Apple M2 Max (12-core) vs Intel Core i9-12900HK
47.6Single-core48.3
41.5Multi-core40.9
80Efficiency40.5
—iGPU42
52.8Platform59
6 spec wins — Apple M2 Max (12-core)6 spec wins — Intel Core i9-12900HK
InnoReviews verdict
Apple M2 Max (12-core) wins this laptop processor face-off, 51.5 to 45.5, pulling ahead mainly in efficiency (+40) and Multi-core (+1). Intel Core i9-12900HK still makes sense if its price or standout specs fit your needs better.
Which would you pick?
Key differences
Reasons to pick the Apple M2 Max (12-core)
- Stronger efficiency score: 80 vs 41
- 50% lower process: 5 nm vs 10 nm
- 50% higher Max memory: 96 GB vs 64 GB
- 33% higher Performance cores: 8 vs 6
- 14% higher Geekbench 6 (multi): 14,500 vs 12,700
Reasons to pick the Intel Core i9-12900HK
- Stronger platform score: 59 vs 53
- 100% higher Efficiency cores: 8 vs 4
- 67% higher threads: 20 vs 12
- 36% higher Boost clock: 5 GHz vs 3.7 GHz
- 21% higher Cinebench R23 (multi): 17,600 vs 14,600
General
| Spec | Apple M2 Max (12-core) | Intel Core i9-12900HK |
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2023 | 2022 |
| Process | 5 nm+50% | 10 nm |
| Base TDP | — | 45 W |
| Max TDP | — | 115 W |
Cores & Clocks
| Spec | Apple M2 Max (12-core) | Intel Core i9-12900HK |
|---|---|---|
| Cores | 12 | 14+17% |
| Performance cores | 8+33% | 6 |
| Efficiency cores | 4 | 8+100% |
| Threads | 12 | 20+67% |
| Base clock | — | 2.5 GHz |
| Boost clock | 3.7 GHz | 5 GHz+36% |
| L3 cache | — | 24 MB |
Integrated GPU
| Spec | Apple M2 Max (12-core) | Intel Core i9-12900HK |
|---|---|---|
| iGPU | Apple 38-core GPU | Intel Iris Xe (96 EU) |
| iGPU clock | — | 1,450 MHz |
Memory
| Spec | Apple M2 Max (12-core) | Intel Core i9-12900HK |
|---|---|---|
| Memory support | LPDDR5-6400 | DDR5-4800 / LPDDR5-5200 / DDR4-3200 |
| Max memory | 96 GB+50% | 64 GB |
Benchmarks
| Spec | Apple M2 Max (12-core) | Intel Core i9-12900HK |
|---|---|---|
| Geekbench 6 (single) | 2,760+13% | 2,450 |
| Geekbench 6 (multi) | 14,500+14% | 12,700 |
| Cinebench R23 (single) | 1,600 | 1,810+13% |
| Cinebench R23 (multi) | 14,600 | 17,600+21% |
| PassMark | — | 28,200 |
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