Apple M1 Max vs Intel Core i5-12600T

Processor comparisons   21-10-2022
   Let's say you are thinking about choosing a CPU, you will be able to make a decision by looking at the Apple M1 Max vs Intel Core i5-12600T tests and understand which is better for games or simple use for streaming, rendering, programming, video editing, machine learning. Here you can find all information from several benchmarks or real streaming and video editing tests. A thorough review of all the technical characteristics, to make it easier to understand, is summarized in the table.
   From the video comparison, you can get the results of joint testing in special test applications like PassMark, AIDA64, Dolphin Emulator, RealBench, Blender, WPrime, Cinebench 23 (20, 15), GeekBench 6, 5.2, VeraCrypt, Furmark, 7zip, Gears 5, DaVinci Resolve Studio, SuperPi, Prime95, MATLAB, Handbrake, World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, UserBenchmark, Blender, PCMark 10, 3DMark.
   Gaming performance of CPUs in:

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

After looking at the data these benchmarks and videos, you already be able to understand which CPU is better to buy for gaming Intel Core i5-12600T or Apple M1 Max.

Summary benchmark results

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

M1 Max

60%

Core i5-12600T

57%

This value shows the performance of the processors in single-threaded and multi-threaded mode. In this comparison, M1 Max is 5% better than Core i5-12600T. The data source is several popular tests. Detailed information can be found below.

Gaming performance
Summary result of all game benchmarks.

M1 Max

57%

Core i5-12600T

55%

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 the cost of this processor reaches several tens of thousands of dollars. And if it seems to you that the selected CPU has a low game result, just look at the FPS that it produces in real games in the final table below.
List of less popular games in which processors were compared: Microsoft Flight Simulator, PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG), Horizon Zero Dawn, DOTA 2A, Ghostrunner, Half-Life: Alyx, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Hitman 3, Monster Hunter World, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS GO), Forza Horizon 4, Metro Exodus, NBA 2K20, League of Legends (LOL), Battlefield V, Resident Evil 7 Biohazard, Control.

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	101.3	97.3
Valorant	115.1	110.6
Cyberpunk 2077	64.5	61.9
Apex Legends	108.2	103.9
Call of Duty Warzone	86.3	82.9
Overwatch	93.2	89.6
Red Dead Redemption 2	79.4	76.3
DOOM Eternal	57.6	55.3
Warzone	89.8	86.2
Assassin's Creed	96.7	92.9
Valheim	95.5	91.8

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 computers that were in the comparisons not only did they have different video cards and different amounts of RAM. But users also tested them at different screen resolutions: 2K, 4K or FullHD. So 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 Max

332%

Core i5-12600T

172%

To make a final decision on which processor is better, you should also consider the generation of its core. The newer the processor generation, the better its performance in games and benchmarks, as well as its energy efficiency. In this case the M1 Max is more energy efficient than the Core i5-12600T since it has less power consumption: 18W vs. 35W. Power consumption is especially important for laptops. And TDP should be taken into account when choosing a processor cooling system. You need to buy a cooler that has the TDP data specified in the specification was greater than the TDP of the compared processor.

Software benchmarks

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

	Apple M1 Max	Intel Core i5-12600T
Cinbench 15 Single-core	313	315
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	1811	2302
Cinbench 20 Single-core	617	754
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	3106	5227
Cinbench 23 Single-core	2360	1764
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	12204	17228

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

	Apple M1 Max	Intel Core i5-12600T
Single-Core	5344	4133
Multi-Core	34572	24119

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

	Apple M1 Max	Intel Core i5-12600T
Single-Core	1793	1816
Multi-Core	13028	9116

Comparison of specifications

In the specification comparison table, the most helpful will be the release date of the processor and the possibility of overclocking it. The newer the processor, the longer it will last in your computer. And the easier it will be to upgrade the system in the future. The same benefits from the presence of overclocking. If the processor can be overclocked, increasing its performance, then it will still be able to produce maximum FPS even in new games. The economy are obvious! Accordingly, you do not need to buy a new CPU to enjoy the games any longer.

	Apple M1 Max	Intel Core i5-12600T
Announcement date	October 07, 2021	January 07, 2022
Type	Laptop;Desktop	Desktop
Socket	M1	FCLGA1700
Core name	8x Firestorm and 2x Icestorm	Alder Lake
Architecture	hybrid (big.LITTLE)	x86
Generation	1	12
Turbo Frequency		4.6 MHz
Frequency	3.2 MHz	3.3 MHz
Cores	10	6
Threads	10	12
Bus rate		8 GT/s
Bit	64	64
Lithography	5 nm	7 nm
Transistors count	57000 millions	10200 millions
Power consumption (TDP)	18 W	35 W
Memory type	LPDDR5 - Up to 6400MHz	Up to DDR5 4800 MT/s Up to DDR4 3200 MT/s
Max. Memory	64 Gb	128 Gb
Memory Frequency	6400
Memory bandwidth	409 GByte/s	76.8 GB/s
L1 cache	4MB
L2 cache	24MB	7.5 MB
L3 cache	48MB	18 MB
Overclocking	No	No
Supports ECC	No	No
Part number	APL1105

In this comparison block, you should pay attention to the differences in clock speed and the number of cores. Here Core i5-12600T is 3% better than M1 Max in terms of CPU frequency. Another difference is that M1 Max has 4 more core than Core i5-12600T. 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 Max is better: 22
The number of parameters for which Intel Core i5-12600T is better: 15
However, it should be realized that the summary data in the article above do not mean that taking them into account you should entirely trust a simple comparison of these figures. Better to watch the video tests and read the reviews of of people who bought Apple M1 Max and Intel Core i5-12600T before making a choice which of the processors to buy for gaming.

Apple M1 Max - all data

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

• Apple M1 Max specs and review.

Intel Core i5-12600T - all data

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

• Intel Core i5-12600T specs and review.