Apple M4 vs Core i5-12600K: specs and benchmark comparison
BIntel · Alder Lake
Intel Core i5-12600K
- 10 cores / 16 threads
- up to 4.9 GHz
- LGA1700
2021 · $289 at launch
Short verdict
Apple M4 leads in every scenario with comparable benchmarks: multi-thread performance. This does not imply an advantage in tasks without benchmarks.
Compare with AIMulti-thread performance
A +10.5%Apple M4 leads in this scenario (up to 10.5% in comparable benchmarks).
No comparable benchmarks yet: single-thread performance, gaming (cpu-bound scenarios), power efficiency.
Advantages
Only measured and rated values: a noticeable benchmark gap and specs where more is better.
Where Apple M4 is better0
No advantages found in our data.
Where Core i5-12600K is better1
Max memory capacity 96 GB more128 GB vs 32 GB
Benchmarks
Results are compared within one benchmark, one version and the same conditions.
- 0.1% difference, within the threshold
Blender Benchmark 4.5.0
CPU, sum of scenes monster + junkshop + classroom · samples/min, higher is better
Apple M4224.3 samples/minCore i5-12600K224.6 samples/minPosition among tested models (89)
A · 224B · 2250200400600800Each dot is one model’s median in this benchmark. The scale starts at zero, samples/min. The 0.1% difference is below the noticeable threshold (5%).
About the measurement and source
- A · Apple M4
224.3 samples/min · community measurement, sample 245 · November 14, 2026
Blender Open Data (Blender Foundation)
Median of 245 submissions (13 outliers excluded), interquartile range 216.82–236.23; submissions 2025-07-17 to 2026-05-09; CPU backend. Snapshot 2026-11-14.
- B · Intel Core i5-12600K
224.6 samples/min · community measurement, sample 42 · November 14, 2026
Blender Open Data (Blender Foundation)
Median of 42 submissions (2 outliers excluded), interquartile range 212.87–251.04; submissions 2025-07-23 to 2026-03-07; CPU backend. Snapshot 2026-11-14.
difference = |A − B| ÷ the smaller value × 100%. The 5% noticeable threshold is a UX heuristic, not statistical significance.
Cycles render in Blender Benchmark. Median of the sum of samples per minute over three scenes after removing outliers.
Other comparable benchmarks (3)
| Benchmark | A | B | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blender Benchmark 4.2.0CPU, sum of scenes monster + junkshop + classroom | 231.3 | 209.3 | A +10.5% |
| Blender Benchmark 4.3.0CPU, sum of scenes monster + junkshop + classroom | 234 | 213.6 | A +9.6% |
| Blender Benchmark 4.4.0CPU, sum of scenes monster + junkshop + classroom | 222.1 | 222.9 | B +0.3% |
Each benchmark version has its own scale: numbers are compared only within a row.
Reference results (16)
| Benchmark | A | B | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blender Benchmark 5.1.1CPU, sum of scenes monster + junkshop + classroom | 215.8 | 172 | reference |
| Blender Benchmark 5.2.0CPU, sum of scenes monster + junkshop + classroom | 214.2 | 226.9 | reference |
| Blender Benchmark 3.6.0CPU, sum of scenes monster + junkshop + classroom | 230.7 | 227.2 | reference |
| Blender Benchmark 4.0.0CPU, sum of scenes monster + junkshop + classroom | 232 | 219.5 | reference |
| Blender Benchmark 4.1.0CPU, sum of scenes monster + junkshop + classroom | 214.2 | 225.6 | reference |
| Blender Benchmark 5.0.0CPU, sum of scenes monster + junkshop + classroom | 220.1 | — | no pair |
| Blender Benchmark 5.1.0CPU, sum of scenes monster + junkshop + classroom | 216.8 | 241.4 | reference |
| Blender Benchmark 5.3.0CPU, sum of scenes monster + junkshop + classroom | 205.5 | — | no pair |
| Blender Benchmark 3.0.1CPU, sum of scenes monster + junkshop + classroom | — | 241.5 | no pair |
| Blender Benchmark 3.1.0CPU, sum of scenes monster + junkshop + classroom | — | 234.8 | no pair |
| Blender Benchmark 3.1.2CPU, sum of scenes monster + junkshop + classroom | — | 253.2 | no pair |
| Blender Benchmark 3.2.0CPU, sum of scenes monster + junkshop + classroom | — | 259.9 | no pair |
| Blender Benchmark 3.2.1CPU, sum of scenes monster + junkshop + classroom | — | 237.5 | no pair |
| Blender Benchmark 3.3.0CPU, sum of scenes monster + junkshop + classroom | — | 253.3 | no pair |
| Blender Benchmark 3.4.0CPU, sum of scenes monster + junkshop + classroom | — | 234.6 | no pair |
| Blender Benchmark 3.5.0CPU, sum of scenes monster + junkshop + classroom | — | 235.3 | no pair |
Each benchmark version has its own scale: numbers are compared only within a row.
Specifications
| Specification | A · Apple M4 | B · Core i5-12600K | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cores and clocks | |||
| CoresCores of different types may differ in performance. | no data | 10 (6P + 4E) | no data for A |
| Threads | no data | 16 | no data for A |
| Base clockFor hybrid Intel CPUs, the P-core base clock is shown. | no data | 3.7 GHz | no data for A |
| Max clock (Boost/Turbo) | no data | 4.9 GHz | no data for A |
| Cache | |||
| L2 cache | no data | 9.5 MB | no data for A |
| L3 cache | no data | 20 MB | no data for A |
| Platform | |||
| Socket | no data | LGA1700 | no data for A |
| Process node | 3 nm | Intel 7 | differs |
| Memory and interfaces | |||
| Memory type | Unified memory | DDR4, DDR5 | differs |
| Memory channels | no data | 2 | no data for A |
| Official memory speedFor controllers that support two generations, the speed for the newer memory type is shown. | no data | 4,800 MT/s | no data for A |
| Max memory capacity | 32 GB | 128 GB | B: 96 GB more |
| PCI Express | no data | PCIe 5.0 and 4.0, 20 lanes | no data for A |
| Integrated graphics | Apple M4 (8 / 10-core GPU) | Intel UHD Graphics 770 | differs |
| Power | |||
| Processor Base Power (Intel) | no data | 125 W | no data for A |
| Maximum Turbo Power (Intel) | no data | 150 W | no data for A |
Cores and clocks
Cores
Ano data
B10 (6P + 4E)
no data for ACores of different types may differ in performance.
Threads
Ano data
B16
no data for ABase clock
Ano data
B3.7 GHz
no data for AFor hybrid Intel CPUs, the P-core base clock is shown.
Max clock (Boost/Turbo)
Ano data
B4.9 GHz
no data for A
Cache
L2 cache
Ano data
B9.5 MB
no data for AL3 cache
Ano data
B20 MB
no data for A
Platform
Socket
Ano data
BLGA1700
no data for AProcess node
A3 nm
BIntel 7
differs
Memory and interfaces
Memory type
AUnified memory
BDDR4, DDR5
differsMemory channels
Ano data
B2
no data for AOfficial memory speed
Ano data
B4,800 MT/s
no data for AFor controllers that support two generations, the speed for the newer memory type is shown.
Max memory capacity
A32 GB
B128 GB
B: 96 GB morePCI Express
Ano data
BPCIe 5.0 and 4.0, 20 lanes
no data for AIntegrated graphics
AApple M4 (8 / 10-core GPU)
BIntel UHD Graphics 770
differs
Power
Processor Base Power (Intel)
Ano data
B125 W
no data for AMaximum Turbo Power (Intel)
Ano data
B150 W
no data for A
“More” does not always mean “better”: higher power draw or size is a system requirement, not an advantage (such bars are dimmed).
Compare with AI
An AI model reviews the specs and benchmarks of this pair and gives a plain-language verdict on who each model suits.
Questions and answers
Do these CPUs have integrated graphics?
Apple M4: Apple M4 (8 / 10-core GPU). Intel Core i5-12600K: Intel UHD Graphics 770.
Which is faster: Apple M4 or Intel Core i5-12600K?
Apple M4 leads in every scenario with comparable benchmarks: multi-thread performance. This does not imply an advantage in tasks without benchmarks.
See also
Data sources (4)
- Apple — specifications of Apple M4checked November 14, 2026
- Intel — specifications of Intel Core i5-12600Kchecked November 7, 2026
- Blender Open Data (Blender Foundation) — benchmark Blender Benchmark 4.2.0, benchmark Blender Benchmark 4.5.0, benchmark Blender Benchmark 5.1.1, benchmark Blender Benchmark 5.2.0, benchmark Blender Benchmark 3.0.1, benchmark Blender Benchmark 3.1.0, benchmark Blender Benchmark 3.1.2, benchmark Blender Benchmark 3.2.0, benchmark Blender Benchmark 3.2.1, benchmark Blender Benchmark 3.3.0, benchmark Blender Benchmark 3.4.0, benchmark Blender Benchmark 3.5.0, benchmark Blender Benchmark 3.6.0, benchmark Blender Benchmark 4.0.0, benchmark Blender Benchmark 4.1.0, benchmark Blender Benchmark 4.3.0, benchmark Blender Benchmark 4.4.0, benchmark Blender Benchmark 5.1.0, benchmark Blender Benchmark 5.0.0, benchmark Blender Benchmark 5.3.0checked November 14, 2026
- Wikipedia (English) — release date and launch pricechecked November 14, 2026
How we compare: methodology. Where the data comes from: sources.