Apple M2 Max vs Intel Core i7-12800H

Processor comparisons   22-10-2022
   If you can't decide which CPU to buy, you can make a decision after reading the comprehensive tests Apple M2 Max vs Intel Core i7-12800H and see which is better for games or simple use for video editing, machine learning, programming, streaming, rendering. Here you can find all information from real streaming and video editing tests or several benchmarks. A thorough analysis of all the specifications, to make it easier to understand, is presented in the form of the table.
   From the video comparison, you can get the results of joint testing in synthetic type tests like RealBench, Blender, Prime95, Handbrake, PCMark 10, GeekBench 6, 5.2, 7zip, 3DMark, PassMark, Cinebench 23 (20, 15), World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, SuperPi, MATLAB, DaVinci Resolve Studio, WPrime, AIDA64, UserBenchmark, Blender, Gears 5, VeraCrypt, Dolphin Emulator, Furmark.
   Gaming performance of CPUs in:

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

After looking at the data these benchmarks and videos, you already be able to know which CPU is better to buy for gaming Intel Core i7-12800H 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 i7-12800H

60%

This value shows the performance of the processors in single-threaded and multi-threaded mode. In this comparison, M2 Max is 3% better than Core i7-12800H. 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 i7-12800H

57%

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

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	106.0	101.0
Valorant	120.4	114.7
Cyberpunk 2077	67.4	64.2
Apex Legends	113.2	107.8
Call of Duty Warzone	90.3	86.0
Overwatch	97.5	92.9
Red Dead Redemption 2	83.1	79.2
DOOM Eternal	60.2	57.4
Warzone	93.9	89.5
Assassin's Creed	101.2	96.4
Valheim	99.9	95.2

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 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. 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

M2 Max

465%

Core i7-12800H

132%

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 i7-12800H as it consumes less power: 15W vs. 45W. 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

If you plan to use the processor not only for gaming, but also for machine learning, streaming, programming, video editing or video rendering, then first of all you need to pay attention to the performance in multi-threaded mode. In this mode, the CPU uses all threads and cores that it has to the maximum to achieve maximum performance. 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 program that you are going to use on your computer can work in 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 M2 Max	Intel Core i7-12800H
Cinbench 15 Single-core	389	463
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	2220	3376
Cinbench 20 Single-core	761	1106
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	3801	7663
Cinbench 23 Single-core	2204	2589
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	17142	25265

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

	Apple M2 Max	Intel Core i7-12800H
Single-Core	6536	6061
Multi-Core	42246	35372

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

	Apple M2 Max	Intel Core i7-12800H
Single-Core	2096	1793
Multi-Core	17617	12699

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 i7-12800H
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		4.8 MHz
Frequency	3.49 MHz	3.7 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	45 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	51.2 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 i7-12800H is 5% better than M2 Max in terms of CPU frequency. Another difference is that Core i7-12800H 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 i7-12800H is better: 13
However, it should be understood that the summary data in the article above do not mean that you should be guided entirely by them and trust a simple quantitative comparison. Better to watch the testing video and read the reviews of real owners of Apple M2 Max and Intel Core i7-12800H before making a selection which processor to buy for gaming and which not.

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 i7-12800H - all data

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

• Intel Core i7-12800H specs and review.