Apple M2 Pro vs Intel Core i7-12700F

Processor comparisons   22-10-2022
   For example you are thinking about choosing a CPU, you will be able to make a choice after reading the full tests Apple M2 Pro vs Intel Core i7-12700F and decide which is better for games or normal use for video editing, streaming, machine learning, programming, rendering. Here is all information from many benchmarks or real streaming and video editing tests. A careful analysis of all the technical characteristics, to make it easier to read, is summarized in the table.
   From the comparison video, you can get the results of parallel examination in synthetic type tests like Blender, WPrime, Furmark, PCMark 10, 7zip, Cinebench 23 (20, 15), PassMark, GeekBench 6, 5.2, Handbrake, UserBenchmark, RealBench, AIDA64, Prime95, World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, 3DMark, VeraCrypt, Dolphin Emulator, Gears 5, MATLAB, SuperPi, DaVinci Resolve Studio, Blender.
   Gaming performance of processors in:

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

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 i7-12700F 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 i7-12700F

59%

This value shows the performance of the processors in single-threaded and multi-threaded mode. In this comparison, M2 Pro is 3% better than Core i7-12700F. 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 i7-12700F

57%

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 play games. Because this processor costs several tens of thousands of dollars. Therefore, if you think that the selected CPU has a small game result, just look at the FPS that it produces in real games in the summary table below.
List of other games in which CPU comparisons were performed: Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS GO), The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Monster Hunter World, Ghostrunner, Resident Evil 7 Biohazard, Hitman 3, Microsoft Flight Simulator, NBA 2K20, Metro Exodus, Half-Life: Alyx, Battlefield V, Horizon Zero Dawn, League of Legends (LOL), DOTA 2A, PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG), Forza Horizon 4, Control.

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	104.8	101.0
Valorant	119.1	114.8
Cyberpunk 2077	66.7	64.3
Apex Legends	111.9	107.9
Call of Duty Warzone	89.3	86.1
Overwatch	96.5	93.0
Red Dead Redemption 2	82.2	79.2
DOOM Eternal	59.5	57.4
Warzone	92.9	89.5
Assassin's Creed	100.0	96.4
Valheim	98.8	95.3

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 Pro

496%

Core i7-12700F

93%

To make a finishing resolution 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 Pro is more energy efficient than the Core i7-12700F as it consumes less power: 14W vs. 65W. 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 count so that the TDP data specified in the cooler specification is greater than the TDP of the compared processor.

Software benchmarks

Let's say you want to use the processor not only for gaming, but also for streaming, machine learning, 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 includes all cores and threads that it has to the maximum to achieve maximum performance. You will learn 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. Because there are still many programs that can use only one core to run, and all the advantages 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 i7-12700F
Cinbench 15 Single-core	366	422
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	2078	3076
Cinbench 20 Single-core	714	1008
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	3555	6981
Cinbench 23 Single-core	2063	2358
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	16023	23014

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

	Apple M2 Pro	Intel Core i7-12700F
Single-Core	6111	5522
Multi-Core	39485	32222

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

	Apple M2 Pro	Intel Core i7-12700F
Single-Core	2085	1817
Multi-Core	16467	12764

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 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 benefits from the presence of overclocking. When the processor can be overclocked, thereby increasing its performance, then it will continue to maintain maximum FPS in new games. Accordingly, you do not need to buy a new CPU to enjoy the games any longer. The savings are obvious!

	Apple M2 Pro	Intel Core i7-12700F
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		4.9 MHz
Frequency	3.49 MHz	3.6 MHz
Cores	12	12
Threads	12	20
Bus rate		8 GT/s
Bit	64	64
Lithography	4 nm	7 nm
Transistors count	42000 millions	10200 millions
Power consumption (TDP)	14 W	65 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	12 MB
L3 cache	36MB	25 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 i7-12700F is 3% better than M2 Pro in terms of CPU frequency. 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: 23
The number of parameters for which Intel Core i7-12700F is better: 13
Although it should be understood that all the number that you have looked at here do not mean that taking them into account you should completely trust a simple comparison of these numbers. Better to watch the video tests and read the opinion of real owners of Apple M2 Pro and Intel Core i7-12700F before deciding which CPU to buy for gaming and which not.

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 i7-12700F - all data

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

• Intel Core i7-12700F specs and review.