Apple M2 vs Intel Core i9-11900K

Processor comparisons   20-10-2022
   Perhaps you can't decide which processor to buy, you can make a choice after reading the detailed tests Apple M2 vs Intel Core i9-11900K and see which is better for games or simple use for machine learning, video editing, rendering, streaming, programming. Here you can find all information from several benchmarks or real streaming and video editing tests. A careful review of all the technical characteristics, to make it easier to read, is made by the table.
   From the video comparison, you can get the results of parallel examination in software tests like Dolphin Emulator, PCMark 10, Blender, Prime95, Gears 5, World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, Cinebench 23 (20, 15), DaVinci Resolve Studio, Furmark, AIDA64, MATLAB, RealBench, UserBenchmark, VeraCrypt, 3DMark, Handbrake, WPrime, 7zip, PassMark, GeekBench 6, 5.2, Blender, SuperPi.
   Gaming performance of processors in:

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

After reading the results these benchmarks and videos, you already be able to figure out which processor is better to buy for gaming Intel Core i9-11900K 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 i9-11900K

58%

This value shows the performance of the processors in single-threaded and multi-threaded mode. In this comparison, M2 is 1% better than Core i9-11900K. 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 i9-11900K

57%

The maximum result in this parameter is 100 percent, which is the performance of the most powerful processor currently available. 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. 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 summary table below.
List of less popular games in which processors were compared: Control, Metro Exodus, Hitman 3, Resident Evil 7 Biohazard, Forza Horizon 4, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, DOTA 2A, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Monster Hunter World, League of Legends (LOL), Horizon Zero Dawn, PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG), Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS GO), Microsoft Flight Simulator, Battlefield V, Half-Life: Alyx, NBA 2K20, Ghostrunner.

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	97.4	100.9
Valorant	110.7	114.6
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	79.1
DOOM Eternal	55.4	57.3
Warzone	86.4	89.4
Assassin's Creed	93.0	96.3
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 i9-11900K

52%

To make a final decision 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 i9-11900K since it has less power consumption: 12W vs. 125W. Power consumption is especially important for laptops. Also, when choosing a processor cooling system, you need 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 video rendering or video editing, programming, machine learning, streaming, then first of all you need to pay attention to the performance in multi-threaded mode. In this mode, the processor includes all threads and cores that it has to the maximum to reach 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 find out whether the program that you are going to use on your computer can work in multi-threaded mode. Because there are still many programs that use only one core to run, and all the benefit 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 i9-11900K
Cinbench 15 Single-core	298	284
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	1586	2575
Cinbench 20 Single-core	558	636
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	2699	5725
Cinbench 23 Single-core	2057	1653
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	10520	16475

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

	Apple M2	Intel Core i9-11900K
Single-Core	4095	3801
Multi-Core	29665	28166

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

	Apple M2	Intel Core i9-11900K
Single-Core	1929	1961
Multi-Core	9243	12631

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 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. If the processor can be overclocked, increasing its performance, then it will still be able to produce maximum FPS even 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 i9-11900K
Announcement date	October 18, 2022	February 21, 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		5.3 MHz
Frequency	3.49 MHz	3.5 MHz
Cores	8	8
Threads	8	16
Bus rate		8 GT/s
Bit	64	64
Lithography	5 nm	14 nm
Transistors count	20000 millions	9800 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	4 MB
L3 cache	16MB	16 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 i9-11900K is 0% better than M2 in terms of CPU frequency. 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: 10
The number of parameters for which Intel Core i9-11900K is better: 27
Although it should be understood that all the data in the text above do not mean that taking them into account you should undividedly trust a simple quantitative comparison. Be sure to watch the video tests and read the opinion of real owners of Apple M2 and Intel Core i9-11900K before making a decision 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 i9-11900K - all data

• Call of Duty: Warzone gaming benchmark
• Apex Legends gaming benchmark
• GTA 5 gaming benchmark
• Valorant gaming benchmark
• Red Dead Redemption 2 gaming benchmark
• Roblox gaming benchmark
• Overwatch gaming benchmark
• Fortnite gaming benchmark
• Assassin's Creed gaming benchmark
• DOOM Eternal gaming benchmark
• PUBG gaming benchmark
• Cyberpunk 2077 gaming benchmark

• Intel Core i9-11900K specs and review.