Alder Lake: Because New Hardware is a Scam

New mid-range CPU? $300. For what exactly?

The i5-12400F is $97 used. It came out in 2022. Nothing has changed that makes it obsolete. Marketing did.

The Chip

6 cores. 12 threads. 65W. It runs Linux. It runs Ollama. It doesn't catch fire without a $70 cooler. That's all you need to know.

Paired with the 6750 XT

Resolution	Reality
1080p	Runs it
1440p	Also runs it
4K	Buy a different article

The B660M Locks Overclocking Anyway

So the 12600K is $60 of features you can't use. Skip it.

Why This Chip

You want a second box. You want to mess around with Ubuntu. You want to run a local AI model without paying OpenAI $20 a month for the privilege of asking questions.

sudo apt install works on day one. No config files to hunt down. No forums from 2019 that may or may not still apply. Just a CPU that works, on a distro that works, on hardware you paid $97 for.

The market wants you to spend $300. Don't.