i9-12900KF vs Apple M4 Max (16 cores)

VS

Aggregate performance score

Apple M4 Max (16 cores)
2024
16 cores / 16 threads, 90 Watt
28.04
+8.4%
Core i9-12900KF
2021
16 cores / 24 threads, 125 Watt
25.87

Apple M4 Max (16 cores) outperforms Core i9-12900KF by a small 8% based on our aggregate benchmark results.

Primary details

Comparing Apple M4 Max (16 cores) and Core i9-12900KF processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in the ranking165191
Place by popularitynot in top-100not in top-100
Cost-effectiveness evaluationno data38.59
Market segmentLaptopDesktop processor
SeriesApple M4Intel Core i9
Power efficiency29.3319.48
Architecture codenameno dataAlder Lake, Golden Cove, Gracemont (2021)
Release date30 October 2024 (less than a year ago)4 November 2021 (3 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)no data$564

Cost-effectiveness evaluation

Performance per price, higher is better.

no data

Detailed specifications

Apple M4 Max (16 cores) and Core i9-12900KF 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 cores16 (Hexadeca-Core)16 (Hexadeca-Core)
Threads1624
Base clock speedno data3.2 GHz
Boost clock speed4.51 GHz5.2 GHz
Bus typeno dataDMI 4.0
Bus rateno data8 × 16 GT/s
Multiplierno data32
L1 cacheno data80K (per core)
L2 cacheno data1.25 MB (per core)
L3 cacheno data30 MB (shared)
Chip lithography3 nmIntel 7 nm
Die sizeno data215.25 mm2
Maximum core temperatureno data100 °C
Maximum case temperature (TCase)no data72 °C
64 bit support++
Windows 11 compatibilityno data+
Unlocked multiplier-+

Compatibility

Information on Apple M4 Max (16 cores) and Core i9-12900KF 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)90 Watt125 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Apple M4 Max (16 cores) and Core i9-12900KF. 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-+
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-+
Turbo Boost Max 3.0no data+
Deep Learning Boost-+

Security technologies

Apple M4 Max (16 cores) and Core i9-12900KF technologies aimed at improving security, for example, by protecting against hacks.

EDBno data+
Secure Keyno data+
OS Guardno data+

Virtualization technologies

Virtual machine speed-up technologies supported by Apple M4 Max (16 cores) and Core i9-12900KF are enumerated here.

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

Memory specs

Types, maximum amount and channel quantity of RAM supported by Apple M4 Max (16 cores) and Core i9-12900KF. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory typesno dataDDR5-4800, DDR4-3200
Maximum memory sizeno data128 GB
Max memory channelsno data2
Maximum memory bandwidthno data76.805 GB/s

Graphics specifications

General parameters of integrated GPUs, if any.

Integrated graphics cardApple M4 40-core GPUno data

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Apple M4 Max (16 cores) and Core i9-12900KF.

PCIe versionno data5.0 and 4.0
PCI Express lanesno data20

Gaming performance

Pros & cons summary


Performance score 28.04 25.87
Recency 30 October 2024 4 November 2021
Threads 16 24
Power consumption (TDP) 90 Watt 125 Watt

Apple M4 Max (16 cores) has a 8.4% higher aggregate performance score, an age advantage of 2 years, and 38.9% lower power consumption.

i9-12900KF, on the other hand, has 50% more threads.

Given the minimal performance differences, no clear winner can be declared between Apple M4 Max (16 cores) and Core i9-12900KF.

Be aware that Apple M4 Max (16 cores) is a notebook processor while Core i9-12900KF is a desktop one.


Should you still have questions on choice between Apple M4 Max (16 cores) and Core i9-12900KF, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

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Apple M4 Max (16 cores)
M4 Max (16 cores)
Intel Core i9-12900KF
Core i9-12900KF

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