Apple M1 Pro vs Intel Core i9-12900KS

Processor comparisons   21-10-2022
   If you are thinking about choosing a CPU, you will be able to make a decision by looking at the Apple M1 Pro vs Intel Core i9-12900KS tests and decide which is better for games or simple use for machine learning, rendering, programming, streaming, video editing. Here you can find all information from different benchmarks or real video editing and streaming tests. 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 parallel examination in software tests like UserBenchmark, SuperPi, RealBench, Furmark, PCMark 10, DaVinci Resolve Studio, Blender, 7zip, 3DMark, AIDA64, WPrime, GeekBench 6, 5.2, Handbrake, Dolphin Emulator, MATLAB, Blender, Cinebench 23 (20, 15), World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, VeraCrypt, PassMark, Gears 5, Prime95.
   And how good the CPUs are in games:

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

After reading the results of parallel benchmarks and videos, you already be able to figure out which processor is better to buy for gaming Intel Core i9-12900KS or Apple M1 Pro.

Summary benchmark results

As a percentage of the maximum value based on a sample from the entire base of all processors
Processor Benchmark

M1 Pro

59%

Core i9-12900KS

73%

This parameter shows the performance of the processors in single-threaded and multi-threaded mode. In this comparison, Core i9-12900KS is 19% better than M1 Pro. The data source is several popular tests. Detailed information can be found below.

Gaming performance
Summary result of all game benchmarks.

M1 Pro

57%

Core i9-12900KS

61%

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

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	101.0	108.6
Valorant	114.8	123.4
Cyberpunk 2077	64.3	69.1
Apex Legends	107.9	116.0
Call of Duty Warzone	86.1	92.6
Overwatch	93.0	100.0
Red Dead Redemption 2	79.2	85.1
DOOM Eternal	57.4	61.7
Warzone	89.5	96.3
Assassin's Creed	96.4	103.7
Valheim	95.3	102.4

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 participating in the comparisons not only were the equipped with different amounts of RAM and different video cards. But users also tested them at different screen resolutions: 2K, FullHD or 4K. So 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

M1 Pro

358%

Core i9-12900KS

48%

To make a final 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 M1 Pro is more energy efficient than the Core i9-12900KS since it has less power consumption: 16W vs. 150W. Power consumption is particularly important for laptops. Also, when choosing a processor cooling system, it will be useful 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

For example you want to use the processor not only for gaming, but also for video rendering or video editing, programming, streaming, machine learning, then first of all you need to pay attention to the performance in multi-threaded mode. In this mode, to reach maximum efficiency, the processor turns on all threads and cores that it has. You will find out 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 use only one core to work, 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 M1 Pro	Intel Core i9-12900KS
Cinbench 15 Single-core	304	669
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	1716	6984
Cinbench 20 Single-core	590	1113
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	2936	15520
Cinbench 23 Single-core	2233	3930
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	11512	44652

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

	Apple M1 Pro	Intel Core i9-12900KS
Single-Core	5046	4211
Multi-Core	32596	76561

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

	Apple M1 Pro	Intel Core i9-12900KS
Single-Core	1723	2187
Multi-Core	12737	20189

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 you. And the easier it will be to upgrade the system in the future. The same benefits from the presence of overclocking. When the processor can be overclocked, thereby increasing its performance, then it will continue to maintain maximum FPS in the newest 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 M1 Pro	Intel Core i9-12900KS
Announcement date	October 07, 2021	March 27, 2022
Type	Laptop	Desktop
Socket	M1	FCLGA1700
Core name	8x Firestorm and 2x Icestorm	Alder Lake
Architecture	hybrid (big.LITTLE)	x86
Generation	1	12
Turbo Frequency		5.5 MHz
Frequency	3.2 MHz	4 MHz
Cores	10	16
Threads	10	24
Bus rate		16 GT/s
Bit	64	64
Lithography	5 nm	7 nm
Transistors count	34000 millions	12400 millions
Power consumption (TDP)	16 W	150 W
Memory type	LPDDR5 - Up to 6400MHz	Up to DDR5 4800 MT/s Up to DDR4 3200 MT/s
Max. Memory	32 Gb	128 Gb
Memory Frequency	6400	6400
Memory bandwidth	208 GByte/s	76.8 GB/s
L1 cache	4MB	2 MB
L2 cache	24MB	8 MB
L3 cache	24MB	30 MB
Overclocking	No	No
Supports ECC	No	Yes
Part number	APL1103	Expansion Options

In this comparison block, you should pay attention to the differences in clock speed and the number of cores. Here Core i9-12900KS is 19% better than M1 Pro in terms of CPU frequency. Another difference is that Core i9-12900KS has 6 more core than M1 Pro. 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 M1 Pro is better: 5
The number of parameters for which Intel Core i9-12900KS is better: 32
However, it should be realized that all the number in the article above do not mean that taking them into account you should completely trust a simple quantitative comparison. Better to watch the video tests and read the reviews of real owners of Apple M1 Pro and Intel Core i9-12900KS before deciding which of the processors to buy for gaming.

Apple M1 Pro - all data

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

• Apple M1 Pro specs and review.

Intel Core i9-12900KS - all data

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

• Intel Core i9-12900KS specs and review.