Apple M2 vs Intel Core i9-12950HX

Processor comparisons 20-10-2022

   Let's say you are thinking about choosing a CPU, you will be able to make a decision by looking at the Apple M2 vs Intel Core i9-12950HX tests and understand which is better for games or normal use for machine learning, streaming, programming, rendering, video editing. Here you can find all information from real streaming and video editing tests or several benchmarks. A careful analysis of all the specifications, so that it can be easier to understand, is summarized in the table.
   From the video comparison, you can get the results of parallel examination in synthetic type tests such as AIDA64, VeraCrypt, RealBench, PCMark 10, Blender, 3DMark, Blender, MATLAB, SuperPi, 7zip, Prime95, Furmark, PassMark, GeekBench 6, 5.2, DaVinci Resolve Studio, Dolphin Emulator, Cinebench 23 (20, 15), World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, Gears 5, WPrime, UserBenchmark, Handbrake.
   Gaming performance of processors in:

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

After reading the results of joint benchmarks and videos, you already be able to know which CPU is better to buy for gaming Intel Core i9-12950HX 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 i9-12950HX

69%

This shows the performance of the processors in single-threaded and multi-threaded mode. In this comparison, Core i9-12950HX is 14% 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 i9-12950HX

59%

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. And if it seems to you that the selected CPU has a small 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 CPU comparisons were performed: Horizon Zero Dawn, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Forza Horizon 4, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, DOTA 2A, PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG), Battlefield V, NBA 2K20, Monster Hunter World, Microsoft Flight Simulator, Ghostrunner, Half-Life: Alyx, Control, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS GO), Resident Evil 7 Biohazard, Metro Exodus, League of Legends (LOL), Hitman 3.

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	97.4	105.0
Valorant	110.7	119.3
Cyberpunk 2077	62.0	66.8
Apex Legends	104.1	112.1
Call of Duty Warzone	83.0	89.5
Overwatch	89.7	96.6
Red Dead Redemption 2	76.4	82.3
DOOM Eternal	55.4	59.6
Warzone	86.4	93.0
Assassin's Creed	93.0	100.2
Valheim	91.9	99.0

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 video cards and different amounts of RAM. 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 i9-12950HX

120%

To make a finishing 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 i9-12950HX as it consumes less power: 12W vs. 55W. 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 want to use the processor not only for gaming, but also for machine learning, programming, streaming, video editing or video rendering, then the main parameter for you is its performance in multi-threaded mode. In this mode, the CPU uses 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 using 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. Since there are still many programs that can use only one core to run, 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 i9-12950HX
Cinbench 15 Single-core	298	571
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	1586	5968
Cinbench 20 Single-core	558	950
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	2699	13264
Cinbench 23 Single-core	2057	3358
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	10520	38163

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

	Apple M2	Intel Core i9-12950HX
Single-Core	4095	3598
Multi-Core	29665	65436

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

	Apple M2	Intel Core i9-12950HX
Single-Core	1929	1991
Multi-Core	9243	16637

Comparison of specifications

In the specification comparison table, the most useful will be the the possibility of overclocking it and release date of the processor. The newer the processor, the longer it will last you. 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 continue to maintain maximum FPS even in new 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 i9-12950HX
Announcement date	October 18, 2022	June 19, 2022
Type	Laptop	Laptop
Socket	M2	FCBGA1964
Core name	4 x Avalanche and 4 x Blizzard	Alder Lake
Architecture	hybrid (big.LITTLE)	x86
Generation	2	12
Turbo Frequency		5 MHz
Frequency	3.49 MHz	3.6 MHz
Cores	8	16
Threads	8	24
Bus rate		16 GT/s
Bit	64	64
Lithography	5 nm	7 nm
Transistors count	20000 millions	12400 millions
Power consumption (TDP)	12 W	55 W
Memory type	LPDDR5 - Up to 6400MHz	Up to DDR5 4800 MT/s Up to DDR4 3200 MT/s
Max. Memory		128 Gb
Memory Frequency	2400	6400
Memory bandwidth		76.8 GB/s
L1 cache	2MB	2 MB
L2 cache	12MB	8 MB
L3 cache	16MB	30 MB
Overclocking	No	No
Supports ECC	No	Yes
Part number

In this comparison block, you should pay attention to the differences in clock speed and the number of cores. Here Core i9-12950HX is 3% better than M2 in terms of CPU frequency. Another difference is that Core i9-12950HX has 8 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 i9-12950HX is better: 32
However, it should be realized that all the number that you have looked at here do not mean that taking them into account you should entirely trust a simple quantitative comparison. Be sure to watch the testing video and read the reviews of real owners of Apple M2 and Intel Core i9-12950HX before making a choice which processor 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 i9-12950HX - all data

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

• Intel Core i9-12950HX specs and review.