Apple M1 Max vs Intel Core i9-12900KS

Processor comparisons   21-10-2022
   Let's say 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 i9-12900KS tests and see which is better for games or simple use for programming, machine learning, streaming, rendering, video editing. Here is useful information from real video editing and streaming tests or various benchmarks. A careful analysis of all the technical characteristics, to make it easier to read, is made by the table.
   From the video comparison, you can get the results of parallel examination in synthetic type tests such as PCMark 10, 3DMark, DaVinci Resolve Studio, Dolphin Emulator, Cinebench 23 (20, 15), WPrime, AIDA64, SuperPi, Blender, GeekBench 6, 5.2, Handbrake, World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, PassMark, Prime95, VeraCrypt, Furmark, MATLAB, RealBench, 7zip, UserBenchmark, Gears 5, Blender.
   And how good the processors are in games:

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

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 i9-12900KS 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 i9-12900KS

73%

This parameter shows the performance of the processors in single-threaded and multi-threaded mode. In this comparison, Core i9-12900KS is 17% better than M1 Max. The data source is several popular tests. More detailed information of the benchmarks is below.

Gaming performance
Summary result of all game benchmarks.

M1 Max

57%

Core i9-12900KS

61%

The maximum result in this parameter is 100 percent, which is the performance of the most powerful processor currently available. 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, just look at the FPS that it produces in real games in the summary table below.
List of other games in which CPU comparisons were performed: Forza Horizon 4, PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG), Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS GO), Resident Evil 7 Biohazard, Ghostrunner, NBA 2K20, Half-Life: Alyx, League of Legends (LOL), Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Hitman 3, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Metro Exodus, Battlefield V, Control, Horizon Zero Dawn, DOTA 2A, Monster Hunter World, Microsoft Flight Simulator.

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	101.3	108.6
Valorant	115.1	123.4
Cyberpunk 2077	64.5	69.1
Apex Legends	108.2	116.0
Call of Duty Warzone	86.3	92.6
Overwatch	93.2	100.0
Red Dead Redemption 2	79.4	85.1
DOOM Eternal	57.6	61.7
Warzone	89.8	96.3
Assassin's Creed	96.7	103.7
Valheim	95.5	102.4

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 comparing not only were the equipped with 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. You will get more accurate information about how powerful 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 i9-12900KS

48%

To make a finishing resolution 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 Max is more energy efficient than the Core i9-12900KS since it has less power consumption: 18W vs. 150W. 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 want to use the processor not only for gaming, but also for video rendering or video editing, programming, streaming, machine learning, then first of all you need to pay attention to the performance in multi-threaded mode. In this mode, to reach maximum efficiency, the processor turns on all threads and cores that it has. You will find out this data from the benchmark tables below. Before using the data from these tests, be sure to check whether the program 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 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 i9-12900KS
Cinbench 15 Single-core	313	669
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	1811	6984
Cinbench 20 Single-core	617	1113
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	3106	15520
Cinbench 23 Single-core	2360	3930
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	12204	44652

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

	Apple M1 Max	Intel Core i9-12900KS
Single-Core	5344	4211
Multi-Core	34572	76561

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

	Apple M1 Max	Intel Core i9-12900KS
Single-Core	1793	2187
Multi-Core	13028	20189

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 i9-12900KS
Announcement date	October 07, 2021	March 27, 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		5.5 MHz
Frequency	3.2 MHz	4 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	150 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	8 MB
L3 cache	48MB	30 MB
Overclocking	No	No
Supports ECC	No	Yes
Part number	APL1105	Expansion Options

In this comparison block, you should pay attention to the differences in clock speed and the number of cores. Here Core i9-12900KS is 19% better than M1 Max in terms of CPU frequency. Another difference is that Core i9-12900KS 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: 6
The number of parameters for which Intel Core i9-12900KS is better: 31
However, it should be understood that the summary data that you have looked at here do not mean that taking them into account you should fully trust a simple quantitative comparison. Better to watch benchmarks video and read the opinion of real owners of Apple M1 Max and Intel Core i9-12900KS 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 i9-12900KS - all data

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

• Intel Core i9-12900KS specs and review.