M4 Pro (12 cores) vs Core i9-12900
M4 Pro (12 cores)
Core i9-12900
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 Pro (12 cores)
Performance Per Dollar Core i9-12900
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | M4 Pro (12 cores) | Core i9-12900 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($420) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Legacy / 3 nm) | ✨ Modern (Alder Lake-S (2022) / Intel 7 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | M4 Pro (12 cores) | Core i9-12900 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($420) |
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.
League of Legends
Valorant
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of M4 Pro (12 cores) and Core i9-12900
M4 Pro (12 cores)
The M4 Pro (12 cores) is manufactured by Apple. It was released in 30 October 2024 (1 year ago). It features 12 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 2.592 GHz, with boost up to 4.51 GHz. L2 cache: 4 MB. Built on 3 nm process technology. Socket: none. Thermal design power (TDP): 4 MB. Memory support: LPDDR5X. Passmark benchmark score: 32,853 points. Launch price was $499.
Core i9-12900
The Core i9-12900 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 4 January 2022 (3 years ago). It is based on the Alder Lake-S (2022) architecture. It features 16 cores and 24 threads. Base frequency is 2.4 GHz, with boost up to 5.1 GHz. L3 cache: 30 MB (total). L2 cache: 1.25 MB (per core). Built on Intel 7 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1700. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4, DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 33,695 points. Launch price was $489.
Processing Power
The M4 Pro (12 cores) packs 12 cores / 12 threads, while the Core i9-12900 offers 16 cores / 24 threads — the Core i9-12900 has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.51 GHz on the M4 Pro (12 cores) versus 5.1 GHz on the Core i9-12900 — a 12.3% clock advantage for the Core i9-12900 (base: 2.592 GHz vs 2.4 GHz). The Core i9-12900 is built on the Alder Lake-S (2022) architecture. In PassMark, the M4 Pro (12 cores) scores 32,853 against the Core i9-12900's 33,695 — a 2.5% lead for the Core i9-12900.
| Feature | M4 Pro (12 cores) | Core i9-12900 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 12 / 12 | 16 / 24+33% |
| Boost Clock | 4.51 GHz | 5.1 GHz+13% |
| Base Clock | 2.592 GHz+8% | 2.4 GHz |
| L3 Cache | — | 30 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 4 MB+220% | 1.25 MB (per core) |
| Process | 3 nm-57% | Intel 7 nm |
| Architecture | — | Alder Lake-S (2022) |
| PassMark | 32,853 | 33,695+3% |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | 18,904 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 3,812 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 20,076 | — |
Memory & Platform
The M4 Pro (12 cores) uses the none socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Core i9-12900 uses LGA1700 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches LPDDR5x-8000 on the M4 Pro (12 cores) versus 4800 on the Core i9-12900 — the Core i9-12900 supports 199.6% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Core i9-12900 supports up to 128 of RAM compared to 64 GB — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 1 (M4 Pro (12 cores)) vs 2 (Core i9-12900). PCIe lanes: 0 (M4 Pro (12 cores)) vs 20 (Core i9-12900) — the Core i9-12900 offers 20 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: Apple SoC (M4 Pro (12 cores)) and Z690,B660 (Core i9-12900).
| Feature | M4 Pro (12 cores) | Core i9-12900 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | none | LGA1700 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 4.0 | PCIe 5.0+25% |
| Max RAM Speed | LPDDR5x-8000 | 4800+95900% |
| Max RAM Capacity | 64 GB+52428700% | 128 |
| RAM Channels | 1 | 2+100% |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | 0 | 20 |
Advanced Features
Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: Apple Virtualization (M4 Pro (12 cores)) vs VT-x, VT-d (Core i9-12900). Both include integrated graphics — M4 Pro 16-core GPU (M4 Pro (12 cores)) and Intel UHD Graphics 770 (Core i9-12900) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: M4 Pro (12 cores) targets High-end Content Creation. Direct competitor: M4 Pro (12 cores) rivals Ryzen 9 8945HS; Core i9-12900 rivals Ryzen 9 5900.
| Feature | M4 Pro (12 cores) | Core i9-12900 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | Yes |
| IGPU Model | M4 Pro 16-core GPU | Intel UHD Graphics 770 |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | Apple Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d |
| Target Use | High-end Content Creation | — |
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