M3 Pro 12-Core vs Core i5-12600HX

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 M3 Pro 12-Core

#206

M3 Pro 12-Core

MSRP: N/A|Avg: N/A

100%

Based on actual market prices and performance synthetic scores.

Performance Per Dollar Core i5-12600HX

#86

Ryzen AI 9 HX PRO 370

MSRP: $500|Avg: $500

108%

#96

Ryzen AI Max PRO 380

MSRP: $400|Avg: $400

101%

#97

Core Ultra 5 226V

MSRP: $300|Avg: $300

101%

#99

Core i5-12600HX

MSRP: N/A|Avg: N/A

100%

#101

Core i5-1350P

MSRP: $320|Avg: $250

96%

#102

Core i3-1220P

MSRP: $250|Avg: $150

95%

#107

Core Ultra 5 228V

MSRP: $295|Avg: $295

94%

#111

Ryzen 5 PRO 5675U

MSRP: N/A|Avg: $180

93%

Based on actual market prices and performance synthetic scores.

Performance Comparison

About PassMark

🏆 Chipversus Verdict

🚀 Performance Leadership

Performance Leadership: The Core i5-12600HX delivers superior performance across the board. It outperforms the M3 Pro 12-Core in both compute-intensive tasks (0.9% faster) and gaming workloads.

Insight	M3 Pro 12-Core	Core i5-12600HX
Gaming	❌ Lower gaming performance	✅ Superior gaming performance
Workstation	❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks	✅ Better multi-core power
Price	Equivalent pricing	Equivalent pricing
Longevity	✨ Modern (Legacy / 3 nm)	✨ Modern (Alder Lake-HX (2022) / Intel 7 nm)

💎 Value Proposition

Insight	M3 Pro 12-Core	Core i5-12600HX
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.

M3 Pro 12-Core Benchmark Check

Core i5-12600HX Benchmark Check

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of M3 Pro 12-Core and Core i5-12600HX

M3 Pro 12-Core

The M3 Pro 12-Core is manufactured by Apple. It was released in 30 October 2023 (2 years ago). It features 12 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 2.748 GHz, with boost up to 4.06 GHz. Built on 3 nm process technology. Socket: none. Memory support: LPDDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 24,170 points. Launch price was $299.

Core i5-12600HX

The Core i5-12600HX 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 12 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 2.5 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: FCBGA1964. Thermal design power (TDP): 55 Watt. Memory support: DDR4, DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 24,396 points. Launch price was $299.

⚡

Processing Power

The M3 Pro 12-Core packs 12 cores / 12 threads, matching the Core i5-12600HX's 12 cores. Boost clocks reach 4.06 GHz on the M3 Pro 12-Core versus 4.6 GHz on the Core i5-12600HX — a 12.5% clock advantage for the Core i5-12600HX (base: 2.748 GHz vs 2.5 GHz). The Core i5-12600HX is built on the Alder Lake-HX (2022) architecture. In PassMark, the M3 Pro 12-Core scores 24,170 against the Core i5-12600HX's 24,396 — a 0.9% lead for the Core i5-12600HX.

Feature	M3 Pro 12-Core	Core i5-12600HX
Cores / Threads	12 / 12	12 / 16
Boost Clock	4.06 GHz	4.6 GHz+13%
Base Clock	2.748 GHz+10%	2.5 GHz
L3 Cache	—	18 MB (total)
L2 Cache	—	1.25 MB (per core)
Process	3 nm-57%	Intel 7 nm
Architecture	—	Alder Lake-HX (2022)
PassMark	24,170	24,396
Geekbench 6 Single	—	2,434

🧠

Memory & Platform

The M3 Pro 12-Core uses the none socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Core i5-12600HX uses FCBGA1964 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

Feature	M3 Pro 12-Core	Core i5-12600HX
Socket	none	FCBGA1964
PCIe Generation	PCIe 4.0	PCIe 5.0+25%
Max RAM Speed	—	DDR5-4800
Max RAM Capacity	—	128 GB
RAM Channels	—	2
ECC Support	—	✅
PCIe Lanes	—	48

🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization: not specified (M3 Pro 12-Core) / VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i5-12600HX). The Core i5-12600HX includes integrated graphics (UHD Graphics 770), while the M3 Pro 12-Core requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-12600HX targets Workstation Laptop. Direct competitor: Core i5-12600HX rivals Ryzen 7 6800H.