Apple M2 Pro vs Intel Core i5-12600T

Processor comparisons   22-10-2022
   Perhaps you can't decide which CPU to buy, you can make a decision by looking at the Apple M2 Pro vs Intel Core i5-12600T tests and understand which is better for games or simple use for machine learning, rendering, streaming, video editing, programming. Here is all information from different benchmarks or real streaming and video editing tests. A careful review 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 joint testing in software tests such as Handbrake, Cinebench 23 (20, 15), Blender, RealBench, WPrime, Dolphin Emulator, World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, PassMark, PCMark 10, SuperPi, 7zip, 3DMark, Furmark, Gears 5, GeekBench 6, 5.2, AIDA64, DaVinci Resolve Studio, VeraCrypt, Prime95, Blender, MATLAB, UserBenchmark.
   Gaming performance of processors in:

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

After looking at the data of joint benchmarks and videos, you can already make an briefed decision about which CPU is better to buy for gaming Intel Core i5-12600T or Apple M2 Pro.

Summary benchmark results

As a percentage of the maximum value based on a sample from the entire base of all processors
Processor Benchmark

M2 Pro

61%

Core i5-12600T

57%

This parameter shows the performance of the processors in single-threaded and multi-threaded mode. In this comparison, M2 Pro is 6% better than Core i5-12600T. The data source is several popular tests. Detailed information can be found below.

Gaming performance
Summary result of all game benchmarks.

M2 Pro

59%

Core i5-12600T

55%

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. 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 processors were compared: NBA 2K20, DOTA 2A, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Monster Hunter World, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS GO), Microsoft Flight Simulator, Half-Life: Alyx, Forza Horizon 4, PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG), Resident Evil 7 Biohazard, Control, League of Legends (LOL), Ghostrunner, Horizon Zero Dawn, Hitman 3, Metro Exodus, Battlefield V.

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	104.8	97.3
Valorant	119.1	110.6
Cyberpunk 2077	66.7	61.9
Apex Legends	111.9	103.9
Call of Duty Warzone	89.3	82.9
Overwatch	96.5	89.6
Red Dead Redemption 2	82.2	76.3
DOOM Eternal	59.5	55.3
Warzone	92.9	86.2
Assassin's Creed	100.0	92.9
Valheim	98.8	91.8

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 amounts of RAM and different video cards. 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. 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 Pro

496%

Core i5-12600T

172%

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 Pro is more energy efficient than the Core i5-12600T since it has less power consumption: 14W vs. 35W. 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

If you want to use the processor not only for gaming, but also for machine learning, streaming, video editing or video rendering, programming, then the main parameter for you is its performance in multi-threaded mode. In this mode, to achieve maximum performance, the processor uses all threads and cores that it has. You will learn 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 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 Pro	Intel Core i5-12600T
Cinbench 15 Single-core	366	315
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	2078	2302
Cinbench 20 Single-core	714	754
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	3555	5227
Cinbench 23 Single-core	2063	1764
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	16023	17228

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

	Apple M2 Pro	Intel Core i5-12600T
Single-Core	6111	4133
Multi-Core	39485	24119

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

	Apple M2 Pro	Intel Core i5-12600T
Single-Core	2085	1816
Multi-Core	16467	9116

Comparison of specifications

In the specification comparison table, the processor release date and overclocking capability will be the most useful. The later the processor is released, the longer it will last you. And the easier it will be to upgrade the system in the future. The same benefits from the presence of overclocking. If the processor can be overclocked, thereby increasing its performance, then it will continue to maintain maximum FPS even in new 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 Pro	Intel Core i5-12600T
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		4.6 MHz
Frequency	3.49 MHz	3.3 MHz
Cores	12	6
Threads	12	12
Bus rate		8 GT/s
Bit	64	64
Lithography	4 nm	7 nm
Transistors count	42000 millions	10200 millions
Power consumption (TDP)	14 W	35 W
Memory type	LPDDR5 - Up to 6400MHz	Up to DDR5 4800 MT/s Up to DDR4 3200 MT/s
Max. Memory	32 Gb	128 Gb
Memory Frequency	6400
Memory bandwidth	208 GByte/s	76.8 GB/s
L1 cache	4MB
L2 cache	24MB	7.5 MB
L3 cache	36MB	18 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 M2 Pro is 5% better than Core i5-12600T in terms of CPU frequency. Another difference is that M2 Pro has 6 more core than Core i5-12600T. 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 Pro is better: 26
The number of parameters for which Intel Core i5-12600T is better: 10
Although it should be understood that the summary 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 opinion of real owners of Apple M2 Pro and Intel Core i5-12600T before making a selection which of the processors to buy for gaming.

Apple M2 Pro - all data

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

• Apple M2 Pro specs and review.

Intel Core i5-12600T - all data

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

• Intel Core i5-12600T specs and review.