Apple M3 Max 16-Core vs Core i9-12900K

Primary details

Comparing Core i9-12900K and Apple M3 Max 16-Core processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in performance ranking	163	224
Place by popularity	not in top-100	not in top-100
Cost-effectiveness evaluation	59.97	no data
Market segment	Desktop processor	Laptop
Series	Intel Core i9	Apple M3
Architecture codename	Alder Lake-S (2022)	no data
Release date	4 November 2021 (2 years ago)	30 October 2023 (less than a year ago)
Launch price (MSRP)	$589	no data
Current price	$424 (0.7x MSRP)	no data

Cost-effectiveness evaluation

Performance per price, higher is better.

Detailed specifications

Core i9-12900K and Apple M3 Max 16-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 cores	16 (Hexadeca-Core)	16 (Hexadeca-Core)
Threads	24	1612 x 4.1  GHz Apple M3 P-Core4 x 2.7  GHz Apple M3 E-Core
Base clock speed	3.2 GHz	2.748 GHz
Boost clock speed	5.2 GHz	4.06 GHz
L1 cache	80K (per core)	no data
L2 cache	1.25 MB (per core)	no data
L3 cache	30 MB (shared)	no data
Chip lithography	10 nm	3 nm
Die size	215.25 mm2"20.5 mm × 10.5 mm	no data
Maximum core temperature	100 °C	no data
Maximum case temperature (TCase)	72 °C	no data
Number of transistors	no data	92000 Million
64 bit support	+	+
Windows 11 compatibility	+	no data
Unlocked multiplier	Yes	No

Compatibility

Information on Core i9-12900K and Apple M3 Max 16-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 configuration	1	no data
Socket	FCLGA1700	no data
Power consumption (TDP)	125 Watt	78 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Core i9-12900K and Apple M3 Max 16-Core. You'll probably need this information if you require some particular technology.

Instruction set extensions	Intel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX2	no data
AES-NI	+	no data
AVX	+	no data
vPro	+	no data
Enhanced SpeedStep (EIST)	+	no data
Speed Shift	+	no data
Turbo Boost Technology	2.0	no data
Hyper-Threading Technology	+	no data
Idle States	+	no data
Thermal Monitoring	+	no data
SIPP	+	no data
Turbo Boost Max 3.0	+	no data
Status	Launched	no data

Security technologies

Core i9-12900K and Apple M3 Max 16-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 i9-12900K and Apple M3 Max 16-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 i9-12900K and Apple M3 Max 16-Core. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory types	DDR4, DDR5	no data
Maximum memory size	128 GB	no data
Max memory channels	2	no data
Maximum memory bandwidth	76.8 GB/s	no data
ECC memory support	+	no data

Graphics specifications

General parameters of integrated GPUs, if any.

Integrated graphics card Compare	Intel UHD Graphics 770	Apple M3 Max 40-Core GPU
Quick Sync Video	+	no data
Clear Video HD	+	no data
Graphics max frequency	1.55 GHz	no data
Execution Units	32	no data

Graphics interfaces

Available interfaces and connections of Core i9-12900K and Apple M3 Max 16-Core integrated GPUs.

Number of displays supported

4

no data

Graphics image quality

Maximum display resolutions supported by Core i9-12900K and Apple M3 Max 16-Core integrated GPUs, including resolutions over different interfaces.

Max resolution over HDMI 1.4	4096 x 2160 @ 60Hz	no data
Max resolution over eDP	5120 x 3200 @ 120Hz	no data
Max resolution over DisplayPort	7680 x 4320 @ 60Hz	no data

Graphics API support

APIs supported by Core i9-12900K and Apple M3 Max 16-Core integrated GPUs, sometimes API versions are included.

DirectX	12	no data
OpenGL	4.5	no data

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Core i9-12900K and Apple M3 Max 16-Core.

PCIe version	5.0 and 4.0	no data
PCI Express lanes	20	no 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.

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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.

Core i9-12900K outperforms Apple M3 Max 16-Core by 23% based on our aggregate benchmark results.

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Pros & cons summary

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Performance score	26.78	21.84
Recency	4 November 2021	30 October 2023
Threads	24	1612 x 4.1 GHz Apple M3 P-Core4 x 2.7 GHz Apple M3 E-Core
Chip lithography	10 nm	3 nm
Power consumption (TDP)	125 Watt	78 Watt

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Should you still have questions on choice between Core i9-12900K and Apple M3 Max 16-Core, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

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