i9-12900K vs Apple M4 Pro (12 cores)

VS

Aggregate performance score

Apple M4 Pro (12 cores)
2024
12 cores / 12 threads, 32 Watt
27.99
+7.2%
Core i9-12900K
2021
16 cores / 24 threads, 125 Watt
26.11

Apple M4 Pro (12 cores) outperforms Core i9-12900K by a small 7% based on our aggregate benchmark results.

Primary details

Comparing Apple M4 Pro (12 cores) and Core i9-12900K processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in the ranking167188
Place by popularitynot in top-100not in top-100
Cost-effectiveness evaluationno data37.46
Market segmentDesktop processorDesktop processor
SeriesApple M4Intel Core i9
Power efficiency82.7819.77
Architecture codenameno dataAlder Lake, Golden Cove, Gracemont (2021)
Release date30 October 2024 (less than a year ago)4 November 2021 (3 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)no data$589

Cost-effectiveness evaluation

Performance per price, higher is better.

no data

Detailed specifications

Apple M4 Pro (12 cores) and Core i9-12900K 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 cores12 (Dodeca-Core)16 (Hexadeca-Core)
Threads1224
Base clock speed2.592 GHz3.2 GHz
Boost clock speed4.51 GHz5.2 GHz
Bus typeno dataDMI 4.0
Bus rateno data8 × 16 GT/s
Multiplierno data32
L1 cacheno data80K (per core)
L2 cache4 MB1.25 MB (per core)
L3 cacheno data30 MB (shared)
Chip lithography3 nm10 nm
Die sizeno data215.25 mm2"
Maximum core temperatureno data100 °C
Maximum case temperature (TCase)no data72 °C
64 bit support++
Windows 11 compatibilityno data+
Unlocked multiplier-+

Compatibility

Information on Apple M4 Pro (12 cores) and Core i9-12900K 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)32 Watt125 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Apple M4 Pro (12 cores) and Core i9-12900K. 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-+
vProno data+
Enhanced SpeedStep (EIST)no data+
Speed Shiftno data+
Turbo Boost Technologyno data2.0
Hyper-Threading Technologyno data+
Idle Statesno data+
Thermal Monitoring-+
SIPP-+
Turbo Boost Max 3.0no data+
Deep Learning Boost-+

Security technologies

Apple M4 Pro (12 cores) and Core i9-12900K 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 Apple M4 Pro (12 cores) and Core i9-12900K are enumerated here.

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

Memory specs

Types, maximum amount and channel quantity of RAM supported by Apple M4 Pro (12 cores) and Core i9-12900K. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory typesDDR5DDR4, DDR5
Maximum memory sizeno data128 GB
Max memory channelsno data2
Maximum memory bandwidthno data76.805 GB/s
ECC memory support-+

Graphics specifications

General parameters of integrated GPUs, if any.

Integrated graphics card
Compare
Apple M4 16-core GPUIntel UHD Graphics 770
Quick Sync Video-+
Clear Video HDno data+
Graphics max frequencyno data1.55 GHz
Execution Unitsno data32

Graphics interfaces

Available interfaces and connections of Apple M4 Pro (12 cores) and Core i9-12900K integrated GPUs.

Number of displays supportedno data4

Graphics image quality

Maximum display resolutions supported by Apple M4 Pro (12 cores) and Core i9-12900K 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 Apple M4 Pro (12 cores) and Core i9-12900K integrated GPUs, sometimes API versions are included.

DirectXno data12
OpenGLno data4.5

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Apple M4 Pro (12 cores) and Core i9-12900K.

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 M4 Pro (12 cores) 27.99
+7.2%
i9-12900K 26.11

Geekbench 5.5 Multi-Core

Apple M4 Pro (12 cores) 19529
+9.9%
i9-12900K 17776

CrossMark Overall

Apple M4 Pro (12 cores) 2123
i9-12900K 2308
+8.7%

Gaming performance

Pros & cons summary


Performance score 27.99 26.11
Recency 30 October 2024 4 November 2021
Physical cores 12 16
Threads 12 24
Chip lithography 3 nm 10 nm
Power consumption (TDP) 32 Watt 125 Watt

Apple M4 Pro (12 cores) has a 7.2% higher aggregate performance score, an age advantage of 2 years, a 233.3% more advanced lithography process, and 290.6% lower power consumption.

i9-12900K, on the other hand, has 33.3% more physical cores and 100% more threads.

Given the minimal performance differences, no clear winner can be declared between Apple M4 Pro (12 cores) and Core i9-12900K.


Should you still have questions on choice between Apple M4 Pro (12 cores) and Core i9-12900K, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

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Apple M4 Pro (12 cores)
M4 Pro (12 cores)
Intel Core i9-12900K
Core i9-12900K

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