Apple M1 Max vs Intel Core i9-12900K

Processor comparisons 21-10-2022

   For example you are thinking about choosing a CPU, you will be able to make a choice by looking at the Apple M1 Max vs Intel Core i9-12900K tests and decide which is better for games or normal use for streaming, rendering, video editing, programming, machine learning. Here is all information from various benchmarks or real streaming and video editing tests. A step-by-step analysis of all the specifications, 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 DaVinci Resolve Studio, Blender, WPrime, Gears 5, SuperPi, World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, UserBenchmark, AIDA64, PassMark, Prime95, MATLAB, RealBench, 7zip, 3DMark, GeekBench 6, 5.2, Blender, VeraCrypt, Dolphin Emulator, Handbrake, PCMark 10, Cinebench 23 (20, 15), Furmark.
   And how good the CPUs are in games:

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

After reading the results these benchmarks and videos, you already be able to know which processor is better to buy for gaming Intel Core i9-12900K 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 i9-12900K

67%

This shows the performance of the processors in single-threaded and multi-threaded mode. In this comparison, Core i9-12900K is 10% better than M1 Max. 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 i9-12900K

64%

The maximum result in this parameter is 100 percent, which is the performance of the most powerful processor at the moment. And it is clear that 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 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: Control, Forza Horizon 4, Metro Exodus, PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG), League of Legends (LOL), Monster Hunter World, DOTA 2A, Microsoft Flight Simulator, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Horizon Zero Dawn, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS GO), Battlefield V, NBA 2K20, Ghostrunner, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Hitman 3, Half-Life: Alyx, Resident Evil 7 Biohazard.

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	101.3	113.8
Valorant	115.1	129.3
Cyberpunk 2077	64.5	72.4
Apex Legends	108.2	121.5
Call of Duty Warzone	86.3	97.0
Overwatch	93.2	104.7
Red Dead Redemption 2	79.4	89.2
DOOM Eternal	57.6	64.6
Warzone	89.8	100.8
Assassin's Creed	96.7	108.6
Valheim	95.5	107.3

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: 4K, 2K or FullHD. So 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 i9-12900K

97%

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 i9-12900K since it has less power consumption: 18W vs. 125W. Power consumption is particularly important for laptops. Also, when choosing a processor cooling system, it will be useful to know its TDP. 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 want to use the processor not only for gaming, but also for streaming, programming, video editing or video rendering, machine learning, then first of all you need to pay attention to the performance in multi-threaded mode. In this mode, to achieve maximum efficiency, the CPU uses all cores and threads that it has. You will learn this data from the benchmark tables below. Before you take into account the data from these tests, be sure to check whether the program you are going to use on your computer supports multi-threaded mode. Because there are still many programs that can 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 Max	Intel Core i9-12900K
Cinbench 15 Single-core	313	489
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	1811	5150
Cinbench 20 Single-core	617	816
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	3106	11450
Cinbench 23 Single-core	2360	2896
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	12204	32950

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

	Apple M1 Max	Intel Core i9-12900K
Single-Core	5344	7546
Multi-Core	34572	56332

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

	Apple M1 Max	Intel Core i9-12900K
Single-Core	1793	3641
Multi-Core	13028	25262

Comparison of specifications

In the specification comparison table, the processor release date and overclocking capability will be the most helpful. The newer the processor, the longer it will last you. 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 continue to maintain maximum FPS even in the newest 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 i9-12900K
Announcement date	October 07, 2021	July 21, 2021
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		5.2 MHz
Frequency	3.2 MHz	3.9 MHz
Cores	10	16
Threads	10	24
Bus rate		16 GT/s
Bit	64	64
Lithography	5 nm	7 nm
Transistors count	57000 millions	12400 millions
Power consumption (TDP)	18 W	125 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	6400
Memory bandwidth	409 GByte/s	76.8 GB/s
L1 cache	4MB	2 MB
L2 cache	24MB	14 MB
L3 cache	48MB	30 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 i9-12900K is 17% better than M1 Max in terms of CPU frequency. Another difference is that Core i9-12900K has 6 more core than M1 Max. 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: 7
The number of parameters for which Intel Core i9-12900K is better: 29
However, it should be realized that the summary data in the article above do not mean that taking them into account you should undividedly trust a simple comparison of these figures. Be sure to watch the video tests and read the reviews of real owners of Apple M1 Max and Intel Core i9-12900K before making a decision which of the CPUs 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 i9-12900K - all data

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

• Intel Core i9-12900K specs and review.