Apple M2 Pro vs i7-1260U

Aggregate performance score

Core i7-1260U
2022
10 cores / 12 threads, 9 Watt
8.81
Apple M2 Pro
2023
12 cores / 12 threads, 2424 Watt
13.70
+55.5%

Apple M2 Pro outperforms Core i7-1260U by an impressive 56% based on our aggregate benchmark results.

Primary details

Comparing Core i7-1260U and Apple M2 Pro processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in the ranking861537
Place by popularitynot in top-100not in top-100
Market segmentLaptopLaptop
SeriesIntel Alder Lake-MApple Apple M-Series
Power efficiency92.64no data
Architecture codenameAlder Lake-U (2022)no data
Release date23 February 2022 (2 years ago)17 January 2023 (1 year ago)

Detailed specifications

Core i7-1260U and Apple 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 cores10 (Deca-Core)12 (Dodeca-Core)
Threads1212
Base clock speed1.1 GHz2.424 GHz
Boost clock speed4.7 GHz3.5 GHz
L1 cache80K (per core)3.3 MB
L2 cache1.25 MB (per core)36 MB
L3 cache12 MB (shared)24 MB
Chip lithographyIntel 7 nm5 nm
Maximum core temperature100 °Cno data
Number of transistorsno data40000 Million
64 bit support++
Windows 11 compatibility+no data

Compatibility

Information on Core i7-1260U and Apple 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
SocketFCBGA1781no data
Power consumption (TDP)9 Watt2424 ‑ 3504 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Core i7-1260U and Apple 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+-
FMA+-
AVX+-
Enhanced SpeedStep (EIST)+no data
Speed Shift+no data
Hyper-Threading Technology+no data
TSX+-
Thermal Monitoring+-
Flex Memory Access-no data
SIPP+-
Deep Learning Boost+-

Security technologies

Core i7-1260U and Apple 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 i7-1260U and Apple 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 i7-1260U and Apple M2 Pro. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory typesDDR4, DDR5no data
Maximum memory size64 GBno data
Max memory channels2no data

Graphics specifications

General parameters of integrated GPUs, if any.

Integrated graphics cardIntel® Iris® Xe Graphics eligibleApple M2 Pro 19-Core GPU
Quick Sync Video+-
Graphics max frequency950 MHzno data
Execution Units96no data

Graphics interfaces

Available interfaces and connections of Core i7-1260U and Apple M2 Pro integrated GPUs.

Number of displays supported4no data

Graphics image quality

Maximum display resolutions supported by Core i7-1260U and Apple M2 Pro integrated GPUs, including resolutions over different interfaces.

Max resolution over HDMI 1.44096 x 2304 @ 60Hzno data
Max resolution over eDP4096 x 2304 @ 120Hzno data
Max resolution over DisplayPort7680 x 4320 @ 60Hzno data

Graphics API support

APIs supported by Core i7-1260U and Apple M2 Pro integrated GPUs, sometimes API versions are included.

DirectX12.1no data
OpenGL4.6no data

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Core i7-1260U and Apple M2 Pro.

PCIe version4.0no data
PCI Express lanes14no 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.

i7-1260U 8.81
Apple M2 Pro 13.70
+55.5%

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.

i7-1260U 14001
Apple M2 Pro 21754
+55.4%

Cinebench 15 64-bit multi-core

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

i7-1260U 1203
Apple M2 Pro 2069
+72%

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.

i7-1260U 220
Apple M2 Pro 230
+4.8%

Geekbench 5.5 Multi-Core

i7-1260U 7258
Apple M2 Pro 15010
+107%

WebXPRT 3

i7-1260U 246
Apple M2 Pro 386
+56.9%

Gaming performance

Pros & cons summary


Performance score 8.81 13.70
Recency 23 February 2022 17 January 2023
Physical cores 10 12
Power consumption (TDP) 9 Watt 2424 Watt

i7-1260U has 26833.3% lower power consumption.

Apple M2 Pro, on the other hand, has a 55.5% higher aggregate performance score, an age advantage of 10 months, and 20% more physical cores.

The Apple M2 Pro is our recommended choice as it beats the Core i7-1260U in performance tests.


Should you still have questions on choice between Core i7-1260U and Apple M2 Pro, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

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Intel Core i7-1260U
Core i7-1260U
Apple M2 Pro
M2 Pro

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Community ratings

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Questions & comments

Here you can ask a question about Core i7-1260U or Apple M2 Pro, agree or disagree with our judgements, or report an error or mismatch.