M1 Pro
VS
Core i5-13420H

M1 Pro vs Core i5-13420H

M1 Pro

10 Cores10 Thrd28 WWMax: 3.22 GHz2021
VS
Intel

Core i5-13420H

8 Cores12 Thrd45 WWMax: 4.6 GHz2023

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.

MSRP is the manufacturer's suggested retail price.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.

Performance Per Dollar M1 Pro

#208
M1 Pro
MSRP: N/A|Avg: N/A
100%
Based on actual market prices and performance synthetic scores.

Performance Per Dollar Core i5-13420H

#119
Ryzen 7 PRO 250
MSRP: $400|Avg: $380
108%
#120
Core i7-11850HE
MSRP: $400|Avg: $75
106%
#124
Core i5-1240P
MSRP: $309|Avg: $200
104%
#125
Core i7-13700H
MSRP: $502|Avg: N/A
103%
#132
Core i5-13420H
MSRP: N/A|Avg: N/A
100%
#144
Core i7-12650H
MSRP: $457|Avg: N/A
95%
Based on actual market prices and performance synthetic scores.

Performance Comparison

About PassMark

🏆 Chipversus Verdict

🚀 Performance Leadership

Performance Trade-off: The Core i5-13420H leads in gaming performance. However, the M1 Pro is the stronger candidate for professional workloads, offering 0.1% greater multi-core processing power.
InsightM1 ProCore i5-13420H
Gaming
Lower gaming performance
Superior gaming performance
Workstation
Better multi-core power
Weaker in multi-core tasks
Price
Equivalent pricing
Equivalent pricing
Longevity
✨ Modern (Legacy / 5 nm)
✨ Modern (Raptor Lake-H (2023−2024) / Intel 7 nm)

💎 Value Proposition

InsightM1 ProCore i5-13420H
Cost Efficiency
Lower cost efficiency
Lower cost efficiency
Upfront Cost
Equivalent pricing
Equivalent pricing

Performance Check

Paired with RTX 4090

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 i5-13420H

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.

Intel

Core i5-13420H

The Core i5-13420H is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 4 January 2023 (2 years ago). It is based on the Raptor Lake-H (2023−2024) architecture. It features 8 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 2.1 GHz, with boost up to 4.6 GHz. L3 cache: 12 MB (total). L2 cache: 2 MB (per core). Built on Intel 7 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1744. Thermal design power (TDP): 45 Watt. Memory support: DDR5-5200, DDR4-3200, LPDDR4x-4267. Passmark benchmark score: 17,205 points. Launch price was $299.

Processing Power

The M1 Pro packs 10 cores / 10 threads, while the Core i5-13420H offers 8 cores / 12 threads — the M1 Pro has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.22 GHz on the M1 Pro versus 4.6 GHz on the Core i5-13420H — a 35.3% clock advantage for the Core i5-13420H (base: 2.064 GHz vs 2.1 GHz). The Core i5-13420H is built on the Raptor Lake-H (2023−2024) architecture. In PassMark, the M1 Pro scores 17,218 against the Core i5-13420H's 17,205 — a 0.1% lead for the M1 Pro. L3 cache: 24 MB on the M1 Pro vs 12 MB (total) on the Core i5-13420H.

FeatureM1 ProCore i5-13420H
Cores / Threads
10 / 10+25%
8 / 12
Boost Clock
3.22 GHz
4.6 GHz+43%
Base Clock
2.064 GHz
2.1 GHz+2%
L3 Cache
24 MB+100%
12 MB (total)
L2 Cache
28 MB+1300%
2 MB (per core)
Process
5 nm-29%
Intel 7 nm
Architecture
Raptor Lake-H (2023−2024)
PassMark
17,218
17,205
🧠

Memory & Platform

The M1 Pro uses the none socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Core i5-13420H uses FCBGA1744 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

FeatureM1 ProCore i5-13420H
Socket
none
FCBGA1744
PCIe Generation
PCIe 4.0
PCIe 5.0+25%