Apple M2 Max vs Intel Core i9-12900T

Processor comparisons   22-10-2022
   For example you can't decide which CPU to buy, you can make a decision by looking at the Apple M2 Max vs Intel Core i9-12900T tests and decide which is better for games or simple use for video editing, programming, machine learning, streaming, rendering. Here is useful information from real video editing and streaming 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 comparison video, you can get the results of parallel examination in software tests like WPrime, GeekBench 6, 5.2, Prime95, 3DMark, 7zip, UserBenchmark, AIDA64, Furmark, DaVinci Resolve Studio, VeraCrypt, World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, Blender, PCMark 10, Blender, Cinebench 23 (20, 15), Handbrake, Gears 5, Dolphin Emulator, MATLAB, RealBench, SuperPi, PassMark.
   Gaming performance of CPUs in:

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

After looking at the data these benchmarks and videos, you already be able to understand which CPU is better to buy for gaming Intel Core i9-12900T 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 i9-12900T

65%

This parameter shows the performance of the processors in single-threaded and multi-threaded mode. In this comparison, Core i9-12900T is 4% 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 i9-12900T

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

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	106.0	104.0
Valorant	120.4	118.2
Cyberpunk 2077	67.4	66.2
Apex Legends	113.2	111.1
Call of Duty Warzone	90.3	88.7
Overwatch	97.5	95.7
Red Dead Redemption 2	83.1	81.6
DOOM Eternal	60.2	59.1
Warzone	93.9	92.2
Assassin's Creed	101.2	99.3
Valheim	99.9	98.1

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: 2K, 4K or FullHD. Therefore, 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 i9-12900T

175%

To make a finishing decision 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 i9-12900T since it has less power consumption: 15W vs. 35W. Power consumption is particularly important for laptops. Also, when choosing a processor cooling system, it will be useful 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

If you plan to use the processor not only for gaming, but also for video rendering or video editing, programming, machine learning, streaming, then the main parameter for you is its performance in multi-threaded mode. In this mode, to achieve maximum performance, the processor uses all cores and threads that it has. You will find out this data from the benchmark tables below. Before you take into account the data from these tests, be sure to check whether the software you are going to use on your computer supports multi-threaded mode. Because there are still many programs that can 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 i9-12900T
Cinbench 15 Single-core	389	436
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	2220	4593
Cinbench 20 Single-core	761	728
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	3801	10212
Cinbench 23 Single-core	2204	2582
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	17142	29385

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

	Apple M2 Max	Intel Core i9-12900T
Single-Core	6536	6730
Multi-Core	42246	50237

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

	Apple M2 Max	Intel Core i9-12900T
Single-Core	2096	1847
Multi-Core	17617	15707

Comparison of specifications

In the specification comparison table, the processor release date and overclocking capability will be the most helpful. The later the processor is released, the longer it will last you. 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 new games. It turns out that you do not need to buy a new CPU to enjoy the games any longer. The economy are obvious!

	Apple M2 Max	Intel Core i9-12900T
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		4.9 MHz
Frequency	3.49 MHz	3.6 MHz
Cores	12	16
Threads	12	24
Bus rate		16 GT/s
Bit	64	64
Lithography	4 nm	7 nm
Transistors count	68000 millions	12600 millions
Power consumption (TDP)	15 W	35 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	12 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 i9-12900T is 3% better than M2 Max in terms of CPU frequency. Another difference is that Core i9-12900T 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: 21
The number of parameters for which Intel Core i9-12900T is better: 15
However, it should be realized that all the data in the article above do not mean that taking them into account you should fully trust a simple comparison of these figures. Better to watch the video tests and read the reviews of of people who bought Apple M2 Max and Intel Core i9-12900T before making a decision 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 i9-12900T - all data

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

• Intel Core i9-12900T specs and review.