i3-12100 vs Apple M3 Max 16-Core

VS

Aggregate performance score

Apple M3 Max 16-Core
2023
16 cores / 16 threads, 78 Watt
25.87
+202%
Core i3-12100
2022
4 cores / 8 threads, 60 Watt
8.57

Apple M3 Max 16-Core outperforms Core i3-12100 by a whopping 202% based on our aggregate benchmark results.

Primary details

Comparing M3 Max 16-Core and Core i3-12100 processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in the ranking193888
Place by popularitynot in top-100not in top-100
Market segmentLaptopDesktop processor
SeriesApple M3no data
Power efficiency31.3913.52
Architecture codenameno dataAlder Lake-S (2022)
Release date30 October 2023 (1 year ago)4 January 2022 (2 years ago)

Detailed specifications

M3 Max 16-Core and Core i3-12100 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)4 (Quad-Core)
Performance-coresno data4
Threads168
Base clock speed2.748 GHz3.3 GHz
Boost clock speed4.06 GHz4.3 GHz
L1 cacheno data80K (per core)
L2 cacheno data1.25 MB (per core)
L3 cacheno data12 MB (shared)
Chip lithography3 nmIntel 7 nm
Die sizeno data163 mm2
Maximum core temperatureno data100 °C
Number of transistors92000 Millionno data
64 bit support++
Windows 11 compatibilityno data+

Compatibility

Information on M3 Max 16-Core and Core i3-12100 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)78 Watt60 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by M3 Max 16-Core and Core i3-12100. 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-+
Enhanced SpeedStep (EIST)no data+
Speed Shiftno data+
Turbo Boost Technologyno data2.0
Hyper-Threading Technologyno data+
TSX-+
Idle Statesno data+
Thermal Monitoring-+
Turbo Boost Max 3.0no data-
Deep Learning Boost-+

Security technologies

M3 Max 16-Core and Core i3-12100 technologies aimed at improving security, for example, by protecting against hacks.

TXTno data+
EDBno data+
Secure Keyno data+
OS Guardno data+

Virtualization technologies

Virtual machine speed-up technologies supported by M3 Max 16-Core and Core i3-12100 are enumerated here.

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

Memory specs

Types, maximum amount and channel quantity of RAM supported by M3 Max 16-Core and Core i3-12100. 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 data76.8 GB/s

Graphics specifications

General parameters of integrated GPUs, if any.

Integrated graphics card
Compare
Apple M3 Max 40-Core GPUIntel UHD Graphics 730
Quick Sync Video-+
Clear Video HDno data+
Graphics max frequencyno data1.4 GHz
Execution Unitsno data24

Graphics interfaces

Available interfaces and connections of M3 Max 16-Core and Core i3-12100 integrated GPUs.

Number of displays supportedno data4

Graphics image quality

Maximum display resolutions supported by M3 Max 16-Core and Core i3-12100 integrated GPUs, including resolutions over different interfaces.

Max resolution over HDMI 1.4no data4096 x 2160 @ 60Hz
Max resolution over eDPno data5120 x 3200 @ 120Hz
Max resolution over DisplayPortno data7680 x 4320 @ 60Hz

Graphics API support

APIs supported by M3 Max 16-Core and Core i3-12100 integrated GPUs, sometimes API versions are included.

DirectXno data12
OpenGLno data4.5

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by M3 Max 16-Core and Core i3-12100.

PCIe versionno data5.0 and 4.0
PCI Express lanesno data20

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.

Apple M3 Max 16-Core 25.87
+202%
i3-12100 8.57

  • Passmark

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.

Apple M3 Max 16-Core 41091
+202%
i3-12100 13613

Gaming performance

Pros & cons summary


Performance score 25.87 8.57
Recency 30 October 2023 4 January 2022
Physical cores 16 4
Threads 16 8
Power consumption (TDP) 78 Watt 60 Watt

Apple M3 Max 16-Core has a 201.9% higher aggregate performance score, an age advantage of 1 year, and 300% more physical cores and 100% more threads.

i3-12100, on the other hand, has 30% lower power consumption.

The M3 Max 16-Core is our recommended choice as it beats the Core i3-12100 in performance tests.

Be aware that Apple M3 Max 16-Core is a notebook processor while Core i3-12100 is a desktop one.


Should you still have questions on choice between Apple M3 Max 16-Core and Core i3-12100, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

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Apple M3 Max 16-Core
M3 Max 16-Core
Intel Core i3-12100
Core i3-12100

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Community ratings

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3.1 277 votes

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4.1 1769 votes

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Questions & comments

Here you can ask a question about M3 Max 16-Core or Core i3-12100, agree or disagree with our judgements, or report an error or mismatch.