Core i9-12900HX vs M4 Pro (12 cores)
Core i9-12900HX
M4 Pro (12 cores)
Performance Spectrum - CPU
About PassMark
PassMark CPU Mark evaluates processor speed through complex mathematical computations. It provides a reliable metric to compare multi-core performance, where higher scores indicate faster processing for multitasking, gaming, and heavy workloads.
Value Upgrade Path
This is the official ChipVERSUS Value Rating, comparing raw performance (PassMark) per dollar. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i9-12900HX
Performance Per Dollar M4 Pro (12 cores)
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i9-12900HX | M4 Pro (12 cores) |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($606) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Alder Lake-HX (2022) / Intel 7 nm) | ✨ Modern (Legacy / 3 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i9-12900HX | M4 Pro (12 cores) |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($606) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
Performance Check
To accurately isolate CPU performance, all benchmarks below use an NVIDIA RTX 4090 as the reference GPU. This eliminates GPU-side bottlenecks and highlights pure processing throughput differences between the CPUs.
Note: Real-world results may vary based on your actual GPU. CPU performance impact is more visible in processing-intensive titles and high-refresh-rate gaming scenarios.
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of Core i9-12900HX and M4 Pro (12 cores)
Core i9-12900HX
The Core i9-12900HX is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 10 May 2022 (3 years ago). It is based on the Alder Lake-HX (2022) architecture. It features 16 cores and 24 threads. Base frequency is 2.3 GHz, with boost up to 5 GHz. L3 cache: 30 MB (total). L2 cache: 1.25 MB (per core). Built on Intel 7 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1964. Thermal design power (TDP): 55 Watt. Memory support: DDR4, DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 33,018 points. Launch price was $499.
M4 Pro (12 cores)
The M4 Pro (12 cores) is manufactured by Apple. It was released in 30 October 2024 (1 year ago). It features 12 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 2.592 GHz, with boost up to 4.51 GHz. L2 cache: 4 MB. Built on 3 nm process technology. Socket: none. Thermal design power (TDP): 4 MB. Memory support: LPDDR5X. Passmark benchmark score: 32,853 points. Launch price was $499.
Processing Power
The Core i9-12900HX packs 16 cores / 24 threads, while the M4 Pro (12 cores) offers 12 cores / 12 threads — the Core i9-12900HX has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 5 GHz on the Core i9-12900HX versus 4.51 GHz on the M4 Pro (12 cores) — a 10.3% clock advantage for the Core i9-12900HX (base: 2.3 GHz vs 2.592 GHz). The Core i9-12900HX is built on the Alder Lake-HX (2022) architecture. In PassMark, the Core i9-12900HX scores 33,018 against the M4 Pro (12 cores)'s 32,853 — a 0.5% lead for the Core i9-12900HX. Cinebench R23 multi-core: 23,150 vs 18,904 (20.2% advantage for the Core i9-12900HX). Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 2,426 vs 3,812, a 44.4% lead for the M4 Pro (12 cores) that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 14,620 vs 20,076 (31.5% advantage for the M4 Pro (12 cores)).
| Feature | Core i9-12900HX | M4 Pro (12 cores) |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 16 / 24+33% | 12 / 12 |
| Boost Clock | 5 GHz+11% | 4.51 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.3 GHz | 2.592 GHz+13% |
| L3 Cache | 30 MB (total) | — |
| L2 Cache | 1.25 MB (per core) | 4 MB+220% |
| Process | Intel 7 nm | 3 nm-57% |
| Architecture | Alder Lake-HX (2022) | — |
| PassMark | 33,018 | 32,853 |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | 23,150+22% | 18,904 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 2,426 | 3,812+57% |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 14,620 | 20,076+37% |
Memory & Platform
The Core i9-12900HX uses the FCBGA1964 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the M4 Pro (12 cores) uses none (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200 memory speed. The Core i9-12900HX supports up to 128 GB of RAM compared to 64 GB — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 2 (Core i9-12900HX) vs 1 (M4 Pro (12 cores)). PCIe lanes: 48 (Core i9-12900HX) vs 0 (M4 Pro (12 cores)) — the Core i9-12900HX offers 48 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: HM670,WM690 (Core i9-12900HX) and Apple SoC (M4 Pro (12 cores)).
| Feature | Core i9-12900HX | M4 Pro (12 cores) |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FCBGA1964 | none |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 5.0+25% | PCIe 4.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200 | LPDDR5x-8000 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 128 GB+100% | 64 GB |
| RAM Channels | 2+100% | 1 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 48 | 0 |
Advanced Features
Only the Core i9-12900HX has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i9-12900HX) vs Apple Virtualization (M4 Pro (12 cores)). Both include integrated graphics — UHD Graphics 770 (Core i9-12900HX) and M4 Pro 16-core GPU (M4 Pro (12 cores)) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i9-12900HX targets High-end Mobile Performance, M4 Pro (12 cores) targets High-end Content Creation. Direct competitor: Core i9-12900HX rivals Ryzen 9 6900HX; M4 Pro (12 cores) rivals Ryzen 9 8945HS.
| Feature | Core i9-12900HX | M4 Pro (12 cores) |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | Yes |
| IGPU Model | UHD Graphics 770 | M4 Pro 16-core GPU |
| Unlocked | Yes | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d, EPT | Apple Virtualization |
| Target Use | High-end Mobile Performance | High-end Content Creation |
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