i7-12700K vs Apple M1

VS

Aggregate performance score

Apple M1
2020
8 cores / 8 threads
5.17
Core i7-12700K
2021
12 cores / 20 threads, 125 Watt
21.78
+321%

Core i7-12700K outperforms Apple M1 by a whopping 321% based on our aggregate benchmark results.

Primary details

Comparing M1 and Core i7-12700K processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in the ranking1207244
Place by popularitynot in top-10073
Cost-effectiveness evaluationno data41.85
Market segmentLaptopDesktop processor
SeriesApple Apple M-SeriesIntel Core i7
Power efficiencyno data16.49
Architecture codenameno dataAlder Lake, Golden Cove, Gracemont (2021)
Release date10 November 2020 (4 years ago)27 October 2021 (3 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)no data$409

Cost-effectiveness evaluation

Performance per price, higher is better.

no data

Detailed specifications

M1 and Core i7-12700K basic parameters such as number of cores, number of threads, base frequency and turbo boost clock, lithography, cache size and multiplier lock state. These parameters indirectly say of CPU speed, though for more precise assessment you have to consider their test results.

Physical cores8 (Octa-Core)12 (Dodeca-Core)
Threads820
Base clock speed2.064 GHz3.6 GHz
Boost clock speed3.2 GHz5 GHz
Bus typeno dataDMI 4.0
Bus rateno data8 × 16 GT/s
Multiplierno data36
L1 cache2 MB384 KB
L2 cache16 MB2 MB
L3 cache16 MB1 MB
Chip lithography5 nm10 nm
Die sizeno data215.25 mm2
Maximum core temperatureno data100 °C
Maximum case temperature (TCase)no data72 °C
Number of transistors16000 Millionno data
64 bit support++
Windows 11 compatibility-+
Unlocked multiplier-+

Compatibility

Information on M1 and Core i7-12700K compatibility with other computer components: motherboard (look for socket type), power supply unit (look for power consumption) etc. Useful when planning a future computer configuration or upgrading an existing one. Note that power consumption of some processors can well exceed their nominal TDP, even without overclocking. Some can even double their declared thermals given that the motherboard allows to tune the CPU power parameters.

Number of CPUs in a configurationno data1
Socketno dataFCLGA1700
Power consumption (TDP)no data125 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by M1 and Core i7-12700K. You'll probably need this information if you require some particular technology.

Instruction set extensionsno dataIntel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX2
AES-NI-+
FMA-+
AVX-+
vProno data+
Enhanced SpeedStep (EIST)no data+
Speed Shiftno data+
Turbo Boost Technologyno data2.0
Hyper-Threading Technologyno data+
Idle Statesno data+
Thermal Monitoring-+
SIPP-+
Turbo Boost Max 3.0no data+
Deep Learning Boost-+

Security technologies

M1 and Core i7-12700K technologies aimed at improving security, for example, by protecting against hacks.

TXTno data+
EDBno data+
Secure Keyno data+
OS Guardno data+

Virtualization technologies

Virtual machine speed-up technologies supported by M1 and Core i7-12700K are enumerated here.

VT-dno data+
VT-xno data+
EPTno data+

Memory specs

Types, maximum amount and channel quantity of RAM supported by M1 and Core i7-12700K. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory typesno dataDDR4, DDR5
Maximum memory sizeno data128 GB
Max memory channelsno data2
Maximum memory bandwidthno data76.805 GB/s
ECC memory support-+

Graphics specifications

General parameters of integrated GPUs, if any.

Integrated graphics card
Compare
Apple M1 8-Core GPUIntel UHD Graphics 770
Quick Sync Video-+
Clear Video HDno data+
Graphics max frequencyno data1.5 GHz
Execution Unitsno data32

Graphics interfaces

Available interfaces and connections of M1 and Core i7-12700K integrated GPUs.

Number of displays supportedno data4

Graphics image quality

Maximum display resolutions supported by M1 and Core i7-12700K integrated GPUs, including resolutions over different interfaces.

Max resolution over HDMI 1.4no data4096 x 2160 @ 60Hz
Max resolution over eDPno data5120 x 3200 @ 120Hz
Max resolution over DisplayPortno data7680 x 4320 @ 60Hz

Graphics API support

APIs supported by M1 and Core i7-12700K integrated GPUs, sometimes API versions are included.

DirectXno data12
OpenGLno data4.5

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by M1 and Core i7-12700K.

PCIe versionno data5.0 and 4.0
PCI Express lanesno data20

Synthetic benchmark performance

Various benchmark results of the processors in comparison. Overall score is measured in points in 0-100 range, higher is better.


Combined synthetic benchmark score

This is our combined benchmark performance rating. We are regularly improving our combining algorithms, but if you find some perceived inconsistencies, feel free to speak up in comments section, we usually fix problems quickly.

Apple M1 5.17
i7-12700K 21.78
+321%

Passmark

Passmark CPU Mark is a widespread benchmark, consisting of 8 different types of workload, including integer and floating point math, extended instructions, compression, encryption and physics calculation. There is also one separate single-threaded scenario measuring single-core performance.

Apple M1 8207
i7-12700K 34598
+322%

Cinebench 15 64-bit multi-core

Cinebench Release 15 Multi Core is a variant of Cinebench R15 which uses all the processor threads.

Apple M1 1072
i7-12700K 3325
+210%

Cinebench 15 64-bit single-core

Cinebench R15 (standing for Release 15) is a benchmark made by Maxon, authors of Cinema 4D. It was superseded by later versions of Cinebench, which use more modern variants of Cinema 4D engine. The Single Core version (sometimes called Single-Thread) only uses a single processor thread to render a room full of reflective spheres and light sources.

Apple M1 208
i7-12700K 272
+30.8%

Gaming performance

Pros & cons summary


Performance score 5.17 21.78
Integrated graphics card 14.49 6.16
Recency 10 November 2020 27 October 2021
Physical cores 8 12
Threads 8 20
Chip lithography 5 nm 10 nm

Apple M1 has 135.2% faster integrated GPU, and a 100% more advanced lithography process.

i7-12700K, on the other hand, has a 321.3% higher aggregate performance score, an age advantage of 11 months, and 50% more physical cores and 150% more threads.

The Core i7-12700K is our recommended choice as it beats the M1 in performance tests.

Be aware that Apple M1 is a notebook processor while Core i7-12700K is a desktop one.


Should you still have questions on choice between Apple M1 and Core i7-12700K, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

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Apple M1
M1
Intel Core i7-12700K
Core i7-12700K

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Community ratings

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Questions & comments

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