Intel Adaptive Boost Technology

Intel Adaptive Boost Technology opportunistically enables all-core workloads to run at the maximum single-core Turbo Boost 2.0 frequency.

Note that Adaptive Boost Technology is still governed by the Turbo Boost algorithm. So, by default the additional boost will only be available temporarily until the turbo budget has been depleted. However, in combination with technologies like ASUS MultiCore Enhancement you can benefit from up to additional sustained additional performance.

It is also important to mention that while enabling Intel ABT provides higher frequency headroom, it is not considered overclocking as it is still within Intel’s official specification.

Intel ABT on 11th gen Rocket Lake

Intel Adaptive Boost Technology was introduced to motherboard partners close to the launch of the 11th generation Intel Core i9 K and KF Rocket Lake CPUs last March. As the technology was not quite ready for the limelight, it was not included in the platform launch but introduced in BIOSes a little after the launch.

On Rocket Lake, ABT opportunistically increases the processor frequency above the Thermal Velocity Boost frequency in systems with adequate power delivery and cooling solutions. ABT allows all cores to hit the maximum Turbo Boost 2.0 frequency even when more than 2 cores are active. For example, on the 11900K when 8 cores are active the maximum Turbo Boost 2.0 frequency is 4.7 GHz while with ABT enabled the maximum frequency is 5.1 GHz.

I wasn’t able to test Adaptive Boost Technology too thoroughly as I got the first BIOSes with support for this feature about a week or two before the Rocket Lake launch. The only result I have is a Prime 95 Small FFTs without AVX result using the EK-Magnitude CPU water block. While the system was perfectly stable at 5.1 GHz all core with a voltage of 1.347V, the average CPU temperature was approaching 90 degrees centigrade, and the average CPU package power was about 285W. For a non-AVX workload – that is quite a lot!

Intel ABT on 12th gen Alder Lake

Intel ABT is not available on 12th gen Alder Lake processors.

Intel ABT on 13th gen Raptor Lake

Intel ABT is also available on 13th gen Raptor Lake Core i9 processors.

On the Core i9-13900K/KF, ABT allows the processor to boost up to 5.4 GHz (Turbo Boost 2.0) instead of 5.3 GHz when all P-cores are active.
On the Core i9-13900T, ABT allows the processor to boost up to 5.1 GHz (Turbo Boost 2.0) instead of 4.4 GHz when all P-cores are active.
On the Core i9-13980HX, ABT allows the processor to boost up to 5.1 GHz (Turbo Boost 2.0) instead of 5.0 GHz when all P-cores are active.