Apple M2 vs Intel Core i9-13900KF

Processor comparisons 20-10-2022

   For example 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 i9-13900KF and decide which is better for games or simple use for streaming, rendering, video editing, machine learning, programming. Here is all information from real streaming and video editing tests or various benchmarks. A thorough review of all the specifications, so that it can be easier to understand, is made by the table.
   From the comparison video, you can get the results of joint testing in synthetic type tests such as GeekBench 6, 5.2, Dolphin Emulator, 3DMark, WPrime, 7zip, World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, UserBenchmark, VeraCrypt, MATLAB, SuperPi, PCMark 10, RealBench, Handbrake, Blender, Prime95, PassMark, Furmark, DaVinci Resolve Studio, Cinebench 23 (20, 15), Blender, Gears 5, AIDA64.
   Gaming performance of CPUs in:

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

After reading the results of parallel benchmarks and videos, you can already make an briefed decision about which processor is better to buy for gaming Intel Core i9-13900KF 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 i9-13900KF

68%

This shows the performance of the processors in single-threaded and multi-threaded mode. In this comparison, Core i9-13900KF is 13% better than M2. The data source is several popular tests. Detailed information can be found below.

Gaming performance
Summary result of all game benchmarks.

55%

Core i9-13900KF

65%

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

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	97.4	115.3
Valorant	110.7	131.0
Cyberpunk 2077	62.0	73.3
Apex Legends	104.1	123.1
Call of Duty Warzone	83.0	98.2
Overwatch	89.7	106.1
Red Dead Redemption 2	76.4	90.4
DOOM Eternal	55.4	65.5
Warzone	86.4	102.2
Assassin's Creed	93.0	110.0
Valheim	91.9	108.7

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 computers that were in the comparisons 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. So the game benchmark data is approximate. But all video cards met the average system requirements of games. To be sure exactly how much performance 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 i9-13900KF

60%

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 i9-13900KF since it has less power consumption: 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 calculate 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 machine learning, streaming, programming, video rendering or video editing, 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 achieve maximum performance. You will learn this data from the benchmark tables below. Before using the data from these tests, be sure to check whether the program you are going to use on your computer supports multi-threaded mode. Since 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 i9-13900KF
Cinbench 15 Single-core	298	525
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	1586	5528
Cinbench 20 Single-core	558	875
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	2699	12292
Cinbench 23 Single-core	2057	3109
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	10520	35375

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

	Apple M2	Intel Core i9-13900KF
Single-Core	4095	2841
Multi-Core	29665	60297

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

	Apple M2	Intel Core i9-13900KF
Single-Core	1929	2287
Multi-Core	9243	26728

Comparison of specifications

In the specification comparison table, the processor release date and overclocking capability will be the most helpful. The newer the processor, 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, thereby increasing its performance, then it will still be able to produce maximum FPS even in new games. It turns out that there is no longer a need to buy a new CPU to enjoy the games any longer. The savings are obvious!

	Apple M2	Intel Core i9-13900KF
Announcement date	October 18, 2022	September 15, 2022
Type	Laptop	Desktop
Socket	M2	FCLGA1700
Core name	4 x Avalanche and 4 x Blizzard	Raptor Lake
Architecture	hybrid (big.LITTLE)	x86
Generation	2	13
Turbo Frequency		5.8 MHz
Frequency	3.49 MHz	4.3 MHz
Cores	8	24
Threads	8	32
Bus rate		16 GT/s
Bit	64	64
Lithography	5 nm	7 nm
Transistors count	20000 millions	14200 millions
Power consumption (TDP)	12 W	125 W
Memory type	LPDDR5 - Up to 6400MHz	Up to DDR5 5600 MT/s Up to DDR4 3200 MT/s
Max. Memory		128 Gb
Memory Frequency	2400	6500
Memory bandwidth		89.6 GB/s
L1 cache	2MB	2 MB
L2 cache	12MB	8 MB
L3 cache	16MB	36 MB
Overclocking	No	y
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 i9-13900KF is 18% better than M2 in terms of CPU frequency. Another difference is that Core i9-13900KF has 16 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: 6
The number of parameters for which Intel Core i9-13900KF is better: 31
However, it should be realized 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 numbers. Better to watch benchmarks video and read the reviews of of people who bought Apple M2 and Intel Core i9-13900KF 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 i9-13900KF - all data

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

• Intel Core i9-13900KF specs and review.