Apple M1 Ultra vs Intel Core i3-12300

Processor comparisons   12-02-2023
   Let's say you can't decide which CPU to buy, you can make a choice by looking at the Apple M1 Ultra vs Intel Core i3-12300 tests and decide which is better for games or normal use for programming, machine learning, rendering, video editing, streaming. Here is useful information from real video editing and streaming tests or various benchmarks. A thorough review of all the specifications, to make it easier to understand, is summarized in the table.
   From the video comparison, you can get the results of parallel examination in software tests such as AIDA64, GeekBench 6, 5.2, SuperPi, MATLAB, Blender, 3DMark, UserBenchmark, Dolphin Emulator, Furmark, PCMark 10, VeraCrypt, WPrime, PassMark, Handbrake, Prime95, World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, DaVinci Resolve Studio, Blender, Gears 5, 7zip, Cinebench 23 (20, 15), RealBench.
   Gaming performance of CPUs in:

Fallout 76
DOOM: Eternal
Overwatch
Death Stranding
Valorant
Red Dead Redemption 2
Grand Theft Auto V
Last Man Standing
Rainbow Six Siege
Assassin's Creed Valhalla
Borderlands 3
Valheim
Call of Duty: Warzone and Modern Warfare
Halo Infinite
Fortnite
World of Warcraft: Shadowlands
Apex Legends
Watch Dogs Legion
Cyberpunk 2077

After reading the results of joint benchmarks and videos, you already be able to know which processor is better to buy for gaming Intel Core i3-12300 or Apple M1 Ultra.

Summary benchmark results

As a percentage of the maximum value based on a sample from the entire base of all processors
Processor Benchmark

M1 Ultra

68%

Core i3-12300

56%

This value shows the performance of the processors in single-threaded and multi-threaded mode. In this comparison, M1 Ultra is 17% better than Core i3-12300. The data source is several popular tests. More detailed information of the benchmarks is below.

Gaming performance
Summary result of all game benchmarks.

M1 Ultra

64%

Core i3-12300

54%

The maximum result in this parameter is 100 percent, which is the performance of the most powerful processor at the moment. And of course, this is a server processor, on which no one will run games. Because this processor costs several tens of thousands of dollars. And if it seems to you that the selected CPU has a small game result, look at the FPS that it produces in real games in the final table below.
List of other games in which processors were compared: DOTA 2A, Microsoft Flight Simulator, Battlefield V, Monster Hunter World, Ghostrunner, Control, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, League of Legends (LOL), Hitman 3, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS GO), PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG), Horizon Zero Dawn, Forza Horizon 4, NBA 2K20, Resident Evil 7 Biohazard, Metro Exodus, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Half-Life: Alyx.

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	113.1	96.2
Valorant	128.6	109.3
Cyberpunk 2077	72.0	61.2
Apex Legends	120.8	102.7
Call of Duty Warzone	96.4	82.0
Overwatch	104.1	88.5
Red Dead Redemption 2	88.7	75.4
DOOM Eternal	64.3	54.6
Warzone	100.3	85.2
Assassin's Creed	108.0	91.8
Valheim	106.7	90.7

The numbers in this table indicate the maximum FPS that was received on the device with the corresponding processor. Depending on the configuration of the computer (RAM size and Video Card) and graphics quality settings (Ultra, Medium, Normal), the results may differ quite significantly. We recommend that you better study the results of the Cinebench, GeekBench and Passmark becnmarks.
The tested computers not only did they have different video cards and different amounts of RAM. But users also tested them at different screen resolutions: 4K, 2K or FullHD. Therefore, the game benchmark data is approximate. But all video cards met the average system requirements of games. You will get more accurate information about how powerful the processor will be in games, if you compare it in one assembly with the video card that is installed in your computer.

Power consumption

M1 Ultra

272%

Core i3-12300

98%

To make a finishing choice on which processor is better, you should also consider the generation of its core. It is clear that the newer the generation, the better the performance of the processor in games and benchmarks, as well as its energy efficiency. In this case the M1 Ultra is more energy efficient than the Core i3-12300 since it has less power consumption: 20W vs. 60W. Power consumption is particularly important for laptops. Also, when choosing a processor cooling system, you must know its TDP. It is necessary to count so that the TDP data specified in the cooler specification is greater than the TDP of the compared processor.

Software benchmarks

Let's say you want to use the processor not only for gaming, but also for streaming, machine learning, video editing or video rendering, programming, then the main parameter for you is its performance in multi-threaded mode. In this mode, the CPU includes all cores and threads that it has to the maximum to achieve maximum efficiency. You will learn this data from the benchmark tables below. Before using the data from these tests, be sure to check whether the software you are going to use on your computer supports multi-threaded mode. Since there are still many programs that use only one core to work, and all the benefit of multi-core mode turns out to be unnecessary.
Cinebench 23, 20 an 15
The results of this benchmark show Single-threaded and Multi-threaded CPU performance

	Apple M1 Ultra	Intel Core i3-12300
Cinbench 15 Single-core	555	271
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	3252	1993
Cinbench 20 Single-core	1103	653
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	5583	4525
Cinbench 23 Single-core	4240	1530
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	21959	14916

Passmark
This popular benchmark displays Multi-threaded and Single-threaded processor performance

	Apple M1 Ultra	Intel Core i3-12300
Single-Core	9611	3578
Multi-Core	62194	20882

GeekBench 6, 5.2
This benchmark shows Multi-threaded and Single-threaded processor performance

	Apple M1 Ultra	Intel Core i3-12300
Single-Core	1637	1770
Multi-Core	24642	7998

Comparison of specifications

In the specification comparison table, the processor release date and overclocking capability will be the most helpful. The later the processor is released, the longer it will last you. And the easier it will be to upgrade the system later. The same can be said about overclocking. If the processor can be overclocked, increasing its performance, then it will still be able to produce maximum FPS in new games. It turns out that you do not need to buy a new CPU to enjoy the games any longer. The economy are obvious!

	Apple M1 Ultra	Intel Core i3-12300
Announcement date	April 09, 2022	January 07, 2022
Type	Desktop	Desktop
Socket	M1	FCBGA1744
Core name	16x Firestorm and 4x Icestorm	Alder Lake
Architecture	hybrid (big.LITTLE)	x86
Generation	1	12
Turbo Frequency		4.4 MHz
Frequency	3.2 MHz	1 MHz
Cores	20	4
Threads	20	8
Bus rate		8 GT/s
Bit	64	64
Lithography	5 nm	7 nm
Transistors count	114000 millions	9800 millions
Power consumption (TDP)	20 W	60 W
Memory type	LPDDR5 - Up to 6400MHz	Up to DDR5 4800 MT/s Up to DDR4 3200 MT/s
Max. Memory	128 Gb	128 Gb
Memory Frequency	6400
Memory bandwidth	818 GByte/s	76.8 GB/s
L1 cache	4MB
L2 cache	48MB	5 MB
L3 cache	96MB	12 MB
Overclocking	No	No
Supports ECC	No	No
Part number	APL1W06

In this comparison block, you should pay attention to the differences in clock speed and the number of cores. Here M1 Ultra is 68% better than Core i3-12300 in terms of CPU frequency. Another difference is that M1 Ultra has 16 more core than Core i3-12300. Also keep in mind that high CPU frequency affects battery life through power consumption (relevant for laptops).

Result:
The number of parameters for which Apple M1 Ultra is better: 31
The number of parameters for which Intel Core i3-12300 is better: 5
However, it should be realized that all the data that you have looked at here do not mean that taking them into account you should undividedly trust a simple comparison of these numbers. Be sure to watch benchmarks video and read the reviews of real owners of Apple M1 Ultra and Intel Core i3-12300 before making a selection which CPU to buy for gaming and which not.

Apple M1 Ultra - all data

• Cinebench r15 score
• Cinebench r20 score
• Cinebench r23 score
• GeekBench 6, 5.2 score

• Apple M1 Ultra specs and review.

Intel Core i3-12300 - all data

• Cinebench r15 score
• Cinebench r20 score
• Cinebench r23 score
• GeekBench 6, 5.2 score

• Intel Core i3-12300 specs and review.