Apple M2 vs Intel Core i5-12600HX

Processor comparisons   20-10-2022
   If you are thinking about choosing a processor, you will be able to make a choice after reading the detailed tests Apple M2 vs Intel Core i5-12600HX and see which is better for games or simple use for programming, rendering, streaming, machine learning, video editing. Here is all information from different benchmarks or real streaming and video editing tests. A careful review of all the specifications, so that it can be easier to understand, is made by the table.
   From the video comparison, you can get the results of parallel examination in software tests like DaVinci Resolve Studio, VeraCrypt, PassMark, WPrime, AIDA64, SuperPi, Blender, Furmark, World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, 3DMark, Gears 5, Blender, MATLAB, UserBenchmark, 7zip, Dolphin Emulator, GeekBench 6, 5.2, PCMark 10, Handbrake, Cinebench 23 (20, 15), RealBench, Prime95.
   Gaming performance of CPUs in:

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

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

57%

This value shows the performance of the processors in single-threaded and multi-threaded mode. In this comparison, M2 is 3% better than Core i5-12600HX. The data source is several popular tests. Detailed information can be found below.

Gaming performance
Summary result of all game benchmarks.

55%

Core i5-12600HX

54%

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

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	97.4	96.3
Valorant	110.7	109.5
Cyberpunk 2077	62.0	61.3
Apex Legends	104.1	102.9
Call of Duty Warzone	83.0	82.1
Overwatch	89.7	88.7
Red Dead Redemption 2	76.4	75.5
DOOM Eternal	55.4	54.7
Warzone	86.4	85.4
Assassin's Creed	93.0	92.0
Valheim	91.9	90.9

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: 2K, FullHD or 4K. 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 i5-12600HX

113%

To make a finishing 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 i5-12600HX since it has less power consumption: 12W vs. 55W. Power consumption is especially important for laptops. Also, when choosing a processor cooling system, you must 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

For example you plan to use the processor not only for gaming, but also for programming, video rendering or video editing, streaming, machine learning, then the main parameter for you is its performance in multi-threaded mode. In this mode, the processor includes all threads and cores 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 software 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 work, 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	Intel Core i5-12600HX
Cinbench 15 Single-core	298	343
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	1586	2450
Cinbench 20 Single-core	558	808
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	2699	5554
Cinbench 23 Single-core	2057	1880
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	10520	18289

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

	Apple M2	Intel Core i5-12600HX
Single-Core	4095	4393
Multi-Core	29665	25601

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

	Apple M2	Intel Core i5-12600HX
Single-Core	1929	1875
Multi-Core	9243	8167

Comparison of specifications

In the specification comparison table, the most useful will be the release date of the processor and the possibility of overclocking it. The newer the processor, the longer it will last you. And the easier it will be to upgrade the system later. The same benefits from the presence of overclocking. If the processor can be overclocked, increasing its performance, then it will still be able to produce 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	Intel Core i5-12600HX
Announcement date	October 18, 2022	June 12, 2022
Type	Laptop	Laptop
Socket	M2	FCBGA1964
Core name	4 x Avalanche and 4 x Blizzard	Alder Lake
Architecture	hybrid (big.LITTLE)	x86
Generation	2	12
Turbo Frequency		4.6 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	55 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
L3 cache	16MB	18 MB
Overclocking	No	No
Supports ECC	No	Yes
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 i5-12600HX in terms of CPU frequency. Another difference is that Core i5-12600HX 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: 23
The number of parameters for which Intel Core i5-12600HX is better: 15
However, it should be understood that the summary data in the table above do not mean that you should be guided entirely by them and trust a simple comparison of these figures. Better to watch benchmarks video and read the reviews of of people who bought Apple M2 and Intel Core i5-12600HX 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 i5-12600HX - all data

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

• Intel Core i5-12600HX specs and review.