Intel Core i7-12700K power: TDP, peak draw & cooling
The Intel Core i7-12700K has a base power (Processor Base Power (PBP)) of 125 W. Under a sustained all-core load it can draw up to about 190 W at its MTP ceiling. Size cooling and power delivery for the peak, not the base number.
Recommendations are planning estimates, not electrical or purchasing advice. The hardware figures behind them are vendor-published; your exact board-partner model and build can still differ.
Maximum Turbo Power (MTP)
190 W
Conservative ceiling used for cooling and PSU sizing.
Processor Base Power (PBP)
125 W
Vendor base/rated power — typical sustained draw, not the ceiling.
CPU power connector
1× EPS 12V 8-pin
Fed from the motherboard's EPS 12V connector, not directly from a PSU cable to the CPU.
Cooling class
Guideline
A 280–360 mm AIO — or a top-tier air cooler — is the sensible choice.
Base power vs peak
Processor Base Power (PBP) describes typical sustained operation; Maximum Turbo Power (MTP) is the ceiling the chip can pull under a heavy all-core workload. Cooling and VRM headroom should be planned around the peak, while everyday power use sits closer to the base figure.
Worth knowing
Intel ARK: Processor Base Power 125W, Maximum Turbo Power 190W.
Sizing a power supply? Open the PSU Calculator with this CPU pre-selected → then add your graphics card and accessories.
Power source: Intel ARK official specification; multi-agent web verification 2026-07-15. Last updated: 2026-07-15.
Frequently asked questions
How much power does the Intel Core i7-12700K use?
Its base power (Processor Base Power (PBP)) is 125 W, and it can draw up to about 190 W at its MTP ceiling under a sustained all-core load. Size cooling and power delivery for the peak, not the base figure.
What cooler does the Intel Core i7-12700K need?
A 280–360 mm AIO — or a top-tier air cooler — is the sensible choice. This is a general guideline derived from the ~190 W peak, not a specific product recommendation — a chip's real thermals also depend on the board, case airflow, and how hard you push it.
How much does the Intel Core i7-12700K add to a PSU estimate?
For power-supply sizing we count the CPU at its 190 W MTP ceiling — a conservative figure so the supply is not undersized. Add your graphics card and the rest of the system in the PSU calculator for a full recommendation.