The Apple M2 is a 8 core processor with a clock frequency of 0.66 GHz (3.50 GHz). The processor can compute 8 threads at the same time. The Intel Core i9-12900K clocks with 3.20 GHz (5.20 GHz), has 16 CPU cores and can calculate 24 threads in parallel.
Processors with the support of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) can process many calculations, especially audio, image and video processing, much faster than classic processors. Algorithms for ML improve their performance the more data they have collected via software. ML tasks can be processed up to 10,000 times faster than with a classic processor.
Graphics (iGPU) integrated into the processor not only enable image output without having to rely on a dedicated graphics solution, but can also efficiently accelerate video playback.
A photo or video codec that is accelerated in hardware can greatly accelerate the working speed of a processor and extend the battery life of notebooks or smartphones when playing videos.
Up to 24 GB of memory in a maximum of 2 memory channels is supported by the Apple M2, while the Intel Core i9-12900K supports a maximum of 128 GB of memory with a maximum memory bandwidth of 76.8 GB/s enabled.
The Apple M2 has a TDP of 20 W. The TDP of the Intel Core i9-12900K is 125 W. System integrators use the TDP of the processor as a guide when dimensioning the cooling solution.
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The Cinebench 2024 benchmark is based on the Redshift rendering engine, which is also used in Maxon's 3D program Cinema 4D. The benchmark runs are each 10 minutes long to test whether the processor is limited by its heat generation.
The Multi-Core test of the Cinebench 2024 benchmark uses all cpu cores to render using the Redshift rendering engine, which is also used in Maxons Cinema 4D. The benchmark run is 10 minutes long to test whether the processor is limited by its heat generation.
Cinebench R23 is the successor of Cinebench R20 and is also based on the Cinema 4 Suite. Cinema 4 is a worldwide used software to create 3D forms. The single-core test only uses one CPU core, the amount of cores or hyperthreading ability doesn't count.
Cinebench R23 is the successor of Cinebench R20 and is also based on the Cinema 4 Suite. Cinema 4 is a worldwide used software to create 3D forms. The multi-core test involves all CPU cores and taks a big advantage of hyperthreading.
Geekbench 5 is a cross plattform benchmark that heavily uses the systems memory. A fast memory will push the result a lot. The single-core test only uses one CPU core, the amount of cores or hyperthreading ability doesn't count.
Geekbench 5 is a cross plattform benchmark that heavily uses the systems memory. A fast memory will push the result a lot. The multi-core test involves all CPU cores and taks a big advantage of hyperthreading.
Geekbench 6 is a benchmark for modern computers, notebooks and smartphones. What is new is an optimized utilization of newer CPU architectures, e.g. based on the big.LITTLE concept and combining CPU cores of different sizes. The single-core benchmark only evaluates the performance of the fastest CPU core, the number of CPU cores in a processor is irrelevant here.
Geekbench 6 is a benchmark for modern computers, notebooks and smartphones. What is new is an optimized utilization of newer CPU architectures, e.g. based on the big.LITTLE concept and combining CPU cores of different sizes. The multi-core benchmark evaluates the performance of all of the processor's CPU cores. Virtual thread improvements such as AMD SMT or Intel's Hyper-Threading have a positive impact on the benchmark result.
The theoretical computing performance of the internal graphics unit of the processor with simple accuracy (32 bit) in GFLOPS. GFLOPS indicates how many billion floating point operations the iGPU can perform per second.
Some of the CPUs listed below have been benchmarked by CPU-monkey. However the majority of CPUs have not been tested and the results have been estimated by a CPU-monkey’s secret proprietary formula. As such they do not accurately reflect the actual Passmark CPU mark values and are not endorsed by PassMark Software Pty Ltd.
Efficiency of the processor under full load in the Cinebench R23 (multi-core) benchmark. The benchmark result is divided by the average energy required (CPU package power in watts). The higher the value, the more efficient the CPU is under full load.
Cinebench R20 is the successor of Cinebench R15 and is also based on the Cinema 4 Suite. Cinema 4 is a worldwide used software to create 3D forms. The single-core test only uses one CPU core, the amount of cores or hyperthreading ability doesn't count.
Cinebench R20 is the successor of Cinebench R15 and is also based on the Cinema 4 Suite. Cinema 4 is a worldwide used software to create 3D forms. The multi-core test involves all CPU cores and taks a big advantage of hyperthreading.
In the Blender Benchmark 3.1, the scenes "monster", "junkshop" and "classroom" are rendered and the time required by the system is measured. In our benchmark we test the CPU and not the graphics card. Blender 3.1 was presented as a standalone version in March 2022.
Blender is a free 3D graphics software for rendering (creating) 3D bodies, which can also be textured and animated in the software. The Blender benchmark creates predefined scenes and measures the time (s) required for the entire scene. The shorter the time required, the better. We selected bmw27 as the benchmark scene.
The CPU-Z benchmark measures a processor's performance by measuring the time it takes the system to complete all benchmark calculations. The faster the benchmark is completed, the higher the score.
The CPU-Z benchmark measures a processor's performance by measuring the time it takes the system to complete all benchmark calculations. The faster the benchmark is completed, the higher the score.
Cinebench R15 is the successor of Cinebench 11.5 and is also based on the Cinema 4 Suite. Cinema 4 is a worldwide used software to create 3D forms. The single-core test only uses one CPU core, the amount of cores or hyperthreading ability doesn't count.
Cinebench R15 is the successor of Cinebench 11.5 and is also based on the Cinema 4 Suite. Cinema 4 is a worldwide used software to create 3D forms. The multi-core test involves all CPU cores and taks a big advantage of hyperthreading.
Processors with the support of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) can process many calculations, especially audio, image and video processing, much faster than classic processors. The performance is given in the number (trillions) of arithmetic operations per second (TOPS).
Here we compare a current and fast mobile processor with the Apple M2, which is also used in the Apple mac mini in addition to the Apple MacBooks. So it's not a pure mobile processor. The competitor is the Intel Core i9-12900K, a high-end desktop processor that is just as suitable for current PC games as it is for more demanding applications.
Basically, the Intel Core i5-12600K or the Intel Core i7-12700K is sufficient for gamers, the Intel Core i9-12900K actually only makes sense if you often use more demanding applications in addition to computer games. With its integrated graphics card, the Apple M2 is only suitable for computer games to a limited extent, although the solution for integrated graphics is quite fast. The Intel Core i9-12900K also has an iGPU, but it is slow and is only suitable for displaying an image or watching videos. The Intel UDH graphics 770 is too slow for most computer games.
The Apple M2 relies on a big.LITTLE CPU core structure with 8 cores, consisting of 4 larger and faster "Avalanche" CPU cores with a clock frequency of 3.5 GHz and four efficiency cores of the "Blizzard" type (clock frequency 2.8 GHz) together. The Intel Core i9-12900K is manufactured in 5 nm at TSMC and is very energy efficient.
The Intel Core i9-12900K also relies on a hybrid core structure. With a total of 16 CPU cores, however, it is significantly larger than the Apple M2. 8 fast "Golden Cove" P cores are complemented by another 8 efficient "Gracemont" cores. Overall, the Intel Core i9-12900K can calculate a total of 24 threads at the same time using Intel Hyper-Threading Technology. So it's a real workhorse, but it also needs significantly more energy than the Apple M2.
The Apple M2 can use up to 24 GB of LPDDR5-6400 memory (102 GB/s bandwidth), the Intel can use up to 128 GB DDR5-4800 (77 GB/s bandwidth). In addition, the Intel Core i9-12900K also supports older DDR4-3200 memory. Whether you have to use DDR4 or DDR5 memory depends on your motherboard. Mixed operation of DDR4 and DDR5 memory is not possible.