Apple M3 Pro 12-Core vs i5-12600K

VS

Aggregate performance score

Core i5-12600K
2021
10 cores / 16 threads, 125 Watt
17.43
+8.1%
Apple M3 Pro 12-Core
2023
12 cores / 12 threads, 27 Watt
16.12

Core i5-12600K outperforms Apple M3 Pro 12-Core by a small 8% based on our aggregate benchmark results.

Primary details

Comparing Core i5-12600K and Apple M3 Pro 12-Core processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in the ranking364416
Place by popularitynot in top-100not in top-100
Cost-effectiveness evaluation44.03no data
Market segmentDesktop processorLaptop
SeriesIntel Core i5Apple M3
Power efficiency13.2056.50
Architecture codenameAlder Lake, Golden Cove, Gracemont (2021)no data
Release date4 November 2021 (3 years ago)30 October 2023 (1 year ago)
Launch price (MSRP)$289no data

Cost-effectiveness evaluation

Performance per price, higher is better.

no data

Detailed specifications

Core i5-12600K and Apple 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 cores10 (Deca-Core)12 (Dodeca-Core)
Threads1612
Base clock speed3.7 GHz2.748 GHz
Boost clock speed4.9 GHz4.06 GHz
Bus typeDMI 4.0no data
Bus rate8 × 16 GT/sno data
Multiplier37no data
L1 cache80K (per core)no data
L2 cache1.25 MB (per core)no data
L3 cache20 MB (shared)no data
Chip lithographyIntel 7 nm3 nm
Die size215.25 mm2no data
Maximum core temperature100 °Cno data
Maximum case temperature (TCase)72 °Cno data
Number of transistorsno data37000 Million
64 bit support++
Windows 11 compatibility+no data
Unlocked multiplier+-

Compatibility

Information on Core i5-12600K and Apple 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 configuration1no data
SocketFCLGA1700no data
Power consumption (TDP)125 Watt27 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Core i5-12600K and Apple M3 Pro 12-Core. 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+-
FMA+-
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 i5-12600K and Apple 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 i5-12600K and Apple 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 i5-12600K and Apple M3 Pro 12-Core. 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 M3 Pro 18-Core GPU
Quick Sync Video+-
Clear Video HD+no data
Graphics max frequency1.45 GHzno data
Execution Units32no data

Graphics interfaces

Available interfaces and connections of Core i5-12600K and Apple M3 Pro 12-Core integrated GPUs.

Number of displays supported4no data

Graphics image quality

Maximum display resolutions supported by Core i5-12600K and Apple M3 Pro 12-Core 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 i5-12600K and Apple M3 Pro 12-Core integrated GPUs, sometimes API versions are included.

DirectX12no data
OpenGL4.5no data

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Core i5-12600K and Apple M3 Pro 12-Core.

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.

i5-12600K 17.43
+8.1%
Apple M3 Pro 12-Core 16.12

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.

i5-12600K 27684
+8.1%
Apple M3 Pro 12-Core 25611

Cinebench 15 64-bit multi-core

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

i5-12600K 2555
+18.1%
Apple M3 Pro 12-Core 2163

Geekbench 5.5 Multi-Core

i5-12600K 12797
Apple M3 Pro 12-Core 15298
+19.5%

Geekbench 5.5 Single-Core

i5-12600K 1904
Apple M3 Pro 12-Core 2327
+22.2%

WebXPRT 3

i5-12600K 293
Apple M3 Pro 12-Core 427
+45.7%

CrossMark Overall

i5-12600K 1637
Apple M3 Pro 12-Core 1977
+20.8%

Gaming performance

Pros & cons summary


Performance score 17.43 16.12
Recency 4 November 2021 30 October 2023
Physical cores 10 12
Threads 16 12
Power consumption (TDP) 125 Watt 27 Watt

i5-12600K has a 8.1% higher aggregate performance score, and 33.3% more threads.

Apple M3 Pro 12-Core, on the other hand, has an age advantage of 1 year, 20% more physical cores, and 363% lower power consumption.

Given the minimal performance differences, no clear winner can be declared between Core i5-12600K and Apple M3 Pro 12-Core.

Note that Core i5-12600K is a desktop processor while Apple M3 Pro 12-Core is a notebook one.


Should you still have questions on choice between Core i5-12600K and Apple M3 Pro 12-Core, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

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Intel Core i5-12600K
Core i5-12600K
Apple M3 Pro 12-Core
M3 Pro 12-Core

Similar processor comparisons

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Community ratings

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4 2719 votes

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Questions & comments

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