Apple M2 Max vs i5-12500

Aggregate performance score

Core i5-12500
2022
6 cores / 12 threads, 65 Watt
13.01
Apple M2 Max
2023
12 cores / 12 threads, 79 Watt
17.41
+33.8%

Apple M2 Max outperforms Core i5-12500 by a substantial 34% based on our aggregate benchmark results.

Primary details

Comparing Core i5-12500 and Apple M2 Max processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in the ranking606385
Place by popularitynot in top-100not in top-100
Market segmentDesktop processorLaptop
Seriesno dataApple M-Series
Power efficiency18.2520.10
Architecture codenameAlder Lake-S (2022)no data
Release date4 January 2022 (2 years ago)17 January 2023 (1 year ago)

Detailed specifications

Core i5-12500 and Apple M2 Max 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 cores6 (Hexa-Core)12 (Dodeca-Core)
Threads1212
Base clock speed3 GHz2.424 GHz
Boost clock speed4.6 GHz3.7 GHz
L1 cache80K (per core)3.3 MB
L2 cache1.25 MB (per core)36 MB
L3 cache18 MB (shared)48 MB
Chip lithographyIntel 7 nm5 nm
Die size163 mm2no data
Maximum core temperature100 °Cno data
Number of transistorsno data67000 Million
64 bit support++
Windows 11 compatibility+no data

Compatibility

Information on Core i5-12500 and Apple M2 Max 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 configuration1no data
SocketFCLGA1700no data
Power consumption (TDP)65 Watt79 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Core i5-12500 and Apple M2 Max. You'll probably need this information if you require some particular technology.

Instruction set extensionsIntel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX2no data
AES-NI+-
AVX+-
Enhanced SpeedStep (EIST)+no data
Speed Shift+no data
Turbo Boost Technology2.0no data
Hyper-Threading Technology+no data
TSX+-
Idle States+no data
Thermal Monitoring+-
SIPP+-
Turbo Boost Max 3.0-no data
Deep Learning Boost+-

Security technologies

Core i5-12500 and Apple M2 Max technologies aimed at improving security, for example, by protecting against hacks.

TXT+no data
EDB+no data
Secure Key+no data
OS Guard+no data

Virtualization technologies

Virtual machine speed-up technologies supported by Core i5-12500 and Apple M2 Max are enumerated here.

VT-d+no data
VT-x+no data
EPT+no data

Memory specs

Types, maximum amount and channel quantity of RAM supported by Core i5-12500 and Apple M2 Max. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory typesDDR5-4800, DDR4-3200no data
Maximum memory size128 GBno data
Max memory channels2no data
Maximum memory bandwidth76.8 GB/sno data
ECC memory support+-

Graphics specifications

General parameters of integrated GPUs, if any.

Integrated graphics card
Compare
Intel UHD Graphics 770Apple M2 Max 38-Core GPU
Quick Sync Video+-
Clear Video HD+no data
Graphics max frequency1.45 GHzno data
Execution Units32no data

Graphics interfaces

Available interfaces and connections of Core i5-12500 and Apple M2 Max integrated GPUs.

Number of displays supported4no data

Graphics image quality

Maximum display resolutions supported by Core i5-12500 and Apple M2 Max integrated GPUs, including resolutions over different interfaces.

Max resolution over HDMI 1.44096 x 2160 @ 60Hzno data
Max resolution over eDP5120 x 3200 @ 120Hzno data
Max resolution over DisplayPort7680 x 4320 @ 60Hzno data

Graphics API support

APIs supported by Core i5-12500 and Apple M2 Max integrated GPUs, sometimes API versions are included.

DirectX12no data
OpenGL4.5no data

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Core i5-12500 and Apple M2 Max.

PCIe version5.0 and 4.0no data
PCI Express lanes20no data

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.

i5-12500 13.01
Apple M2 Max 17.41
+33.8%

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.

i5-12500 19903
Apple M2 Max 26643
+33.9%

Gaming performance

Pros & cons summary


Performance score 13.01 17.41
Recency 4 January 2022 17 January 2023
Physical cores 6 12
Power consumption (TDP) 65 Watt 79 Watt

i5-12500 has 21.5% lower power consumption.

Apple M2 Max, on the other hand, has a 33.8% higher aggregate performance score, an age advantage of 1 year, and 100% more physical cores.

The Apple M2 Max is our recommended choice as it beats the Core i5-12500 in performance tests.

Note that Core i5-12500 is a desktop processor while Apple M2 Max is a notebook one.


Should you still have questions on choice between Core i5-12500 and Apple M2 Max, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

Vote for your favorite

Do you think we are right or mistaken in our choice? Vote by clicking "Like" button near your favorite CPU.


Intel Core i5-12500
Core i5-12500
Apple M2 Max
M2 Max

Similar processor comparisons

We picked several similar comparisons of processors in the same market segment and performance relatively close to those reviewed on this page.

Community ratings

Here you can see how users rate the processors, as well as rate them yourself.


4.1 605 votes

Rate Core i5-12500 on a scale of 1 to 5:

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
3 232 votes

Rate Apple M2 Max on a scale of 1 to 5:

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5

Questions & comments

Here you can ask a question about Core i5-12500 or Apple M2 Max, agree or disagree with our judgements, or report an error or mismatch.