Intel Core i9-12900F | Apple M3 Pro (12-CPU 18-GPU) | |
CPU comparisonIn this CPU comparison, we compare the Intel Core i9-12900F and the Apple M3 Pro (12-CPU 18-GPU) and use benchmarks to check which processor is faster.
We compare the Intel Core i9-12900F 16 core processor released in Q1/2022 with the Apple M3 Pro (12-CPU 18-GPU) which has 12 CPU cores and was introduced in Q4/2023. |
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Intel Core i9 (78) | Family | Apple M series (25) |
Intel Core i 12000 (34) | CPU group | Apple M3 (6) |
12 | Generation | 3 |
Alder Lake S | Architecture | M3 |
Desktop / Server | Segment | Mobile |
Intel Core i9-11900F | Predecessor | Apple M2 Pro (12-CPU 19-GPU) |
Intel Core i9-13900F | Successor | -- |
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CPU Cores and Base FrequencyThe Intel Core i9-12900F is a 16 core processor with a clock frequency of 2.40 GHz (5.10 GHz). The processor can compute 24 threads at the same time. The Apple M3 Pro (12-CPU 18-GPU) clocks with 0.70 GHz (4.06 GHz), has 12 CPU cores and can calculate 12 threads in parallel. |
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Intel Core i9-12900F | Characteristic | Apple M3 Pro (12-CPU 18-GPU) |
16 | Cores | 12 |
24 | Threads | 12 |
hybrid (big.LITTLE) | Core architecture | hybrid (big.LITTLE) |
Yes | Hyperthreading | No |
No | Overclocking ? | No |
2.40 GHz (5.10 GHz) 8x Golden Cove |
A-Core | 0.70 GHz (4.06 GHz) 6x P-Core |
1.80 GHz (3.80 GHz) 8x Gracemont |
B-Core | 0.74 GHz (2.75 GHz) 6x E-Core |
NPU AI performanceThe performance values of the processor's AI unit. The isolated NPU performance is specified here, the total AI performance (NPU+CPU+iGPU) can be higher. Processors with support for artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) can process many calculations, especially audio, image and video processing, much faster than classic processors. |
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Intel Core i9-12900F | Characteristic | Apple M3 Pro (12-CPU 18-GPU) |
-- | AI hardware | Apple Neural Engine |
-- | AI specifications | 16 Neural cores @ 35 TOPS |
-- | NPU + CPU + iGPU | -- |
Integrated graphics (iGPU)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. |
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no iGPU | GPU | Apple M3 Pro (18 Core) |
GPU frequency | 0.39 GHz | |
-- | GPU (Turbo) | 1.40 GHz |
-- | GPU Generation | -- |
Technology | 3 nm | |
Max. displays | 3 | |
-- | Compute units | 288 |
-- | Shader | 2304 |
No | Hardware Raytracing | Yes |
No | Frame Generation | No |
-- | Max. GPU Memory | 36 GB |
-- | DirectX Version | -- |
Hardware codec supportA 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. |
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no iGPU | GPU | Apple M3 Pro (18 Core) |
No | Codec h265 / HEVC (8 bit) | Decode / Encode |
No | Codec h265 / HEVC (10 bit) | Decode / Encode |
No | Codec h264 | Decode / Encode |
No | Codec VP9 | Decode / Encode |
No | Codec VP8 | Decode |
No | Codec AV1 | Decode |
No | Codec AVC | Decode |
No | Codec VC-1 | Decode |
No | Codec JPEG | Decode / Encode |
Memory & PCIeUp to 128 GB of memory in a maximum of 2 memory channels is supported by the Intel Core i9-12900F, while the Apple M3 Pro (12-CPU 18-GPU) supports a maximum of 36 GB of memory with a maximum memory bandwidth of 153.6 GB/s enabled. |
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Intel Core i9-12900F | Characteristic | Apple M3 Pro (12-CPU 18-GPU) |
DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200 | Memory | LPDDR5-6400 |
128 GB | Max. Memory | 36 GB |
2 (Dual Channel) | Memory channels | 2 (Dual Channel) |
76.8 GB/s | Max. Bandwidth | 153.6 GB/s |
No | ECC | No |
14.00 MB | L2 Cache | 36.00 MB |
30.00 MB | L3 Cache | -- |
5.0 | PCIe version | 4.0 |
20 | PCIe lanes | -- |
78.8 GB/s | PCIe Bandwidth | -- |
Thermal ManagementThe Intel Core i9-12900F has a TDP of 65 W. The TDP of the Apple M3 Pro (12-CPU 18-GPU) is 35 W. System integrators use the TDP of the processor as a guide when dimensioning the cooling solution. |
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Intel Core i9-12900F | Characteristic | Apple M3 Pro (12-CPU 18-GPU) |
65 W | TDP (PL1 / PBP) | 35 W |
202 W | TDP (PL2) | -- |
-- | TDP up | -- |
-- | TDP down | -- |
100 °C | Tjunction max. | 100 °C |
Technical detailsThe Intel Core i9-12900F has 44.00 MB cache and is manufactured in 10 nm. The cache of Apple M3 Pro (12-CPU 18-GPU) is at 36.00 MB. The processor is manufactured in 3 nm. |
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Intel Core i9-12900F | Characteristic | Apple M3 Pro (12-CPU 18-GPU) |
10 nm | Technology | 3 nm |
Monolithic | Chip design | Chiplet |
x86-64 (64 bit) | Instruction set (ISA) | Armv8-A (64 bit) |
SSE4.1, SSE4.2, AVX2, AVX2+ | ISA extensions | Rosetta 2 x86-Emulation |
LGA 1700 | Socket | -- |
VT-x, VT-x EPT, VT-d | Virtualization | Apple Virtualization Framework |
Yes | AES-NI | Yes |
Windows 10, Windows 11, Linux | Operating systems | macOS, iPadOS |
Q1/2022 | Release date | Q4/2023 |
464 $ | Release price | -- |
show more data | show more data | |
Intel Core i9-12900F
16C 24T @ 5.10 GHz |
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Apple M3 Pro (12-CPU 18-GPU)
12C 12T @ 4.06 GHz |
Intel Core i9-12900F
16C 24T @ 4.20 GHz |
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Apple M3 Pro (12-CPU 18-GPU)
12C 12T @ 3.80 GHz |
Intel Core i9-12900F
16C 24T @ 5.10 GHz |
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Apple M3 Pro (12-CPU 18-GPU)
12C 12T @ 4.06 GHz |
Intel Core i9-12900F
16C 24T @ 4.20 GHz |
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Apple M3 Pro (12-CPU 18-GPU)
12C 12T @ 3.80 GHz |
Intel Core i9-12900F
16C 24T @ 5.10 GHz |
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Apple M3 Pro (12-CPU 18-GPU)
12C 12T @ 4.06 GHz |
Intel Core i9-12900F
16C 24T @ 4.20 GHz |
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Apple M3 Pro (12-CPU 18-GPU)
12C 12T @ 3.80 GHz |
Intel Core i9-12900F
16C 24T @ 4.20 GHz |
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Apple M3 Pro (12-CPU 18-GPU)
12C 12T @ 3.80 GHz |
Intel Core i9-12900F
16C 24T @ 5.10 GHz |
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Apple M3 Pro (12-CPU 18-GPU)
12C 12T @ 4.06 GHz |
Intel Core i9-12900F
16C 24T @ 5.10 GHz |
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Apple M3 Pro (12-CPU 18-GPU)
12C 12T @ 4.06 GHz |
Intel Core i9-12900F
16C 24T @ 5.10 GHz |
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Apple M3 Pro (12-CPU 18-GPU)
12C 12T @ 4.06 GHz |
Intel Core i9-12900F
16C 24T @ 4.20 GHz |
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Apple M3 Pro (12-CPU 18-GPU)
12C 12T @ 3.80 GHz |
Intel Core i9-12900F
@ 0.00 GHz |
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Apple M3 Pro (12-CPU 18-GPU)
Apple M3 Pro (18 Core) @ 1.40 GHz |
Intel Core i9-12900F
16C 24T @ 5.10 GHz |
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Apple M3 Pro (12-CPU 18-GPU)
12C 12T @ 4.06 GHz |
Intel Core i9-12900F
16C 24T @ 4.20 GHz |
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Apple M3 Pro (12-CPU 18-GPU)
12C 12T @ 3.80 GHz |
Intel Core i9-12900F
16C 24T @ 2.40 GHz |
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Apple M3 Pro (12-CPU 18-GPU)
12C 12T @ 0.70 GHz |
Devices using this processor |
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Intel Core i9-12900F | Apple M3 Pro (12-CPU 18-GPU) |
Unknown | Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2023) |