Apple M3 Pro 12-Core vs i9-12900HK

Primary details

Comparing Core i9-12900HK and M3 Pro 12-Core processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in the ranking	375	416
Place by popularity	not in top-100	not in top-100
Market segment	Laptop	Laptop
Series	Intel Alder Lake-P	Apple M3
Power efficiency	36.05	56.47
Architecture codename	Alder Lake-H (2022)	no data
Release date	4 January 2022 (2 years ago)	30 October 2023 (1 year ago)

Detailed specifications

Core i9-12900HK and M3 Pro 12-Core 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 cores	14 (Tetradeca-Core)	12 (Dodeca-Core)
Threads	20	12
Base clock speed	2.5 GHz	2.748 GHz
Boost clock speed	5 GHz	4.06 GHz
L1 cache	80K (per core)	no data
L2 cache	1.25 MB (per core)	no data
L3 cache	24 MB (shared)	no data
Chip lithography	Intel 7 nm	3 nm
Die size	217 mm2	no data
Maximum core temperature	100 °C	no data
Number of transistors	no data	37000 Million
64 bit support	+	+
Windows 11 compatibility	+	no data
Unlocked multiplier	+	-

Compatibility

Information on Core i9-12900HK and M3 Pro 12-Core 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 configuration	1	no data
Socket	FCBGA1744	no data
Power consumption (TDP)	45 Watt	27 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Core i9-12900HK and M3 Pro 12-Core. You'll probably need this information if you require some particular technology.

Instruction set extensions	Intel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX2	no data
AES-NI	+	-
AVX	+	-
Enhanced SpeedStep (EIST)	+	no data
Speed Shift	+	no data
Hyper-Threading Technology	+	no data
TSX	+	-
Thermal Monitoring	+	-
Flex Memory Access	+	no data
Turbo Boost Max 3.0	+	no data
Deep Learning Boost	+	-

Security technologies

Core i9-12900HK and M3 Pro 12-Core 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 i9-12900HK and M3 Pro 12-Core 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 i9-12900HK and M3 Pro 12-Core. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory types	DDR4, DDR5	no data
Maximum memory size	64 GB	no data
Max memory channels	2	no data

Graphics specifications

General parameters of integrated GPUs, if any.

Integrated graphics card	Intel® Iris® Xe Graphics eligible	Apple M3 Pro 18-Core GPU
Quick Sync Video	+	-
Graphics max frequency	1.45 GHz	no data
Execution Units	96	no data

Graphics interfaces

Available interfaces and connections of Core i9-12900HK and M3 Pro 12-Core integrated GPUs.

Number of displays supported

4

no data

Graphics image quality

Maximum display resolutions supported by Core i9-12900HK and M3 Pro 12-Core integrated GPUs, including resolutions over different interfaces.

Max resolution over HDMI 1.4	4096 x 2304 @ 60Hz	no data
Max resolution over eDP	4096 x 2304 @ 120Hz	no data
Max resolution over DisplayPort	7680 x 4320 @ 60Hz	no data

Graphics API support

APIs supported by Core i9-12900HK and M3 Pro 12-Core integrated GPUs, sometimes API versions are included.

DirectX	12.1	no data
OpenGL	4.6	no data

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Core i9-12900HK and M3 Pro 12-Core.

PCIe version	4.0	no data
PCI Express lanes	20	no 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.

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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.

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Pros & cons summary

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Performance score	17.14	16.11
Recency	4 January 2022	30 October 2023
Physical cores	14	12
Threads	20	12
Power consumption (TDP)	45 Watt	27 Watt

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Should you still have questions on choice between Core i9-12900HK and Apple M3 Pro 12-Core, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

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