Apple M1 Max vs Intel Core i9-12900KF

Processor comparisons 21-10-2022

   Let's say you can't decide which processor to buy, you can make a choice by looking at the Apple M1 Max vs Intel Core i9-12900KF tests and see which is better for games or normal use for video editing, programming, streaming, rendering, machine learning. Here you can find useful information from different benchmarks or real video editing and streaming tests. A thorough analysis of all the specifications, so that it can be easier to read, is made by the table.
   From the comparison video, you can get the results of parallel examination in special testing software such as RealBench, GeekBench 6, 5.2, SuperPi, VeraCrypt, MATLAB, DaVinci Resolve Studio, PassMark, Blender, Dolphin Emulator, Handbrake, World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, UserBenchmark, Furmark, Cinebench 23 (20, 15), 7zip, 3DMark, Gears 5, WPrime, AIDA64, Blender, Prime95, PCMark 10.
   Gaming performance of CPUs in:

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

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

66%

The number of this parameter shows the performance of the processors in single-threaded and multi-threaded mode. In this comparison, Core i9-12900KF is 9% 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 i9-12900KF

61%

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 play games. Because this processor costs several tens of thousands of dollars. Therefore, if you think 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 less popular games in which processors were compared: Monster Hunter World, Half-Life: Alyx, League of Legends (LOL), Battlefield V, NBA 2K20, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS GO), Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Hitman 3, PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG), Horizon Zero Dawn, Forza Horizon 4, Microsoft Flight Simulator, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Control, Ghostrunner, Resident Evil 7 Biohazard, DOTA 2A, Metro Exodus.

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	101.3	108.9
Valorant	115.1	123.8
Cyberpunk 2077	64.5	69.3
Apex Legends	108.2	116.4
Call of Duty Warzone	86.3	92.8
Overwatch	93.2	100.3
Red Dead Redemption 2	79.4	85.4
DOOM Eternal	57.6	61.9
Warzone	89.8	96.5
Assassin's Creed	96.7	104.0
Valheim	95.5	102.7

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 computers participating in the comparisons not only were the equipped with different video cards and different amounts of RAM. But users also tested them at different screen resolutions: 2K, 4K or FullHD. 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 compare it in one assembly with the video card that is installed in your computer.

Power consumption

M1 Max

332%

Core i9-12900KF

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 i9-12900KF since it has less power consumption: 18W vs. 125W. Power consumption is especially important for laptops. Also, when choosing a processor cooling system, you need 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

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 processor turns on all cores and threads that it has to the maximum to achieve maximum efficiency. You will find out this data from the benchmark tables below. Before you take into account 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 can use only one core to work, and all the advantages 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 i9-12900KF
Cinbench 15 Single-core	313	474
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	1811	4996
Cinbench 20 Single-core	617	792
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	3106	11107
Cinbench 23 Single-core	2360	2809
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	12204	31962

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

	Apple M1 Max	Intel Core i9-12900KF
Single-Core	5344	7320
Multi-Core	34572	54642

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

	Apple M1 Max	Intel Core i9-12900KF
Single-Core	1793	1967
Multi-Core	13028	20514

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 in the future. The same benefits from the presence of overclocking. If the processor can be overclocked, increasing its performance, then it will continue to maintain maximum FPS in new games. Accordingly, you do not need to buy a new CPU to enjoy the games any longer. The economy are obvious!

	Apple M1 Max	Intel Core i9-12900KF
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	12600 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 i9-12900KF is 17% better than M1 Max in terms of CPU frequency. Another difference is that Core i9-12900KF 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 i9-12900KF is better: 29
Although it should be realized that the summary data that you have looked at here do not mean that taking them into account you should entirely trust a simple quantitative comparison. Be sure to watch benchmarks video and read the opinion of of people who bought Apple M1 Max and Intel Core i9-12900KF before making a choice 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 i9-12900KF - all data

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

• Intel Core i9-12900KF specs and review.