Apple M2 vs Intel Core i3-12100F

Processor comparisons 20-10-2022

   For example you are thinking about choosing a CPU, you will be able to make a choice by looking at the Apple M2 vs Intel Core i3-12100F tests and see which is better for games or normal use for rendering, machine learning, video editing, streaming, programming. Here is all information from different benchmarks or real streaming and video editing tests. A careful analysis of all the specifications, to make it easier to understand, is made by the table.
   From the comparison video, you can get the results of parallel examination in software tests like Prime95, RealBench, Blender, PCMark 10, Blender, Gears 5, Cinebench 23 (20, 15), GeekBench 6, 5.2, UserBenchmark, Dolphin Emulator, AIDA64, WPrime, 7zip, Handbrake, SuperPi, Furmark, MATLAB, PassMark, 3DMark, World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, VeraCrypt, DaVinci Resolve Studio.
   Gaming performance of CPUs in:

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

After reading the results of all benchmarks and videos, you already be able to figure out which processor is better to buy for gaming Intel Core i3-12100F or Apple M2.

Summary benchmark results

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

59%

Core i3-12100F

56%

This value shows the performance of the processors in single-threaded and multi-threaded mode. In this comparison, M2 is 5% better than Core i3-12100F. The data source is several popular tests. Detailed information can be found below.

Gaming performance
Summary result of all game benchmarks.

55%

Core i3-12100F

53%

For the maximum in this test, the results of the most powerful processor in the site database are taken. 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 low 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: Microsoft Flight Simulator, Ghostrunner, Half-Life: Alyx, NBA 2K20, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Control, Resident Evil 7 Biohazard, Metro Exodus, PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG), The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS GO), Hitman 3, DOTA 2A, Horizon Zero Dawn, League of Legends (LOL), Battlefield V, Monster Hunter World, Forza Horizon 4.

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	97.4	94.5
Valorant	110.7	107.3
Cyberpunk 2077	62.0	60.1
Apex Legends	104.1	100.9
Call of Duty Warzone	83.0	80.5
Overwatch	89.7	86.9
Red Dead Redemption 2	76.4	74.1
DOOM Eternal	55.4	53.7
Warzone	86.4	83.7
Assassin's Creed	93.0	90.2
Valheim	91.9	89.1

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 computers that were in the comparisons not only did they have different video cards and different amounts of RAM. 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. 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

535%

Core i3-12100F

99%

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 is more energy efficient than the Core i3-12100F since it has less power consumption: 12W vs. 58W. Power consumption is especially 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 editing or video rendering, streaming, programming, machine learning, then the main parameter for you is its performance in multi-threaded mode. In this mode, the processor includes all cores and threads that it has to the maximum to reach maximum efficiency. You will find out this data from the benchmark tables below. Before using the data from these tests, be sure to make sure that the software that you are going to use on your computer can work in multi-threaded mode. Since there are still many programs that 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	Intel Core i3-12100F
Cinbench 15 Single-core	298	267
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	1586	1958
Cinbench 20 Single-core	558	642
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	2699	4447
Cinbench 23 Single-core	2057	1503
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	10520	14658

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

	Apple M2	Intel Core i3-12100F
Single-Core	4095	3516
Multi-Core	29665	20521

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

	Apple M2	Intel Core i3-12100F
Single-Core	1929	1729
Multi-Core	9243	6333

Comparison of specifications

In the specification comparison table, the processor release date and overclocking capability will be the most useful. The newer the processor, the longer it will last you. 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, increasing its performance, then it will still be able to produce maximum FPS even in the newest games. Accordingly, you do not need to buy a new CPU to enjoy the games any longer. The savings are obvious!

	Apple M2	Intel Core i3-12100F
Announcement date	October 18, 2022	January 07, 2022
Type	Laptop	Desktop
Socket	M2	FCLGA1700
Core name	4 x Avalanche and 4 x Blizzard	Alder Lake-U
Architecture	hybrid (big.LITTLE)	x86
Generation	2	12
Turbo Frequency		4.3 MHz
Frequency	3.49 MHz	1 MHz
Cores	8	4
Threads	8	8
Bus rate		8 GT/s
Bit	64	64
Lithography	5 nm	7 nm
Transistors count	20000 millions	9800 millions
Power consumption (TDP)	12 W	58 W
Memory type	LPDDR5 - Up to 6400MHz	Up to DDR5 4800 MT/s Up to DDR4 3200 MT/s
Max. Memory		128 Gb
Memory Frequency	2400
Memory bandwidth		76.8 GB/s
L1 cache	2MB
L2 cache	12MB	5 MB
L3 cache	16MB	12 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 is 71% better than Core i3-12100F in terms of CPU frequency. Another difference is that M2 has 4 more core than Core i3-12100F. 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 is better: 26
The number of parameters for which Intel Core i3-12100F is better: 10
All the data in the table above do not mean that taking them into account you should totally trust a simple comparison of these figures. Be sure to watch benchmarks video and read the reviews of real owners of Apple M2 and Intel Core i3-12100F before making a selection which of the CPUs to buy for gaming.

Apple M2 - all data

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

• Apple M2 specs and review.

Intel Core i3-12100F - all data

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

• Intel Core i3-12100F specs and review.