CPU内核的数量和速度不断增加并不是什么新鲜事。但最近，英特尔(Intel)通过引入具有两种核心类型的CPU(CPUs)（称为 P 核和E 核）(E-cores—a)改变了游戏规则，这在主流计算机中尚属首次。
随着英特尔第 13 代“Raptor Lake”CPU 的推出，我们认为现在是讨论什么是E 核(E-cores)和 P 核以及它们为何重要的绝佳时机。
什么是 P 核和 E 核？
直到最近，大多数多核Intel CPU(Intel CPUs)都由几乎相同的内核组成。通常，每个内核都具有相同的容量和时钟速度(clock speed)，“工作”在它们之间分散，以更快地处理任务。
这就是英特尔新CPU(CPUs)的不同之处。它们现在具有两种内核：
- 性能核心（P 核心）。更大、更强大的 P 核专注于更重的任务。这些基于英特尔的Golden Cove CPU核心微架构。它们还提供潜在的超线程功能，允许每个内核同时处理两个线程，从而进一步提高性能。
- 高效核心(Cores)（E-cores）。以效率为中心的E-cores以一直运行但需要较少能量的后台任务为目标。这些基于英特尔高效的Gracemont CPU微架构，旨在最大限度地提高每瓦性能。
这种组合使处理器能够提高性能速度并承担更高的工作负载，同时降低功耗。这一切都归功于英特尔的Thread Director，这是一种以最佳方式将 P 核和 E 核分配给不同任务的技术。
哪些 CPU 包含 P 核和 E 核
新的核心设计始于移动Lakefield芯片（英特尔酷(Intel Core)睿 i5-L16G7 和英特尔酷(Intel Core)睿 i3-L13G4）。英特尔(Intel)在这种方法中取得了一些成功，决定在最新的 PC 处理器系列中再次使用它——Alder Lake CPU系列。
我们将在以下几节中
讨论这些Alder Lake CPU 。(Alder Lake CPUs)
英特尔酷睿 i9-12900K
12900K 具有以下特性：
- 核心数：16 个核心，8 个 P 核心，8 个 E 核心，总共 24 个线程。
- 频率：P-core具有 3.2 GHz基础和 5.2 GHz峰值（使用Turbo Boost Max 3.0，一个P-core功能）。具有 2.4 GHz(GHz)基础和 3.9 GHz峰值
的 E 内核。
英特尔酷睿 i7-12700K
12700K 具有以下特性：
- 核心数：12 个核心，8 个 P 核心，4 个 E 核心，总共 20 个线程。
- 频率：P 核，基础为 3.6 GHz ，峰值为 5.0 GHz （使用(GHz)Turbo Boost Max 3.0）。具有 2.7 GHz(GHz)基础和 3.8 GHz峰值
的 E 内核。
英特尔酷睿 i5-12600K
12600K 具有以下特性：
- 核心数：10 个核心，6 个 P 核心，4 个 E 核心，总共 16 个线程。
- 频率：P-core具有 3.7 GHz基础和 4.9 GHz峰值（使用Turbo Boost Max 3.0，一个P-core功能）。具有 2.8 GHz(GHz)基础和 3.6 GHz峰值
的 E 内核。
混合架构 CPU(Hybrid Architecture CPUs)的优势(Benefits)
当Alder Lake发布时，新的高性能、高效率CPU内核设计方法出现了一些问题。
据报道，一些软件存在适配问题，微软(Microsoft)花了几个月的时间才发布更新，让内核在Windows 10上正常运行。这是因为该软件是为Windows 11 操作系统(Windows 11 operating system)编写的，它提供了一个全新的CPU 任务计划程序(CPU Task Scheduler)。
但由于这些障碍大多已排除，英特尔的新混合架构为 PC 用户提供了许多好处，包括：
- 速度提高。据英特尔(Intel)称，在发布时，第 12 代 P 核的性能比第 11 代核高 19%。同样，与(Likewise)Skylake芯片
相比，E 核的单核效率提高了 40% 。
- 提高电池寿命。P 核和E 核(E-core)架构的最大赢家可能是笔记本电脑。这是因为，随着E(E-cores)核能效的提高，后台应用程序使用的电量更少，电池寿命也延长了。
- 包括对下一代技术的支持。Alder Lake CPU(Alder Lake CPUs)通过 P 核和 E 核提供更好的性能和效率，并支持新技术。这包括PCIe 5.0（PCIe 6.0 已经在路上(PCIe 6.0 already on the way)）和DDR5 RAM （ DDR4 RAM的继任者），在连接技术上超过了AMD和Apple。
英特尔即将发布的全新Raptor Lake基于(Raptor Lake)Alder Lake的混合架构构建。凭借更高的速度、效率和兼容性，第 13代 CPU(Gen CPUs)承诺预示着 CPU 的新时代(CPUs)。
CPU 的未来
随着英特尔的第 12代 CPU(Gen CPU)封装在CPU性能方面夺冠，而第 13代(Gen)已经在路上，新的混合架构似乎是未来的方向——尤其是对于游戏玩家和其他高规格用户而言。事实上，有传言称AMD将在 2023 年末或 2024 年初
在其AMD Ryzen 9000系列中引入类似的混合CPU结构。
What are Intel’s E-Cores and P-Cores?
The increasіng number and speed of CPU corеs aren’t new. But recently, Intel has shaken υp the game by introducing CPUs with two core types, known as P-coreѕ and E-cores—a first for mainstream computers.
With Intel’s 13th Gen “Raptor Lake” CPUs on the way, we thought it would be an excellent time to discuss what E-cores and P-cores are and why it matters.
What Are P-Cores and E-Cores?
Until recently, most multi-core Intel CPUs have been composed of almost identical cores. Usually, each core has the same capacity and clock speed, and the “work” is spread between them to process tasks faster.
That’s where Intel’s new CPUs differ. They now feature two kinds of cores:
- Performance Cores (P-cores). The larger, more powerful P-cores focus on heavier tasks. These are based on Intel’s Golden Cove CPU core micro-architecture. They also offer potential hyperthreading capabilities, which allow each core to handle two threads simultaneously, further boosting performance.
- Efficient Cores (E-cores). The efficiency-focused E-cores target background tasks that run all the time but require less energy. These are based on Intel’s efficient Gracemont CPU micro-architecture and aim to maximize performance per watt used.
This combination enables processors to increase performance speeds and take on higher workloads while lowering power consumption. This is all thanks to Intel’s Thread Director, a technology that assigns P- and E-cores to different tasks in an optimal way.
Which CPUs Contain P- and E-Cores
The new core design began with the mobile Lakefield chips (Intel Core i5-L16G7 and Intel Core i3-L13G4). Finding some success in the approach, Intel decided to use it once more in the most recent lineup of PC processors—the Alder Lake CPU series.
We’ll discuss these Alder Lake CPUs in the following few sections.
Intel Core i9-12900K
The 12900K has the following:
- Core Count: 16 cores with 8 P-cores, 8 E-cores, and 24 total threads.
- Frequency: P-cores with 3.2 GHz base and 5.2 GHz peak (using Turbo Boost Max 3.0, a P-core feature). E-cores with 2.4 GHz base and 3.9 GHz peak.
Intel Core i7-12700K
The 12700K has the following:
- Core Count: 12 cores with 8 P-cores, 4 E-cores, and 20 total threads.
- Frequency: P-cores with 3.6 GHz base and 5.0 GHz peak (using Turbo Boost Max 3.0). E-cores with 2.7 GHz base and 3.8 GHz peak.
Intel Core i5-12600K
The 12600K has the following:
- Core Count: 10 cores with 6 P-cores, 4 E-cores, and 16 total threads.
- Frequency: P-cores with 3.7 GHz base and 4.9 GHz peak (using Turbo Boost Max 3.0, a P-core feature). E-cores with 2.8 GHz base and 3.6 GHz peak.
The Benefits of Hybrid Architecture CPUs
When Alder Lake was released, there were some hiccups with the new high-performance, high-efficiency approach to CPU core design.
Some software reportedly had issues adapting, and it took months for Microsoft to release an update that let the cores run as they should on Windows 10. This was because the software was written for the Windows 11 operating system which provides a brand-new CPU Task Scheduler.
But with these obstacles mostly out of the way, Intel’s new hybrid architecture provides many benefits for PC users, including:
- Increased speeds. According to Intel, at the time of release, the 12th generation P-cores have 19% better performance than the 11th gen cores. Likewise, the E-cores feature a massive 40% improvement in single-core efficiency over Skylake chips.
- Improved battery life. The biggest winner of P- and E-core architecture might be laptops. This is because, with the increased energy efficiency of E-cores, background apps use less power, and battery life is extended.
- Included support for next-gen technologies. The Alder Lake CPUs provide better performance and efficiency through the P- and E-cores and support new tech. This includes PCIe 5.0 (with PCIe 6.0 already on the way) and DDR5 RAM (the successor to DDR4 RAM), surpassing both AMD and Apple in connective technologies.
Intel’s new Raptor Lake, soon to be released, builds on the hybrid architecture of Alder Lake. With greater speeds, efficiency, and compatibility, the 13th Gen CPUs promise to herald a new age of CPUs.
The Future of CPUs
With Intel’s 12th Gen CPU package taking the crown in CPU performance, and the 13th Gen already on the way, it seems like the new hybrid architecture is the way of the future—especially for gamers and other high-spec users. Indeed, AMD is rumored to be introducing a similar hybrid CPU structure in its AMD Ryzen 9000 line in late 2023 or early 2024.
