Apple M2 Max vs Intel Core i7-12700KF

Processor comparisons 22-10-2022

   Perhaps you are thinking about choosing a CPU, you will be able to make a decision after reading the detailed tests Apple M2 Max vs Intel Core i7-12700KF and understand which is better for games or normal use for machine learning, programming, streaming, video editing, rendering. Here is useful information from many benchmarks or real streaming and video editing tests. A thorough analysis of all the specifications, to make it easier to understand, is summarized in the table.
   From the comparison video, you can get the results of parallel examination in special test applications like AIDA64, Blender, Handbrake, MATLAB, GeekBench 6, 5.2, PassMark, 3DMark, Furmark, Prime95, DaVinci Resolve Studio, RealBench, 7zip, Blender, Dolphin Emulator, VeraCrypt, WPrime, PCMark 10, Cinebench 23 (20, 15), UserBenchmark, Gears 5, SuperPi, World of Tanks enCore Benchmark.
   Gaming performance of CPUs in:

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

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

63%

This parameter shows the performance of the processors in single-threaded and multi-threaded mode. In this comparison, Core i7-12700KF is 1% better than M2 Max. The data source is several popular tests. More detailed information of the benchmarks is below.

Gaming performance
Summary result of all game benchmarks.

M2 Max

60%

Core i7-12700KF

59%

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

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	106.0	105.1
Valorant	120.4	119.4
Cyberpunk 2077	67.4	66.9
Apex Legends	113.2	112.3
Call of Duty Warzone	90.3	89.6
Overwatch	97.5	96.7
Red Dead Redemption 2	83.1	82.4
DOOM Eternal	60.2	59.7
Warzone	93.9	93.1
Assassin's Creed	101.2	100.3
Valheim	99.9	99.1

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 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 i7-12700KF

57%

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 i7-12700KF since it has less power consumption: 15W vs. 125W. Power consumption is especially important for laptops. Also, when choosing a processor cooling system, you need to know its TDP. 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

For example you want to use the processor not only for gaming, but also for streaming, programming, video rendering or video editing, machine learning, then first of all you need to pay attention to the performance in multi-threaded mode. In this mode, the processor includes all cores and threads that it has to the maximum to reach maximum performance. 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 can use only one core to run, 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 M2 Max	Intel Core i7-12700KF
Cinbench 15 Single-core	389	563
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	2220	4104
Cinbench 20 Single-core	761	1344
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	3801	9314
Cinbench 23 Single-core	2204	3147
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	17142	30705

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

	Apple M2 Max	Intel Core i7-12700KF
Single-Core	6536	7367
Multi-Core	42246	42989

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

	Apple M2 Max	Intel Core i7-12700KF
Single-Core	2096	2161
Multi-Core	17617	16755

Comparison of specifications

In the specification comparison table, the most useful will be the release date of the processor and the possibility of overclocking it. The newer the processor, the longer it will last in your computer. And the easier it will be to upgrade the system later. The same can be said about overclocking. If the processor can be overclocked, increasing its performance, then it will still be able to produce maximum FPS in the newest games. The savings 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 i7-12700KF
Announcement date	October 20, 2022	January 07, 2022
Type	Desktop;Laptop	Desktop
Socket	M2	FCLGA1700
Core name	8x Avalanche and 4x Blizzard	Alder Lake
Architecture	hybrid (big.LITTLE)	x86
Generation	2	12
Turbo Frequency		5 MHz
Frequency	3.49 MHz	3.8 MHz
Cores	12	12
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	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
Memory bandwidth	412 GByte/s	76.8 GB/s
L1 cache	4MB
L2 cache	24MB	12 MB
L3 cache	48MB	25 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 i7-12700KF is 8% better than M2 Max in terms of CPU frequency. 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: 20
The number of parameters for which Intel Core i7-12700KF is better: 16
However, it should be realized that the summary data in the table above do not mean that you should be guided entirely by them and trust a simple comparison of these numbers. Better to watch the testing video and read the opinion of of people who bought Apple M2 Max and Intel Core i7-12700KF 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 i7-12700KF - all data

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

• Intel Core i7-12700KF specs and review.