Keyboard and Mouse set for dependable, plug-and-play input. The wired connection offers consistent responsiveness for daily computing tasks in work or home environments.
- 【Tech Specs】 Offers a practical range of connectivity options: 7x USB ports for peripherals, dual-monitor support via HDMI and VGA for expanded display setups, Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.2 for capable wireless performance, and Gigabit Ethernet (RJ-45) for stable wired network access.
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- 30 MB of L3 cache memory provides excellent hit rate in short access time enabling improved system performance
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