Apple M2 Pro vs i9-12900K

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Aggregate performance score

Core i9-12900K
2021
16 cores / 24 threads, 125 Watt
26.09
+90%
Apple M2 Pro
2023
12 cores / 12 threads
13.73

Core i9-12900K outperforms Apple M2 Pro by an impressive 90% based on our aggregate benchmark results.

Primary details

Comparing Core i9-12900K and M2 Pro processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in the ranking191544
Place by popularitynot in top-100not in top-100
Cost-effectiveness evaluation37.30no data
Market segmentDesktop processorLaptop
SeriesIntel Core i9Apple Apple M-Series
Power efficiency19.75no 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)$589no data

Cost-effectiveness evaluation

Performance per price, higher is better.

no data

Detailed specifications

Core i9-12900K and 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 cores16 (Hexadeca-Core)12 (Dodeca-Core)
Threads2412
Base clock speed3.2 GHz2.424 GHz
Boost clock speed5.2 GHz3.5 GHz
Bus typeDMI 4.0no data
Bus rate8 × 16 GT/sno data
Multiplier32no data
L1 cache768 KB3.3 MB
L2 cache4 MB36 MB
L3 cache6 MB24 MB
Chip lithography10 nm5 nm
Die size215.25 mm2"no 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 i9-12900K and 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 Wattno data

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Core i9-12900K and 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+-
SIPP+-
Turbo Boost Max 3.0+no data
Deep Learning Boost+-

Security technologies

Core i9-12900K and M2 Pro 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 i9-12900K and 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 i9-12900K and M2 Pro. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory typesDDR4, DDR5no data
Maximum memory size128 GBno data
Max memory channels2no data
Maximum memory bandwidth76.805 GB/sno data
ECC memory support+-

Graphics specifications

General parameters of integrated GPUs, if any.

Integrated graphics card
Compare
Intel UHD Graphics 770Apple M2 Pro 19-Core GPU
Quick Sync Video+-
Clear Video HD+no data
Graphics max frequency1.55 GHzno data
Execution Units32no data

Graphics interfaces

Available interfaces and connections of Core i9-12900K and M2 Pro integrated GPUs.

Number of displays supported4no data

Graphics image quality

Maximum display resolutions supported by Core i9-12900K and M2 Pro 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 i9-12900K and M2 Pro integrated GPUs, sometimes API versions are included.

DirectX12no data
OpenGL4.5no data

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Core i9-12900K and 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.

i9-12900K 26.09
+90%
Apple M2 Pro 13.73

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.

i9-12900K 41435
+90.1%
Apple M2 Pro 21802

Cinebench 15 64-bit multi-core

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

i9-12900K 4057
+96.1%
Apple M2 Pro 2069

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.

i9-12900K 289
+25.7%
Apple M2 Pro 230

Geekbench 5.5 Multi-Core

i9-12900K 17776
+18.4%
Apple M2 Pro 15010

WebXPRT 3

i9-12900K 325
Apple M2 Pro 386
+18.8%

CrossMark Overall

i9-12900K 2308
+27.9%
Apple M2 Pro 1805

Gaming performance

Pros & cons summary


Performance score 26.09 13.73
Recency 27 October 2021 17 January 2023
Physical cores 16 12
Threads 24 12
Chip lithography 10 nm 5 nm

i9-12900K has a 90% higher aggregate performance score, and 33.3% more physical cores and 100% more threads.

Apple M2 Pro, on the other hand, has an age advantage of 1 year, and a 100% more advanced lithography process.

The Core i9-12900K is our recommended choice as it beats the M2 Pro in performance tests.

Note that Core i9-12900K is a desktop processor while Apple M2 Pro is a notebook one.


Should you still have questions on choice between Core i9-12900K and Apple M2 Pro, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

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Intel Core i9-12900K
Core i9-12900K
Apple M2 Pro
M2 Pro

Similar processor comparisons

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Community ratings

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Questions & comments

Here you can ask a question about Core i9-12900K or M2 Pro, agree or disagree with our judgements, or report an error or mismatch.