Apple M2 vs Intel Core i5-12600H

Processor comparisons 20-10-2022

   For example you are thinking about choosing a CPU, you will be able to make a decision after reading the detailed tests Apple M2 vs Intel Core i5-12600H and see which is better for games or simple use for streaming, video editing, programming, rendering, machine learning. Here is all information from real streaming and video editing tests or different benchmarks. A thorough review of all the specifications, so that it can be easier to read, is made by the table.
   From the video comparison, you can get the results of joint testing in software tests like Blender, WPrime, UserBenchmark, RealBench, PassMark, DaVinci Resolve Studio, VeraCrypt, Cinebench 23 (20, 15), Furmark, Prime95, AIDA64, SuperPi, 3DMark, MATLAB, Dolphin Emulator, Handbrake, Gears 5, PCMark 10, Blender, World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, GeekBench 6, 5.2, 7zip.
   And how good the processors are in games:

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

After looking at the data of parallel benchmarks and videos, you can already make an informed decision about which CPU is better to buy for gaming Intel Core i5-12600H 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 i5-12600H

58%

This parameter shows the performance of the processors in single-threaded and multi-threaded mode. In this comparison, M2 is 1% better than Core i5-12600H. The data source is several popular tests. More detailed information of the benchmarks is below.

Gaming performance
Summary result of all game benchmarks.

55%

Core i5-12600H

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

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	97.4	98.4
Valorant	110.7	111.8
Cyberpunk 2077	62.0	62.6
Apex Legends	104.1	105.1
Call of Duty Warzone	83.0	83.8
Overwatch	89.7	90.5
Red Dead Redemption 2	76.4	77.1
DOOM Eternal	55.4	55.9
Warzone	86.4	87.2
Assassin's Creed	93.0	93.9
Valheim	91.9	92.8

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 tested computers not only did they have different video cards and different amounts of RAM. 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. 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

535%

Core i5-12600H

145%

To make a finishing choice 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 i5-12600H since it has less power consumption: 12W vs. 40W. Power consumption is especially important for laptops. Also, when choosing a processor cooling system, you need to know its TDP. 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

If you want to use the processor not only for gaming, but also for programming, video editing or video rendering, streaming, machine learning, 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 achieve maximum efficiency. 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 program 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 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 i5-12600H
Cinbench 15 Single-core	298	360
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	1586	2626
Cinbench 20 Single-core	558	860
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	2699	5963
Cinbench 23 Single-core	2057	2013
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	10520	19657

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

	Apple M2	Intel Core i5-12600H
Single-Core	4095	4715
Multi-Core	29665	27519

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

	Apple M2	Intel Core i5-12600H
Single-Core	1929	1746
Multi-Core	9243	10166

Comparison of specifications

In the specification comparison table, the most helpful will be the the possibility of overclocking it and release date of the processor. The later the processor is released, the longer it will last in your computer. And the easier it will be to upgrade the system later. The same can be said about overclocking. When the processor can be overclocked, increasing its performance, then it will continue to maintain maximum FPS even in the newest games. The savings are obvious! It turns out that you do not need to buy a new CPU to enjoy the games any longer.

	Apple M2	Intel Core i5-12600H
Announcement date	October 18, 2022	January 07, 2022
Type	Laptop	Laptop
Socket	M2	FCBGA1744
Core name	4 x Avalanche and 4 x Blizzard	Alder Lake
Architecture	hybrid (big.LITTLE)	x86
Generation	2	12
Turbo Frequency		4.5 MHz
Frequency	3.49 MHz	3.3 MHz
Cores	8	12
Threads	8	16
Bus rate		8 GT/s
Bit	64	64
Lithography	5 nm	7 nm
Transistors count	20000 millions	10200 millions
Power consumption (TDP)	12 W	40 W
Memory type	LPDDR5 - Up to 6400MHz	Up to DDR5 4800 MT/s Up to DDR4 3200 MT/s Up to LPDDR5 5200 MT/s Up to LPDDR4x 4267 MT/s
Max. Memory		64 Gb
Memory Frequency	2400
Memory bandwidth		45.8 GB/s
L1 cache	2MB
L2 cache	12MB
L3 cache	16MB	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 is 5% better than Core i5-12600H in terms of CPU frequency. Another difference is that Core i5-12600H has 4 more core than M2. 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: 11
The number of parameters for which Intel Core i5-12600H is better: 26
However, it should be realized that all the number in the text above do not mean that taking them into account you should undividedly trust a simple comparison of these figures. Better to watch benchmarks video and read the opinion of real owners of Apple M2 and Intel Core i5-12600H 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 i5-12600H - all data

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

• Intel Core i5-12600H specs and review.