Apple M2 Max vs Intel Core i9-12900K

Processor comparisons   22-10-2022
   Perhaps you are thinking about choosing a CPU, you will be able to make a decision by looking at the Apple M2 Max vs Intel Core i9-12900K tests and understand which is better for games or simple use for machine learning, streaming, programming, video editing, rendering. Here you can find useful information from several benchmarks or real streaming and video editing tests. A careful analysis of all the technical characteristics, to make it easier to read, is presented in the form of the table.
   From the comparison video, you can get the results of parallel examination in special testing software like Prime95, DaVinci Resolve Studio, VeraCrypt, AIDA64, Blender, Handbrake, GeekBench 6, 5.2, Gears 5, WPrime, 3DMark, SuperPi, PCMark 10, Cinebench 23 (20, 15), RealBench, Furmark, PassMark, World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, Blender, UserBenchmark, Dolphin Emulator, 7zip, MATLAB.
   Gaming performance of CPUs in:

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

After reading the results of joint benchmarks and videos, you already be able to understand which CPU is better to buy for gaming Intel Core i9-12900K 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 i9-12900K

67%

This value shows the performance of the processors in single-threaded and multi-threaded mode. In this comparison, Core i9-12900K is 7% better than M2 Max. 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 i9-12900K

64%

For the maximum in this test, the results of the most powerful processor in the site database are taken. And of course, 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 little game result, look at the FPS that it produces in real games in the summary table below.
List of less popular games in which CPU comparisons were performed: NBA 2K20, Microsoft Flight Simulator, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Control, Ghostrunner, Battlefield V, Forza Horizon 4, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Hitman 3, DOTA 2A, Metro Exodus, Half-Life: Alyx, Monster Hunter World, League of Legends (LOL), PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG), Resident Evil 7 Biohazard, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS GO), Horizon Zero Dawn.

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	106.0	113.8
Valorant	120.4	129.3
Cyberpunk 2077	67.4	72.4
Apex Legends	113.2	121.5
Call of Duty Warzone	90.3	97.0
Overwatch	97.5	104.7
Red Dead Redemption 2	83.1	89.2
DOOM Eternal	60.2	64.6
Warzone	93.9	100.8
Assassin's Creed	101.2	108.6
Valheim	99.9	107.3

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 i9-12900K

97%

To make a finishing 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 i9-12900K as it consumes less power: 15W vs. 125W. Power consumption is particularly important for laptops. And TDP should be taken into account when choosing a processor cooling system. 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 programming, video rendering or video editing, streaming, machine learning, then the main parameter for you is its performance in multi-threaded mode. In this mode, the processor includes all threads and cores 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 make sure that the software that you are going to use on your computer can work in multi-threaded mode. Because there are still many programs that can use only one core to work, 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 i9-12900K
Cinbench 15 Single-core	389	489
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	2220	5150
Cinbench 20 Single-core	761	816
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	3801	11450
Cinbench 23 Single-core	2204	2896
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	17142	32950

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

	Apple M2 Max	Intel Core i9-12900K
Single-Core	6536	7546
Multi-Core	42246	56332

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

	Apple M2 Max	Intel Core i9-12900K
Single-Core	2096	3641
Multi-Core	17617	25262

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 in your computer. And the easier it will be to upgrade the system later. The same benefits from the presence of overclocking. When the processor can be overclocked, increasing its performance, then it will continue to maintain maximum FPS in the newest games. The economy are obvious! It turns out that you do not need to buy a new CPU to enjoy the games any longer.

	Apple M2 Max	Intel Core i9-12900K
Announcement date	October 20, 2022	July 21, 2021
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		5.2 MHz
Frequency	3.49 MHz	3.9 MHz
Cores	12	16
Threads	12	24
Bus rate		16 GT/s
Bit	64	64
Lithography	4 nm	7 nm
Transistors count	68000 millions	12400 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	6400
Memory bandwidth	412 GByte/s	76.8 GB/s
L1 cache	4MB	2 MB
L2 cache	24MB	14 MB
L3 cache	48MB	30 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 i9-12900K is 10% better than M2 Max in terms of CPU frequency. Another difference is that Core i9-12900K has 4 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: 7
The number of parameters for which Intel Core i9-12900K is better: 29
Although it should be understood that the summary data in the text above do not mean that you should be guided entirely by them and trust a simple comparison of these figures. Be sure to watch the testing video and read the reviews of real owners of Apple M2 Max and Intel Core i9-12900K before making a choice 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 i9-12900K - all data

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

• Intel Core i9-12900K specs and review.