Intel Core i5-12450H vs Apple M2 (8-GPU)

The Intel Core i5-12450H and the Apple M2 (8-GPU) are two processors designed for use in mobile systems, yet they serve different architectures and ecosystems.

The Intel Core i5-12450H, based on the Alder Lake H architecture, was developed for the mainstream laptop market. It is manufactured by Intel using a 10 nm process and utilizes a hybrid core design. It features 7 MB of L2 cache and 12 MB of L3 cache. In terms of single-core performance, it is comparable in some benchmarks, while multi-core performance lags behind the Apple M2 (8-GPU) in certain tests.

The integrated Intel UHD Graphics 12th Gen (48 EU) offers basic graphics performance, but for demanding gaming, it often relies on a dedicated graphics card. Its variable thermal design power (TDP) requires adequate cooling. It is available in numerous laptops across various price segments, allowing for a flexible price-performance ratio.

The Apple M2 (8-GPU), with the architectural name M2, is Apple's proprietary chip for its mobile and entry-level desktop devices. It is manufactured using a more advanced 5 nm process and integrates performance and efficiency cores. It has 20 MB of L2 cache and a maximum memory bandwidth of 102 GB/s.

In single-core tests, the Apple M2 (8-GPU) shows noticeably higher performance than the Intel Core i5-12450H. Even in multi-core applications, it significantly surpasses the Intel processor in most benchmarks. The integrated Apple M2 (8 Core) GPU delivers good graphics performance, especially for games optimized for Apple Silicon.

Its high energy efficiency leads to lower thermal dissipation and longer battery life. The Apple M2 (8-GPU) is exclusively available in Apple devices, whose overall prices tend to be higher but offer seamless hardware and software integration.