Apple M2 Max vs Intel Core i7-12700H

Processor comparisons   22-10-2022
   For example you can't decide which CPU to buy, you can make a choice after reading the comprehensive tests Apple M2 Max vs Intel Core i7-12700H and decide which is better for games or simple use for programming, streaming, machine learning, video editing, rendering. Here you can find useful information from real streaming and video editing tests or different benchmarks. A step-by-step analysis of all the specifications, to make it easier to read, is summarized in the table.
   From the video comparison, you can get the results of parallel examination in synthetic type tests like Dolphin Emulator, AIDA64, Handbrake, PCMark 10, Blender, UserBenchmark, GeekBench 6, 5.2, DaVinci Resolve Studio, Furmark, Gears 5, 7zip, 3DMark, PassMark, VeraCrypt, Cinebench 23 (20, 15), World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, MATLAB, SuperPi, WPrime, RealBench, Prime95, Blender.
   Gaming performance of CPUs in:

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

After reading the results these benchmarks and videos, you already be able to understand which processor is better to buy for gaming Intel Core i7-12700H 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 i7-12700H

59%

The number of this parameter shows the performance of the processors in single-threaded and multi-threaded mode. In this comparison, M2 Max is 4% better than Core i7-12700H. 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 i7-12700H

57%

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

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	106.0	100.8
Valorant	120.4	114.5
Cyberpunk 2077	67.4	64.1
Apex Legends	113.2	107.7
Call of Duty Warzone	90.3	85.9
Overwatch	97.5	92.8
Red Dead Redemption 2	83.1	79.0
DOOM Eternal	60.2	57.3
Warzone	93.9	89.3
Assassin's Creed	101.2	96.2
Valheim	99.9	95.1

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 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. You will get more accurate information about how powerful 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

M2 Max

465%

Core i7-12700H

148%

To make a final resolution 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 M2 Max is more energy efficient than the Core i7-12700H as it consumes less power: 15W vs. 40W. Power consumption is especially important for laptops. Also, when choosing a processor cooling system, you need to know its TDP. It is necessary to count so that the TDP data specified in the cooler specification is greater than the TDP of the compared processor.

Software benchmarks

For example you plan to use the processor not only for gaming, but also for video editing or video rendering, programming, machine learning, streaming, then the main parameter for you is its performance in multi-threaded mode. In this mode, to achieve 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. Because there are still many programs that use only one core to run, 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 M2 Max	Intel Core i7-12700H
Cinbench 15 Single-core	389	401
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	2220	2932
Cinbench 20 Single-core	761	961
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	3801	6658
Cinbench 23 Single-core	2204	2248
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	17142	21949

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

	Apple M2 Max	Intel Core i7-12700H
Single-Core	6536	5265
Multi-Core	42246	30728

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

	Apple M2 Max	Intel Core i7-12700H
Single-Core	2096	1776
Multi-Core	17617	12529

Comparison of specifications

In the specification comparison table, the most useful will be the the possibility of overclocking it and release date of the processor. 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 can be said about overclocking. When the processor can be overclocked, increasing its performance, then it will still be able to produce maximum FPS in the newest games. The economy are obvious! Accordingly, there is no longer a need to buy a new CPU to enjoy the games any longer.

	Apple M2 Max	Intel Core i7-12700H
Announcement date	October 20, 2022	January 07, 2022
Type	Desktop;Laptop	Laptop
Socket	M2	FCBGA1744
Core name	8x Avalanche and 4x Blizzard	Alder Lake
Architecture	hybrid (big.LITTLE)	x86
Generation	2	12
Turbo Frequency		4.7 MHz
Frequency	3.49 MHz	3.5 MHz
Cores	12	14
Threads	12	20
Bus rate		8 GT/s
Bit	64	64
Lithography	4 nm	7 nm
Transistors count	68000 millions	10200 millions
Power consumption (TDP)	15 W	40 W
Memory type	LPDDR5 - Up to 6400MHz	Up to DDR5 4800 MT/s Up to DDR4 3200 MT/s Up to LPDDR5 5200 MT/s Up to LPDDR4x 4267 MT/s
Max. Memory	64 Gb	64 Gb
Memory Frequency	6400
Memory bandwidth	412 GByte/s	45.8 GB/s
L1 cache	4MB
L2 cache	24MB
L3 cache	48MB	24 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 Core i7-12700H is 0% better than M2 Max in terms of CPU frequency. Another difference is that Core i7-12700H has 2 more core than M2 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 M2 Max is better: 23
The number of parameters for which Intel Core i7-12700H is better: 13
Although it should be understood that all the number in the table above do not mean that taking them into account you should undividedly trust a simple comparison of these figures. Better to watch the testing video and read the reviews of real owners of Apple M2 Max and Intel Core i7-12700H before making a selection 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 i7-12700H - all data

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

• Intel Core i7-12700H specs and review.