Apple M2 vs Intel Core i5-11600KF

Processor comparisons   20-10-2022
   Let's say you are thinking about choosing a CPU, you will be able to make a choice after reading the comprehensive tests Apple M2 vs Intel Core i5-11600KF and see which is better for games or simple use for streaming, rendering, programming, video editing, machine learning. Here is all information from several benchmarks or real streaming and video editing tests. A careful review of all the specifications, to make it easier to read, is made by the table.
   From the video comparison, you can get the results of parallel examination in special test applications such as Furmark, PassMark, Blender, SuperPi, WPrime, VeraCrypt, AIDA64, RealBench, PCMark 10, Gears 5, MATLAB, Blender, GeekBench 6, 5.2, DaVinci Resolve Studio, 3DMark, Handbrake, UserBenchmark, Cinebench 23 (20, 15), Prime95, World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, 7zip, Dolphin Emulator.
   Gaming performance of processors in:

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

After looking at the data these benchmarks and videos, you already be able to know which CPU is better to buy for gaming Intel Core i5-11600KF 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 i5-11600KF

56%

The number of this parameter shows the performance of the processors in single-threaded and multi-threaded mode. In this comparison, M2 is 5% better than Core i5-11600KF. The data source is several popular tests. Detailed information can be found below.

Gaming performance
Summary result of all game benchmarks.

55%

Core i5-11600KF

54%

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

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	97.4	95.1
Valorant	110.7	108.0
Cyberpunk 2077	62.0	60.5
Apex Legends	104.1	101.6
Call of Duty Warzone	83.0	81.0
Overwatch	89.7	87.5
Red Dead Redemption 2	76.4	74.6
DOOM Eternal	55.4	54.0
Warzone	86.4	84.3
Assassin's Creed	93.0	90.8
Valheim	91.9	89.7

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 tested computers not only did they have different video cards and different amounts of RAM. But users also tested them at different screen resolutions: 2K, FullHD or 4K. 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 get acquainted with the benchmarks that are made with the same video card that is installed in your computer.

Power consumption

535%

Core i5-11600KF

42%

To make a final decision 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 is more energy efficient than the Core i5-11600KF as it consumes less power: 12W vs. 125W. 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

If you want to use the processor not only for gaming, but also for machine learning, video rendering or video editing, programming, streaming, then the main parameter for you is its performance in multi-threaded mode. In this mode, the CPU uses all cores and threads that it has to the maximum to reach maximum performance. 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 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 work, and all the benefit 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	Intel Core i5-11600KF
Cinbench 15 Single-core	298	197
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	1586	1886
Cinbench 20 Single-core	558	460
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	2699	4227
Cinbench 23 Single-core	2057	1201
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	10520	11189

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

	Apple M2	Intel Core i5-11600KF
Single-Core	4095	2680
Multi-Core	29665	20410

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

	Apple M2	Intel Core i5-11600KF
Single-Core	1929	1605
Multi-Core	9243	6942

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 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. The economy are obvious! Accordingly, you do not need to buy a new CPU to enjoy the games any longer.

	Apple M2	Intel Core i5-11600KF
Announcement date	October 18, 2022	January 20, 2021
Type	Laptop	Desktop
Socket	M2	FCLGA1200
Core name	4 x Avalanche and 4 x Blizzard	Rocket Lake
Architecture	hybrid (big.LITTLE)	x86
Generation	2	11
Turbo Frequency		4.9 MHz
Frequency	3.49 MHz	3.9 MHz
Cores	8	6
Threads	8	12
Bus rate		8 GT/s
Bit	64	64
Lithography	5 nm	14 nm
Transistors count	20000 millions	5400 millions
Power consumption (TDP)	12 W	125 W
Memory type	LPDDR5 - Up to 6400MHz	DDR4-3200
Max. Memory		128 Gb
Memory Frequency	2400	3200
Memory bandwidth		50 GB/s
L1 cache	2MB
L2 cache	12MB	3 MB
L3 cache	16MB	12 MB
Overclocking	No	Yes
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 i5-11600KF is 10% better than M2 in terms of CPU frequency. Another difference is that M2 has 2 more core than Core i5-11600KF. 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: 25
The number of parameters for which Intel Core i5-11600KF is better: 13
However, it should be understood that the summary data in the text 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 opinion of real owners of Apple M2 and Intel Core i5-11600KF before deciding which of the processors 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 i5-11600KF - all data

• Overwatch gaming benchmark
• Fortnite gaming benchmark
• GTA 5 gaming benchmark
• Apex Legends gaming benchmark
• Assassin's Creed gaming benchmark
• Roblox gaming benchmark
• Cyberpunk 2077 gaming benchmark
• Call of Duty: Warzone gaming benchmark
• Cinebench r15 score
• Cinebench r20 score
• Cinebench r23 score
• GeekBench 6, 5.2 score

• Intel Core i5-11600KF specs and review.