Apple M2 Pro vs i5-12600KF

VS

Aggregate performance score

Core i5-12600KF
2021
10 cores / 16 threads, 125 Watt
18.24
+28.5%

Core i5-12600KF outperforms Apple M2 Pro by a significant 28% based on our aggregate benchmark results.

Primary details

Comparing Core i5-12600KF and Apple M2 Pro processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in the ranking349534
Place by popularitynot in top-100not in top-100
Cost-effectiveness evaluation49.02no data
Market segmentDesktop processorLaptop
SeriesIntel Core i5Apple Apple M-Series
Power efficiency13.31no data
Architecture codenameAlder Lake, Golden Cove, Gracemont (2021)no data
Release date27 October 2021 (3 years ago)17 January 2023 (1 year ago)
Launch price (MSRP)$264no data

Cost-effectiveness evaluation

Performance per price, higher is better.

no data

Detailed specifications

Core i5-12600KF and Apple M2 Pro 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 cores10 (Deca-Core)12 (Dodeca-Core)
Threads1612
Base clock speed3.7 GHz2.424 GHz
Boost clock speed4.9 GHz3.5 GHz
Bus typeDMI 4.0no data
Bus rate8 × 16 GT/sno data
Multiplier37no data
L1 cache384 KB3.3 MB
L2 cache9.5 MB36 MB
L3 cache2 MB24 MB
Chip lithographyIntel 7 nm5 nm
Die size215.25 mm2no data
Maximum core temperature100 °Cno data
Maximum case temperature (TCase)72 °Cno data
Number of transistorsno data40000 Million
64 bit support++
Windows 11 compatibility+no data
Unlocked multiplier+-

Compatibility

Information on Core i5-12600KF and Apple M2 Pro 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)125 Watt2424 ‑ 3504 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Core i5-12600KF and Apple M2 Pro. 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+-
vPro+no data
Enhanced SpeedStep (EIST)+no data
Speed Shift+no data
Turbo Boost Technology2.0no data
Hyper-Threading Technology+no data
Idle States+no data
Thermal Monitoring+-
Turbo Boost Max 3.0-no data
Deep Learning Boost+-

Security technologies

Core i5-12600KF and Apple M2 Pro technologies aimed at improving security, for example, by protecting against hacks.

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

Virtualization technologies

Virtual machine speed-up technologies supported by Core i5-12600KF and Apple M2 Pro 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 i5-12600KF and Apple M2 Pro. 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 bandwidth76.805 GB/sno data

Graphics specifications

General parameters of integrated GPUs, if any.

Integrated graphics cardno dataApple M2 Pro 19-Core GPU

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Core i5-12600KF and Apple M2 Pro.

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.

i5-12600KF 18.24
+28.5%
Apple M2 Pro 14.20

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.

i5-12600KF 27913
+28.5%
Apple M2 Pro 21726

Gaming performance

Pros & cons summary


Performance score 18.24 14.20
Recency 27 October 2021 17 January 2023
Physical cores 10 12
Threads 16 12
Power consumption (TDP) 125 Watt 2424 Watt

i5-12600KF has a 28.5% higher aggregate performance score, 33.3% more threads, and 1839.2% lower power consumption.

Apple M2 Pro, on the other hand, has an age advantage of 1 year, and 20% more physical cores.

The Core i5-12600KF is our recommended choice as it beats the Apple M2 Pro in performance tests.

Note that Core i5-12600KF is a desktop processor while Apple M2 Pro is a notebook one.


Should you still have questions on choice between Core i5-12600KF and Apple M2 Pro, 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 i5-12600KF
Core i5-12600KF
Apple M2 Pro
M2 Pro

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.


4.4 1721 vote

Rate Core i5-12600KF on a scale of 1 to 5:

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
3.7 170 votes

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

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5

Questions & comments

Here you can ask a question about Core i5-12600KF or Apple M2 Pro, agree or disagree with our judgements, or report an error or mismatch.