Apple M2 Max vs Intel Core i9-12900TE

Processor comparisons 22-10-2022

   Let's say you can't decide which CPU to buy, you can make a decision after reading the full tests Apple M2 Max vs Intel Core i9-12900TE and understand which is better for games or simple use for streaming, programming, machine learning, rendering, video editing. Here is all information from real video editing and streaming tests or different benchmarks. A thorough review of all the technical characteristics, so that it can be easier to understand, is presented in the form of the table.
   From the video comparison, you can get the results of parallel examination in software tests such as 3DMark, WPrime, UserBenchmark, Handbrake, GeekBench 6, 5.2, MATLAB, 7zip, World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, Dolphin Emulator, Gears 5, RealBench, Prime95, PCMark 10, AIDA64, Blender, PassMark, DaVinci Resolve Studio, VeraCrypt, Blender, SuperPi, Furmark, Cinebench 23 (20, 15).
   Gaming performance of processors in:

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

After looking at the data of all benchmarks and videos, you already be able to know which CPU is better to buy for gaming Intel Core i9-12900TE 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 i9-12900TE

65%

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

59%

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 play games. Because this processor costs several tens of thousands of dollars. Therefore, if you think that the selected CPU has a little 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: DOTA 2A, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Battlefield V, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Resident Evil 7 Biohazard, Forza Horizon 4, League of Legends (LOL), Half-Life: Alyx, PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG), Microsoft Flight Simulator, Horizon Zero Dawn, NBA 2K20, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS GO), Metro Exodus, Ghostrunner, Control, Hitman 3, Monster Hunter World.

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	106.0	103.9
Valorant	120.4	118.0
Cyberpunk 2077	67.4	66.1
Apex Legends	113.2	110.9
Call of Duty Warzone	90.3	88.5
Overwatch	97.5	95.6
Red Dead Redemption 2	83.1	81.4
DOOM Eternal	60.2	59.0
Warzone	93.9	92.1
Assassin's Creed	101.2	99.1
Valheim	99.9	98.0

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 participating in the comparisons not only were the equipped with different video cards and different amounts of RAM. But users also tested them at different screen resolutions: 4K, 2K 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 i9-12900TE

174%

To make a finishing decision on which processor is better, you should also consider the generation of its core. It is clear that the newer the generation, the better the performance of the processor in games and benchmarks, as well as its energy efficiency. In this case the M2 Max is more energy efficient than the Core i9-12900TE since it has less power consumption: 15W vs. 35W. Power consumption is particularly important for laptops. Also, when choosing a processor cooling system, you must 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

Let's say you plan to use the processor not only for gaming, but also for streaming, programming, machine learning, video editing or video rendering, then the main parameter for you is its performance in multi-threaded mode. In this mode, to reach maximum efficiency, the processor includes all cores and threads 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 software 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 i9-12900TE
Cinbench 15 Single-core	389	432
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	2220	4547
Cinbench 20 Single-core	761	721
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	3801	10110
Cinbench 23 Single-core	2204	2556
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	17142	29091

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

	Apple M2 Max	Intel Core i9-12900TE
Single-Core	6536	6663
Multi-Core	42246	49735

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

	Apple M2 Max	Intel Core i9-12900TE
Single-Core	2096	1829
Multi-Core	17617	15550

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 in your computer. And the easier it will be to upgrade the system in the future. The same can be said about overclocking. If the processor can be overclocked, thereby increasing its performance, then it will continue to maintain maximum FPS in new games. The economy are obvious! It turns out that there is no longer a need to buy a new CPU to enjoy the games any longer.

	Apple M2 Max	Intel Core i9-12900TE
Announcement date	October 20, 2022	July 21, 2021
Type	Desktop;Laptop	Embedded
Socket	M2	FCLGA1700
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	3.6 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	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 i9-12900TE is 3% better than M2 Max in terms of CPU frequency. Another difference is that Core i9-12900TE 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 i9-12900TE is better: 15
Although it should be realized that all the figures in the table 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 video tests and read the reviews of real owners of Apple M2 Max and Intel Core i9-12900TE 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 i9-12900TE - all data

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

• Intel Core i9-12900TE specs and review.