Apple M2 Pro vs Intel Core i5-12600K

Processor comparisons   22-10-2022
   Perhaps you can't decide which processor to buy, you can make a decision after reading the full tests Apple M2 Pro vs Intel Core i5-12600K and understand which is better for games or normal use for machine learning, streaming, video editing, programming, rendering. Here is all information from different benchmarks or real video editing and streaming tests. A careful review of all the technical characteristics, to make it easier to understand, is summarized in the table.
   From the comparison video, you can get the results of joint testing in software tests like SuperPi, UserBenchmark, Handbrake, Furmark, 3DMark, Blender, 7zip, Dolphin Emulator, DaVinci Resolve Studio, MATLAB, World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, Gears 5, VeraCrypt, RealBench, Cinebench 23 (20, 15), WPrime, Prime95, GeekBench 6, 5.2, Blender, PCMark 10, AIDA64, PassMark.
   Gaming performance of processors in:

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

After reading the results these benchmarks and videos, you already be able to understand which processor is better to buy for gaming Intel Core i5-12600K or Apple M2 Pro.

Summary benchmark results

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

M2 Pro

61%

Core i5-12600K

60%

The number of this parameter shows the performance of the processors in single-threaded and multi-threaded mode. In this comparison, M2 Pro is 1% better than Core i5-12600K. The data source is several popular tests. More detailed information of the benchmarks is below.

Gaming performance
Summary result of all game benchmarks.

M2 Pro

59%

Core i5-12600K

57%

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

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	104.8	101.8
Valorant	119.1	115.7
Cyberpunk 2077	66.7	64.8
Apex Legends	111.9	108.7
Call of Duty Warzone	89.3	86.8
Overwatch	96.5	93.7
Red Dead Redemption 2	82.2	79.8
DOOM Eternal	59.5	57.8
Warzone	92.9	90.2
Assassin's Creed	100.0	97.2
Valheim	98.8	96.0

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

M2 Pro

496%

Core i5-12600K

53%

To make a finishing resolution 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 Pro is more energy efficient than the Core i5-12600K as it consumes less power: 14W 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 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 video editing or video rendering, machine learning, programming, streaming, then the main parameter for you is its performance in multi-threaded mode. In this mode, the CPU turns on all cores and threads that it has to the maximum to achieve 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 make sure that the program that you are going to use on your computer can work in multi-threaded mode. Since there are still many programs that can 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 M2 Pro	Intel Core i5-12600K
Cinbench 15 Single-core	366	466
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	2078	3407
Cinbench 20 Single-core	714	1116
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	3555	7736
Cinbench 23 Single-core	2063	2611
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	16023	25497

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

	Apple M2 Pro	Intel Core i5-12600K
Single-Core	6111	6117
Multi-Core	39485	35696

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

	Apple M2 Pro	Intel Core i5-12600K
Single-Core	2085	2009
Multi-Core	16467	13528

Comparison of specifications

In the specification comparison table, the processor release date and overclocking capability will be the most helpful. The later the processor is released, the longer it will last in your computer. And the easier it will be to upgrade the system later. The same benefits from the presence of overclocking. When the processor can be overclocked, increasing its performance, then it will still be able to produce maximum FPS even in new games. The savings are obvious! Accordingly, you do not need to buy a new CPU to enjoy the games any longer.

	Apple M2 Pro	Intel Core i5-12600K
Announcement date	October 20, 2022	January 07, 2022
Type	Desktop;Laptop	Desktop
Socket	M2	FCLGA1700
Core name	8x Avalanche and 4x Blizzard	Alder Lake
Architecture	hybrid (big.LITTLE)	x86
Generation	2	12
Turbo Frequency		4.9 MHz
Frequency	3.49 MHz	3.6 MHz
Cores	12	10
Threads	12	16
Bus rate		8 GT/s
Bit	64	64
Lithography	4 nm	7 nm
Transistors count	42000 millions	10200 millions
Power consumption (TDP)	14 W	125 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
Memory bandwidth	208 GByte/s	76.8 GB/s
L1 cache	4MB
L2 cache	24MB	9.5 MB
L3 cache	36MB	20 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 i5-12600K is 3% better than M2 Pro in terms of CPU frequency. Another difference is that M2 Pro has 2 more core than Core i5-12600K. 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 Pro is better: 22
The number of parameters for which Intel Core i5-12600K is better: 15
However, it should be understood that all the figures in the article above do not mean that taking them into account you should entirely trust a simple comparison of these figures. Be sure to watch the video tests and read the opinion of real owners of Apple M2 Pro and Intel Core i5-12600K before making a selection which of the processors to buy for gaming.

Apple M2 Pro - all data

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

• Apple M2 Pro specs and review.

Intel Core i5-12600K - all data

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

• Intel Core i5-12600K specs and review.