With any processor, and Intel CPUs in particular, power limits are a critical aspect to consider when evaluating a platform’s potential performance. These “PL1”, “PL2”, and “Tau” numbers have been the subject of in-depth reporting from respected outlets such as AnandTech and Gamers Nexus, but it can be a very technical and potentially confusing subject.

Essentially, what this power limit thing boils down to is that motherboard vendors do not necessarily follow Intel’s actual CPU power limits, and Intel hasn’t exactly been transparent about those limits. We are still waiting for a full analysis of Comet Lake-S, which was initially released (like the original Skylake) without any architectural documentation. But we now have more information.