Apple M2 vs Intel Core i7-12800H

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 i7-12800H tests and decide which is better for games or simple use for machine learning, programming, rendering, video editing, streaming. Here you can find all information from different benchmarks or real video editing and streaming tests. A thorough analysis of all the technical characteristics, to make it easier to read, is summarized in the table.
   From the video comparison, you can get the results of joint testing in synthetic type tests such as Blender, Blender, Gears 5, UserBenchmark, AIDA64, Cinebench 23 (20, 15), Dolphin Emulator, MATLAB, WPrime, 7zip, DaVinci Resolve Studio, 3DMark, PassMark, SuperPi, Handbrake, Furmark, GeekBench 6, 5.2, World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, RealBench, PCMark 10, Prime95, VeraCrypt.
   Gaming performance of CPUs in:

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

After looking at the data these benchmarks and videos, you already be able to know which processor is better to buy for gaming Intel Core i7-12800H 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 i7-12800H

60%

This value shows the performance of the processors in single-threaded and multi-threaded mode. In this comparison, Core i7-12800H is 1% better than M2. 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 i7-12800H

57%

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

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	97.4	101.0
Valorant	110.7	114.7
Cyberpunk 2077	62.0	64.2
Apex Legends	104.1	107.8
Call of Duty Warzone	83.0	86.0
Overwatch	89.7	92.9
Red Dead Redemption 2	76.4	79.2
DOOM Eternal	55.4	57.4
Warzone	86.4	89.5
Assassin's Creed	93.0	96.4
Valheim	91.9	95.2

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 amounts of RAM and different video cards. But users also tested them at different screen resolutions: FullHD, 2K 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 get acquainted with the benchmarks that are made with the same video card that is installed in your computer.

Power consumption

535%

Core i7-12800H

132%

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 i7-12800H as it consumes less power: 12W vs. 45W. Power consumption is especially important for laptops. Also, when choosing a processor cooling system, you must 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

Let's say you plan to use the processor not only for gaming, but also for programming, streaming, machine learning, video editing or video rendering, then the main parameter for you is its performance in multi-threaded mode. In this mode, to achieve maximum performance, the processor includes all threads and cores that it has. You will learn 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 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 i7-12800H
Cinbench 15 Single-core	298	463
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	1586	3376
Cinbench 20 Single-core	558	1106
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	2699	7663
Cinbench 23 Single-core	2057	2589
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	10520	25265

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

	Apple M2	Intel Core i7-12800H
Single-Core	4095	6061
Multi-Core	29665	35372

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

	Apple M2	Intel Core i7-12800H
Single-Core	1929	1793
Multi-Core	9243	12699

Comparison of specifications

In the specification comparison table, the most helpful will be the release date of the processor and the possibility of overclocking it. The later the processor is released, the longer it will last you. And the easier it will be to upgrade the system later. 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 economy are obvious!

	Apple M2	Intel Core i7-12800H
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		4.8 MHz
Frequency	3.49 MHz	3.7 MHz
Cores	8	14
Threads	8	20
Bus rate		8 GT/s
Bit	64	64
Lithography	5 nm	7 nm
Transistors count	20000 millions	10200 millions
Power consumption (TDP)	12 W	45 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		51.2 GB/s
L1 cache	2MB
L2 cache	12MB
L3 cache	16MB	24 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 i7-12800H is 5% better than M2 in terms of CPU frequency. Another difference is that Core i7-12800H has 6 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: 8
The number of parameters for which Intel Core i7-12800H is better: 29
However, it should be realized that the summary data in the table above do not mean that taking them into account you should fully trust a simple comparison of these numbers. Better to watch benchmarks video and read the opinion of real owners of Apple M2 and Intel Core i7-12800H before making a selection which CPU to buy for gaming and which not.

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 i7-12800H - all data

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

• Intel Core i7-12800H specs and review.