M3 Pro 12-Core vs Core i7-12700K

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 i7-12700K

#113

Core i7-14700F

MSRP: $359|Avg: $330

104%

#114

Ryzen 3 PRO 3200G

MSRP: $89|Avg: $52

104%

#115

Core i9-14900K

MSRP: $589|Avg: $469

104%

#116

Ryzen 5 PRO 5655GE

MSRP: $146|Avg: $146

103%

#117

Core i7-13790F

MSRP: $392|Avg: $350

103%

#118

Core i5-14500

MSRP: $239|Avg: $251

103%

#119

Core i5-11600KF

MSRP: $237|Avg: $157

103%

#120

Ryzen 5 5600XT

MSRP: $192|Avg: $180

103%

#121

Core i5-13600

MSRP: $255|Avg: $255

102%

#122

Core i3-13100F

MSRP: $109|Avg: $119

102%

#123

Ryzen 5 5600G

MSRP: $259|Avg: $160

102%

#124

Core Ultra 9 285K

MSRP: $589|Avg: $550

102%

#125

Core i5-13400E

MSRP: $221|Avg: $221

101%

#126

Ryzen 7 8700F

MSRP: $270|Avg: $257

101%

#127

Core i9-14900KF

MSRP: $564|Avg: $480

101%

#128

Core i7-12700K

MSRP: $409|Avg: $285

100%

#129

Core i9-13900KF

MSRP: $599|Avg: $480

100%

#130

Core i7-12700

MSRP: $250|Avg: $250

100%

#131

Core Ultra 5 245T

MSRP: $270|Avg: $270

100%

#132

Core i5-8500

MSRP: $192|Avg: $80

99%

#133

Core i5-9400F

MSRP: $182|Avg: $80

98%

#134

Core i5-11400

MSRP: $182|Avg: $141

98%

#135

Core i5-13600K

MSRP: $329|Avg: $319

98%

#136

Core i5-13500

MSRP: $242|Avg: $264

98%

#137

Ryzen 7 8700G

MSRP: $329|Avg: $269

98%

#138

Core i7-14700

MSRP: $384|Avg: $348

98%

#139

Ryzen 5 2500X

MSRP: $159|Avg: $80

97%

#140

Athlon Gold PRO 3150GE

MSRP: $100|Avg: $60

97%

#141

Core i9-13900K

MSRP: $599|Avg: $500

97%

#142

Core i3-14100

MSRP: $134|Avg: $131

96%

#143

Ryzen 5 3400G

MSRP: $149|Avg: $80

95%

Based on actual market prices and performance synthetic scores.

Performance Comparison

About PassMark

🏆 Chipversus Verdict

🚀 Performance Leadership

Performance Leadership: The Core i7-12700K delivers superior performance across the board. It outperforms the M3 Pro 12-Core in both compute-intensive tasks (34.8% faster) and gaming workloads.

Insight	M3 Pro 12-Core	Core i7-12700K
Gaming	❌ Lower gaming performance	✅ Superior gaming performance
Workstation	❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks	✅ Better multi-core power
Price	✅ More affordable ($0)	⚠️ Higher cost ($285)
Longevity	✨ Modern (Legacy / 3 nm)	✨ Modern (Alder Lake, Golden Cove, Gracemont (2021) / 10 nm)

💎 Value Proposition

Insight	M3 Pro 12-Core	Core i7-12700K
Cost Efficiency	❌ Lower cost efficiency	❌ Lower cost efficiency
Upfront Cost	✅ More affordable ($0)	⚠️ Higher cost ($285)

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 i7-12700K Benchmark Check

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of M3 Pro 12-Core and Core i7-12700K

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 i7-12700K

The Core i7-12700K is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 4 November 2021 (4 years ago). It is based on the Alder Lake, Golden Cove, Gracemont (2021) architecture. It features 12 cores and 20 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 5 GHz. L3 cache: 25 MB (total). L2 cache: 1.25 MB (per core). Built on 10 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1700. Thermal design power (TDP): 125 Watt. Memory support: DDR4, DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 34,347 points. Launch price was $409.

⚡

Processing Power

The M3 Pro 12-Core packs 12 cores / 12 threads, matching the Core i7-12700K's 12 cores. Boost clocks reach 4.06 GHz on the M3 Pro 12-Core versus 5 GHz on the Core i7-12700K — a 20.8% clock advantage for the Core i7-12700K (base: 2.748 GHz vs 3.6 GHz). The Core i7-12700K is built on the Alder Lake, Golden Cove, Gracemont (2021) architecture. In PassMark, the M3 Pro 12-Core scores 24,170 against the Core i7-12700K's 34,347 — a 34.8% lead for the Core i7-12700K.

Feature	M3 Pro 12-Core	Core i7-12700K
Cores / Threads	12 / 12	12 / 20
Boost Clock	4.06 GHz	5 GHz+23%
Base Clock	2.748 GHz	3.6 GHz+31%
L3 Cache	—	25 MB (total)
L2 Cache	—	1.25 MB (per core)
Process	3 nm-70%	10 nm
Architecture	—	Alder Lake, Golden Cove, Gracemont (2021)
PassMark	24,170	34,347+42%

🧠

Memory & Platform

The M3 Pro 12-Core uses the none socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Core i7-12700K uses LGA1700 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

Feature	M3 Pro 12-Core	Core i7-12700K
Socket	none	LGA1700
PCIe Generation	PCIe 4.0	PCIe 5.0+25%
Max RAM Speed	—	4800
Max RAM Capacity	—	128
RAM Channels	—	2
ECC Support	—	✅
PCIe Lanes	—	20

🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization: not specified (M3 Pro 12-Core) / VT-x, VT-d (Core i7-12700K). The Core i7-12700K includes integrated graphics (Intel UHD Graphics 770), while the M3 Pro 12-Core requires a dedicated GPU. Direct competitor: Core i7-12700K rivals Ryzen 7 5800X.