M1 Pro vs Core i5-12600T
M1 Pro
Core i5-12600T
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 M1 Pro
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-12600T
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | M1 Pro | Core i5-12600T |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($223) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Legacy / 5 nm) | ✨ Modern (Alder Lake-S (2022) / Intel 7 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | M1 Pro | Core i5-12600T |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($223) |
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 M1 Pro and Core i5-12600T
M1 Pro
The M1 Pro is manufactured by Apple. It was released in 18 October 2021 (4 years ago). It features 10 cores and 10 threads. Base frequency is 2.064 GHz, with boost up to 3.22 GHz. L3 cache: 24 MB. L2 cache: 28 MB. Built on 5 nm process technology. Socket: none. Thermal design power (TDP): 28 MB + 24 MB. Memory support: LPDDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 17,218 points. Launch price was $299.
Core i5-12600T
The Core i5-12600T is manufactured by Intel. It was released in Janeiro 2022 (3 years ago). It is based on the Alder Lake-S (2022) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 2.1 GHz, with boost up to 4.6 GHz. L3 cache: 18 MB (total). L2 cache: 1.25 MB (per core). Built on Intel 7 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1700. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200. Passmark benchmark score: 17,427 points. Launch price was $299.
Processing Power
The M1 Pro packs 10 cores / 10 threads, while the Core i5-12600T offers 6 cores / 12 threads — the M1 Pro has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.22 GHz on the M1 Pro versus 4.6 GHz on the Core i5-12600T — a 35.3% clock advantage for the Core i5-12600T (base: 2.064 GHz vs 2.1 GHz). The Core i5-12600T is built on the Alder Lake-S (2022) architecture. In PassMark, the M1 Pro scores 17,218 against the Core i5-12600T's 17,427 — a 1.2% lead for the Core i5-12600T. L3 cache: 24 MB on the M1 Pro vs 18 MB (total) on the Core i5-12600T.
| Feature | M1 Pro | Core i5-12600T |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 10 / 10+67% | 6 / 12 |
| Boost Clock | 3.22 GHz | 4.6 GHz+43% |
| Base Clock | 2.064 GHz | 2.1 GHz+2% |
| L3 Cache | 24 MB+33% | 18 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 28 MB+2140% | 1.25 MB (per core) |
| Process | 5 nm-29% | Intel 7 nm |
| Architecture | — | Alder Lake-S (2022) |
| PassMark | 17,218 | 17,427+1% |
Memory & Platform
The M1 Pro uses the none socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Core i5-12600T uses LGA1700 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | M1 Pro | Core i5-12600T |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | none | LGA1700 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 4.0+33% | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR5-4800 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 128 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 2 |
| ECC Support | — | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 20 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (M1 Pro) / VT-x, VT-d (Core i5-12600T). The Core i5-12600T includes integrated graphics (UHD Graphics 770), while the M1 Pro requires a dedicated GPU.
| Feature | M1 Pro | Core i5-12600T |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | UHD Graphics 770 |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | Yes |
| Virtualization | — | VT-x, VT-d |
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