M4 (8 cores) vs Core i5-12600H
M4 (8 cores)
Core i5-12600H
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 M4 (8 cores)
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-12600H
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | M4 (8 cores) | Core i5-12600H |
|---|---|---|
| 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-H (2022) / Intel 7 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | M4 (8 cores) | Core i5-12600H |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
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 M4 (8 cores) and Core i5-12600H
M4 (8 cores)
The M4 (8 cores) is manufactured by Apple. It was released in 28 October 2024 (1 year ago). It features 8 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 2.89 GHz, with boost up to 4 GHz. Built on 3 nm process technology. Socket: none. Thermal design power (TDP): 4 MB. Memory support: LPDDR5x. Passmark benchmark score: 20,761 points. Launch price was $299.
Core i5-12600H
The Core i5-12600H is manufactured by Intel. It was released in Janeiro 2022 (3 years ago). It is based on the Alder Lake-H (2022) architecture. It features 12 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 2.7 GHz, with boost up to 4.5 GHz. L3 cache: 18 MB (total). L2 cache: 1.25 MB (per core). Built on Intel 7 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1744. Thermal design power (TDP): 45 Watt. Memory support: DDR4, DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 20,871 points. Launch price was $299.
Processing Power
The M4 (8 cores) packs 8 cores / 8 threads, while the Core i5-12600H offers 12 cores / 16 threads — the Core i5-12600H has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4 GHz on the M4 (8 cores) versus 4.5 GHz on the Core i5-12600H — a 11.8% clock advantage for the Core i5-12600H (base: 2.89 GHz vs 2.7 GHz). The Core i5-12600H is built on the Alder Lake-H (2022) architecture. In PassMark, the M4 (8 cores) scores 20,761 against the Core i5-12600H's 20,871 — a 0.5% lead for the Core i5-12600H.
| Feature | M4 (8 cores) | Core i5-12600H |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 8 / 8 | 12 / 16+50% |
| Boost Clock | 4 GHz | 4.5 GHz+13% |
| Base Clock | 2.89 GHz+7% | 2.7 GHz |
| L3 Cache | — | 18 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | — | 1.25 MB (per core) |
| Process | 3 nm-57% | Intel 7 nm |
| Architecture | — | Alder Lake-H (2022) |
| PassMark | 20,761 | 20,871 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 2,200 |
Memory & Platform
The M4 (8 cores) uses the none socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Core i5-12600H uses FCBGA1744 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | M4 (8 cores) | Core i5-12600H |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | none | FCBGA1744 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 4.0 | PCIe 4.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | — | LPDDR5-5200 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 64 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 2 |
| ECC Support | — | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 28 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (M4 (8 cores)) / VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i5-12600H). The Core i5-12600H includes integrated graphics (Iris Xe Graphics 80EU), while the M4 (8 cores) requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-12600H targets Performance Laptop. Direct competitor: Core i5-12600H rivals Ryzen 5 6600H.
| Feature | M4 (8 cores) | Core i5-12600H |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | Iris Xe Graphics 80EU |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | VT-x, VT-d, EPT |
| Target Use | — | Performance Laptop |
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