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by dont__panic 1689 days ago
Similarly, Intel often states TDPs of 25W, 45W, 65W, etc... while peaking actual power usage at nearly double those numbers during "power boost."

So unfortunately TDP has basically become a marketing term and we're back to literally measuring power usage instead. Which of course gets complicated when you consider that different machines have wildly different heat management systems.

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"TDP" as such is going away for Alder Lake. Intel is now using a much clearer base power and turbo power number. So for example, the new i5-12600K has a Base Speed of 3700MHz @ 125W and Turbo Speed of 4900MHz @ 150W (if and when thermals allow it) [0]. The old marketing would've just called this a TDP of 125W.

[0] https://www.anandtech.com/show/16959/intel-innovation-alder-...

M1 Max operates with a peak of 50W. With a top performance difference of let’s say 20% (unattainable by Intel), I care more about having a computer that runs at 50W tops than a water boiler at 150W.
It’s fascinating to me that society was willing to accept laptops that could not safely be used on a human’s lap for so long. My ‘old’ 16” MacBook Pro could probably cook an egg.
Isn't that a part of the reason why many times they were marketed as "notebook PCs" instead of "laptops"?
if your electric kettle is only 150W then it must take you a long time to make tea.