Following the release of the 12th generation Intel Core processors, Alder Lake, Intel has adopted a new hybrid architecture in their processors. This architecture is referred to as “hybrid” because it utilizes two different types of cores: the P or “performance” cores and the E or “efficiency” cores. This has resulted in a wide range of core combinations available in Intel processors. In this article, we will explain how this new architecture works and how it can impact your computing experience, so that you can make an informed decision when choosing a processor that fits your needs.
Modern processors contain cores or nuclei, which act as small processors capable of executing tasks independently. With the introduction of Intel’s hybrid architecture, not all cores are equal in terms of their performance capabilities. It is important to understand how they function and how they impact the overall performance of the processor.
What are the P and E cores of Intel processors?
When examining the technical specs of modern Intel processors, you’ll notice that there are now various values, numbers, and speeds for the processor’s internal cores. This is due to the new hybrid architecture that Intel has adopted, which comprises two types of cores. In the following section, we will briefly explain the differences between these two types of cores so that you can understand them better.
Intel’s modern processors come with a hybrid architecture that uses two types of cores: the P or P-Cores and the E or E-Cores. P-Cores are larger in size and more powerful, designed to offer maximum performance, and have Hyperthreading technology that allows them to execute two tasks per parallel core. E-Cores, on the other hand, are smaller and less powerful, designed to offer lower performance with moderate consumption, and can execute only one task per core simultaneously, without Hyperthreading technology.
Processors can have a combination of P and E-Cores, such as 8P + 8E, which means that 8 cores are P-Cores and another 8 are E-Cores, providing both performance and efficiency. However, only the P-Cores have Hyperthreading, so a processor with 16 cores (8P + 8E) would only have 24 processing threads, not 32 as expected. Additionally, each type of core can have a different top speed, such as P-Cores running up to 5.1 GHz and E-Cores up to 3.9 GHz.
What type of kernel is best for each case?
That’s right. The Core i9-13900KS is an example of a processor that combines both P and E cores in a hybrid architecture. It has a total of 24 cores and 32 processing threads, with 8 P cores and 16 E cores. This means that for general tasks, it will utilize all 24 cores and 32 threads, but when higher performance is needed, the P cores will kick in to provide an additional 8 cores and 16 threads at a higher speed. This allows for a balance of performance and efficiency depending on the workload.
When it comes to choosing between processors with different combinations of P and E cores, the decision ultimately depends on your specific needs. Having more E cores ensures good performance with low power consumption for everyday tasks, while having more P cores allows for exceptional performance when heavy processing is needed at the cost of higher power consumption.
For most conventional and gaming PCs, the optimal choice is a processor with a balanced combination of P and E cores that delivers moderate power consumption while still providing good performance. However, for applications that demand higher processing power, a processor with more P cores would be the better choice as it offers greater performance at the expense of increased power consumption.