

Intel Core i7 and i9 desktop CPUs Intel® Core™ i9 and i7-11375H mobile CPUs (Before overclocking.) If the system has sufficient power and thermal headroom - think a high-performance air or liquid CPU cooler - it can make this leap in frequency to better handle more intensive workloads.īoosts all-core frequency above base clock speed up to specified maximum frequency during more intensive workloads available if the CPU’s running under its power, current, and temperature limits.īoosts the frequency of one or two favored cores available if the CPU’s running below its power, current, and temperature limits. But its max turbo frequency is much faster: 5.3 GHz. It’s the maximum single-core frequency a CPU achieves without overclocking.įor example, the Intel® Core™ i9-11900K has a base frequency of 3.5 GHz, meaning it completes 3.5 billion cycles per second. Max turbo frequency is the frequency a CPU targets when stressed by a demanding application like a game.

Operating at a lower frequency some of the time - as opposed to full speed all of the time - can also aid processor longevity 4. When running at its base frequency, the CPU draws less power and produces less heat. They do this by increasing the CPU’s frequency, or clock speed.īefore we discuss how boosting behaviors work, there are two specifications to understand.īase frequency is the frequency at which the CPU runs when the system is idle or under light load. But heavyweight tasks like gaming, editing video, or streaming content are more taxing.īoost technologies address this difference and help Intel processors adapt to the job at hand. Typically, processors can easily handle lightweight requests like running a word processor or browsing the web. Different workloads place different demands on a system’s CPU.
