Apple M2 Max vs Intel Core i5-12400

Processor comparisons 22-10-2022

   If you can't decide which CPU to buy, you can make a choice by looking at the Apple M2 Max vs Intel Core i5-12400 tests and understand which is better for games or simple use for streaming, programming, rendering, video editing, machine learning. Here you can find all information from real streaming and video editing tests or many benchmarks. A step-by-step analysis of all the technical characteristics, so that it can be easier to understand, is summarized in the table.
   From the video comparison, you can get the results of parallel examination in special test applications like Handbrake, 7zip, Blender, Cinebench 23 (20, 15), SuperPi, MATLAB, Gears 5, Blender, WPrime, World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, UserBenchmark, PCMark 10, 3DMark, DaVinci Resolve Studio, AIDA64, Furmark, GeekBench 6, 5.2, PassMark, Dolphin Emulator, VeraCrypt, RealBench, Prime95.
   Gaming performance of processors in:

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

After looking at the data of parallel benchmarks and videos, you already be able to understand which processor is better to buy for gaming Intel Core i5-12400 or Apple M2 Max.

Summary benchmark results

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

M2 Max

62%

Core i5-12400

57%

This value shows the performance of the processors in single-threaded and multi-threaded mode. In this comparison, M2 Max is 8% better than Core i5-12400. The data source is several popular tests. Detailed information can be found below.

Gaming performance
Summary result of all game benchmarks.

M2 Max

60%

Core i5-12400

55%

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 play 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 processors were compared: Metro Exodus, NBA 2K20, Microsoft Flight Simulator, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Control, Monster Hunter World, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS GO), League of Legends (LOL), Hitman 3, DOTA 2A, Ghostrunner, Resident Evil 7 Biohazard, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Battlefield V, Forza Horizon 4, Horizon Zero Dawn, Half-Life: Alyx, PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG).

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	106.0	97.5
Valorant	120.4	110.8
Cyberpunk 2077	67.4	62.0
Apex Legends	113.2	104.1
Call of Duty Warzone	90.3	83.1
Overwatch	97.5	89.7
Red Dead Redemption 2	83.1	76.4
DOOM Eternal	60.2	55.4
Warzone	93.9	86.4
Assassin's Creed	101.2	93.0
Valheim	99.9	91.9

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 amounts of RAM and different video cards. But users also tested them at different screen resolutions: FullHD, 2K or 4K. 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

M2 Max

465%

Core i5-12400

91%

To make a final 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 M2 Max is more energy efficient than the Core i5-12400 since it has less power consumption: 15W vs. 65W. Power consumption is especially important for laptops. And TDP should be taken into account when choosing a processor cooling system. 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

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 CPU includes all cores and threads that it has to the maximum to achieve maximum efficiency. You will learn this data from the benchmark tables below. Before using the data from these tests, be sure to check whether the software 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 turns out to be unnecessary.

Cinebench 23, 20 an 15
The results of this benchmark show Single-threaded and Multi-threaded CPU performance

	Apple M2 Max	Intel Core i5-12400
Cinbench 15 Single-core	389	337
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	2220	2465
Cinbench 20 Single-core	761	808
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	3801	5598
Cinbench 23 Single-core	2204	1889
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	17142	18452

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

	Apple M2 Max	Intel Core i5-12400
Single-Core	6536	4427
Multi-Core	42246	25834

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

	Apple M2 Max	Intel Core i5-12400
Single-Core	2096	1785
Multi-Core	17617	9275

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 you. And the easier it will be to upgrade the system in the future. The same benefits from the presence of overclocking. When the processor can be overclocked, thereby increasing its performance, then it will continue to maintain maximum FPS in the newest games. It turns out that there is no longer a need to buy a new CPU to enjoy the games any longer. The savings are obvious!

	Apple M2 Max	Intel Core i5-12400
Announcement date	October 20, 2022	January 07, 2022
Type	Desktop;Laptop	Desktop
Socket	M2	FCBGA1744
Core name	8x Avalanche and 4x Blizzard	Alder Lake
Architecture	hybrid (big.LITTLE)	x86
Generation	2	12
Turbo Frequency		4.4 MHz
Frequency	3.49 MHz	3.3 MHz
Cores	12	6
Threads	12	12
Bus rate		8 GT/s
Bit	64	64
Lithography	4 nm	7 nm
Transistors count	68000 millions	10200 millions
Power consumption (TDP)	15 W	65 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	412 GByte/s	76.8 GB/s
L1 cache	4MB
L2 cache	24MB
L3 cache	48MB	18 MB
Overclocking	No	No
Supports ECC	No	No
Part number

In this comparison block, you should pay attention to the differences in clock speed and the number of cores. Here M2 Max is 5% better than Core i5-12400 in terms of CPU frequency. Another difference is that M2 Max has 6 more core than Core i5-12400. 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 M2 Max is better: 27
The number of parameters for which Intel Core i5-12400 is better: 9
However, it should be realized that the summary data in the text above do not mean that taking them into account you should completely trust a simple comparison of these numbers. Be sure to watch the testing video and read the reviews of real owners of Apple M2 Max and Intel Core i5-12400 before deciding which of the processors to buy for gaming.

Apple M2 Max - all data

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

• Apple M2 Max specs and review.

Intel Core i5-12400 - all data

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

• Intel Core i5-12400 specs and review.