Apple M2 Pro vs Intel Core i9-12900

Processor comparisons 22-10-2022

   Let's say you can't decide which CPU to buy, you can make a decision after reading the detailed tests Apple M2 Pro vs Intel Core i9-12900 and see which is better for games or simple use for streaming, machine learning, programming, rendering, video editing. Here you can find all information from several benchmarks or real video editing and streaming tests. A thorough analysis of all the specifications, to make it easier to read, is made by the table.
   From the comparison video, you can get the results of parallel examination in software tests like Gears 5, AIDA64, Furmark, VeraCrypt, SuperPi, PassMark, UserBenchmark, 7zip, MATLAB, RealBench, 3DMark, Prime95, GeekBench 6, 5.2, DaVinci Resolve Studio, Cinebench 23 (20, 15), Blender, Handbrake, World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, Dolphin Emulator, PCMark 10, WPrime, Blender.
   Gaming performance of CPUs in:

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

After reading the results these benchmarks and videos, you already be able to know which processor is better to buy for gaming Intel Core i9-12900 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 i9-12900

65%

This value shows the performance of the processors in single-threaded and multi-threaded mode. In this comparison, Core i9-12900 is 6% better than M2 Pro. The data source is several popular tests. More detailed information of the benchmarks is below.

Gaming performance
Summary result of all game benchmarks.

M2 Pro

59%

Core i9-12900

59%

The maximum result in this parameter is 100 percent, which is the performance of the most powerful processor at the moment. And it is clear that 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. Therefore, if you think that the selected CPU has a low game result, just look at the FPS that it produces in real games in the final table below.
List of other games in which processors were compared: Horizon Zero Dawn, Metro Exodus, DOTA 2A, Forza Horizon 4, Resident Evil 7 Biohazard, PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG), NBA 2K20, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Battlefield V, Microsoft Flight Simulator, Monster Hunter World, Hitman 3, League of Legends (LOL), The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Ghostrunner, Control, Half-Life: Alyx, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS GO).

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	104.8	104.3
Valorant	119.1	118.6
Cyberpunk 2077	66.7	66.4
Apex Legends	111.9	111.5
Call of Duty Warzone	89.3	88.9
Overwatch	96.5	96.0
Red Dead Redemption 2	82.2	81.8
DOOM Eternal	59.5	59.3
Warzone	92.9	92.5
Assassin's Creed	100.0	99.6
Valheim	98.8	98.4

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 comparing 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. So 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 compare it in one assembly with the video card that is installed in your computer.

Power consumption

M2 Pro

496%

Core i9-12900

96%

To make a final 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 Pro is more energy efficient than the Core i9-12900 as it consumes less power: 14W vs. 65W. Power consumption is particularly important for laptops. And TDP should be taken into account when choosing a processor cooling system. 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

For example you want to use the processor not only for gaming, but also for machine learning, streaming, video rendering or video editing, programming, then first of all you need to pay attention to the performance in multi-threaded mode. In this mode, to reach maximum performance, the CPU 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 make sure that the program that you are going to use on your computer can work in 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 Pro	Intel Core i9-12900
Cinbench 15 Single-core	366	445
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	2078	4687
Cinbench 20 Single-core	714	743
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	3555	10420
Cinbench 23 Single-core	2063	2635
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	16023	29985

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

	Apple M2 Pro	Intel Core i9-12900
Single-Core	6111	6867
Multi-Core	39485	51262

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

	Apple M2 Pro	Intel Core i9-12900
Single-Core	2085	1885
Multi-Core	16467	16028

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

	Apple M2 Pro	Intel Core i9-12900
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		5.1 MHz
Frequency	3.49 MHz	3.8 MHz
Cores	12	16
Threads	12	24
Bus rate		16 GT/s
Bit	64	64
Lithography	4 nm	7 nm
Transistors count	42000 millions	12600 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	6400
Memory bandwidth	208 GByte/s	76.8 GB/s
L1 cache	4MB	2 MB
L2 cache	24MB	12 MB
L3 cache	36MB	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 i9-12900 is 8% better than M2 Pro in terms of CPU frequency. Another difference is that Core i9-12900 has 4 more core than M2 Pro. 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: 20
The number of parameters for which Intel Core i9-12900 is better: 16
However, it should be understood that all the figures that you have looked at here do not mean that taking them into account you should completely trust a simple quantitative comparison. Be sure to watch the video tests and read the opinion of of people who bought Apple M2 Pro and Intel Core i9-12900 before making a decision 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 i9-12900 - all data

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

• Intel Core i9-12900 specs and review.