Apple M1 Max vs Intel Core i9-11900K

Processor comparisons 21-10-2022

   If you are thinking about choosing a processor, you will be able to make a decision after reading the comprehensive tests Apple M1 Max vs Intel Core i9-11900K and understand which is better for games or simple use for machine learning, streaming, rendering, video editing, programming. Here is useful information from several benchmarks or real video editing and streaming tests. A thorough analysis of all the technical characteristics, so that it can be easier to understand, is presented in the form of the table.
   From the comparison video, you can get the results of parallel examination in special testing software such as Cinebench 23 (20, 15), DaVinci Resolve Studio, SuperPi, Furmark, Dolphin Emulator, Gears 5, AIDA64, GeekBench 6, 5.2, VeraCrypt, WPrime, Blender, PassMark, Prime95, 7zip, UserBenchmark, Blender, 3DMark, MATLAB, PCMark 10, Handbrake, World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, RealBench.
   Gaming performance of processors in:

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

After looking at the data of all benchmarks and videos, you can already make an informed decision about which processor is better to buy for gaming Intel Core i9-11900K 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 i9-11900K

58%

This parameter shows the performance of the processors in single-threaded and multi-threaded mode. In this comparison, M1 Max is 3% better than Core i9-11900K. 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 i9-11900K

57%

For the maximum in this test, the results of the most powerful processor in the site database are taken. And of course, this is a server processor, on which no one will play 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 other games in which CPU comparisons were performed: Half-Life: Alyx, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, DOTA 2A, Monster Hunter World, Resident Evil 7 Biohazard, Horizon Zero Dawn, NBA 2K20, Control, Microsoft Flight Simulator, Ghostrunner, Metro Exodus, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS GO), Forza Horizon 4, League of Legends (LOL), PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG), Hitman 3, Battlefield V, Shadow of the Tomb Raider.

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	101.3	100.9
Valorant	115.1	114.6
Cyberpunk 2077	64.5	64.2
Apex Legends	108.2	107.8
Call of Duty Warzone	86.3	86.0
Overwatch	93.2	92.9
Red Dead Redemption 2	79.4	79.1
DOOM Eternal	57.6	57.3
Warzone	89.8	89.4
Assassin's Creed	96.7	96.3
Valheim	95.5	95.2

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: FullHD, 2K or 4K. Therefore, the game benchmark data is approximate. But all video cards met the average system requirements of games. To be sure exactly how much performance the processor will be in games, if you get acquainted with the benchmarks that are made with the same video card that is installed in your computer.

Power consumption

M1 Max

332%

Core i9-11900K

52%

To make a finishing choice 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 i9-11900K as it consumes less power: 18W vs. 125W. Power consumption is especially important for laptops. Also, when choosing a processor cooling system, you must know its TDP. It is necessary to calculate so that the TDP data specified in the cooler specification is greater than the TDP of the compared processor.

Software benchmarks

If you want to use the processor not only for gaming, but also for video editing or video rendering, machine learning, streaming, programming, 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 learn this data from the benchmark tables below. Before you take into account the data from these tests, be sure to make sure that the software that you are going to use on your computer can work in multi-threaded mode. Since there are still many programs that use only one core to run, 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 Max	Intel Core i9-11900K
Cinbench 15 Single-core	313	284
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	1811	2575
Cinbench 20 Single-core	617	636
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	3106	5725
Cinbench 23 Single-core	2360	1653
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	12204	16475

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

	Apple M1 Max	Intel Core i9-11900K
Single-Core	5344	3801
Multi-Core	34572	28166

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

	Apple M1 Max	Intel Core i9-11900K
Single-Core	1793	1961
Multi-Core	13028	12631

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 in your computer. And the easier it will be to upgrade the system later. The same benefits from the presence of overclocking. When the processor can be overclocked, increasing its performance, then it will still be able to produce maximum FPS even in new games. The savings are obvious! Accordingly, you do not need to buy a new CPU to enjoy the games any longer.

	Apple M1 Max	Intel Core i9-11900K
Announcement date	October 07, 2021	February 21, 2021
Type	Laptop;Desktop	Desktop
Socket	M1	FCLGA1200
Core name	8x Firestorm and 2x Icestorm	Rocket Lake
Architecture	hybrid (big.LITTLE)	x86
Generation	1	11
Turbo Frequency		5.3 MHz
Frequency	3.2 MHz	3.5 MHz
Cores	10	8
Threads	10	16
Bus rate		8 GT/s
Bit	64	64
Lithography	5 nm	14 nm
Transistors count	57000 millions	9800 millions
Power consumption (TDP)	18 W	125 W
Memory type	LPDDR5 - Up to 6400MHz	DDR4-3200
Max. Memory	64 Gb	128 Gb
Memory Frequency	6400	3200
Memory bandwidth	409 GByte/s	50 GB/s
L1 cache	4MB
L2 cache	24MB	4 MB
L3 cache	48MB	16 MB
Overclocking	No	Yes
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 i9-11900K is 8% better than M1 Max in terms of CPU frequency. Another difference is that M1 Max has 2 more core than Core i9-11900K. 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: 24
The number of parameters for which Intel Core i9-11900K is better: 14
Although it should be understood that all the data in the text above do not mean that you should be guided entirely by them and trust a simple comparison of these figures. Better to watch the testing video and read the opinion of real owners of Apple M1 Max and Intel Core i9-11900K before making a decision which processor to buy for gaming and which not.

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 i9-11900K - all data

• Call of Duty: Warzone gaming benchmark
• Apex Legends gaming benchmark
• GTA 5 gaming benchmark
• Valorant gaming benchmark
• Red Dead Redemption 2 gaming benchmark
• Roblox gaming benchmark
• Overwatch gaming benchmark
• Fortnite gaming benchmark
• Assassin's Creed gaming benchmark
• DOOM Eternal gaming benchmark
• PUBG gaming benchmark
• Cyberpunk 2077 gaming benchmark

• Intel Core i9-11900K specs and review.