Apple M4 vs Intel Core i5-12400

The Intel Core i5-12400 (Alder Lake S, early 2022) is aimed at mainstream desktop users for Windows productivity and gaming.

The Apple M4 (mid-2024) targets Apple users seeking high efficiency and strong integrated graphics for creative and pro applications.

The Intel Core i5-12400 is manufactured on a 10 nm (Intel 7) process, featuring six performance cores and twelve threads. The Apple M4 utilizes a more advanced 3 nm technology and a hybrid 10-core architecture comprising performance and efficiency cores. The Apple M4 demonstrates significantly superior single-core and multi-core performance for computationally intensive tasks.

The Intel Core i5-12400 nevertheless offers good performance for everyday applications and gaming within its price range. For Windows gaming, the Intel Core i5-12400 is solid with a dedicated graphics card, as the integrated Intel UHD Graphics 730 is limited. The Apple M4 delivers excellent performance for optimized Apple games with its 10-core GPU.

The Intel Core i5-12400 has a base TDP of 65 Watts, which requires cooling. The Apple M4 is characterized by exceptionally low power consumption and a significantly lower TDP, ideal for energy-efficient and fanless systems. The Intel Core i5-12400 offers a very good price-performance ratio as a separately available PC component.

The Apple M4 is not available separately; its price-performance ratio is tied to the overall price of the Apple device. The Intel Core i5-12400 is ideal for budget-conscious Windows users who want to build a versatile desktop PC with a dedicated graphics card for gaming and productivity.

The Apple M4 is excellent for users seeking maximum energy efficiency, superior integrated graphics performance, and a seamless Apple ecosystem for professional applications.