It seems that running the newly launched edge CPU on a regular Z790 motherboard can work if you can tweak the BIOS just right.
User Makes Running Intel P-Core-Only Bartlett Lake CPU on a Mainstream Z890 Motherboard Possible Through BIOS Modded by Claude
The dream of getting Intel's only 12 P-Core Bartlett Lake CPU running on a consumer LGA 1700 motherboard is coming true. The Bartlett Lake Core 9 273PQE, which we saw sitting on a white ASUS LGA 1700 motherboard a few weeks ago, can also run on it, provided you are skilled enough to tweak the BIOS. Fortunately, you might not need to rewrite the BIOS yourself, as LLMs like Claude can do it on your behalf.
Overclock forums user "kryptonfly" just did that and got success in posting with the flagship Bartlett Lake CPU on his ASUS Z790 AYW-OC motherboard. He says he let Claude write 100% of the BIOS, and without needing to replace the BIOS chip, he was able to reach the post screen, which clearly shows the processor's name. However, it doesn't go beyond that, and when he presses F1, the screen goes black. Right now, the BIOS will need some patches to make it work on the consumer-grade Z790 motherboards, but it appears to be totally possible.
Although Bartlett Lake chips are compatible with the LGA 1700 socket, they cannot officially work on the consumer-grade LGA 1700 motherboards, as they were released specifically for the edge. Due to the absence of a compatible BIOS, Bartlett Lake chips aren't supported on the regular LGA 1700 motherboards. PC enthusiasts such as kryptonfly are making efforts to make them work since these processors bring something unique to the table.
While processors like Core 9 273PQE are siblings of Intel Raptor Lake Refresh, they only bring Performance cores. The Core 9 273PQE is the only CPU with 12 performance cores, which makes it a unique chip in the family. The processor matches the performance of higher-end chips like Core i9 14900K despite boasting half the core count. Hopefully, Kryptonfly succeeds in making it work since it will allow us to take a sneak peek into its gaming performance if the user intends to benchmark it.
News Sources: Overclock, @unikoshardware
About the author: Sarfraz Khan is a hardware reporter with a focus on PC components and the builder community. With years of experience writing about PC hardware and laptops, his work has been featured on several reputable technology publications. Sarfraz's hands-on experience is demonstrated through his first-person accounts of using and comparing different hardware configurations, providing practical and relatable insights for everyday users. His technical analysis is respected by peers in the enthusiast community and has been cited by specialized hardware sites such as Germany's Igor's Lab.
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