Core i5-12500TE vs M2

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.

Head-to-Head Verdict, Benchmarks, Value & Long-Term Outlook

This comparison brings together gaming FPS, productivity performance, platform differences, power efficiency, pricing context, and upgrade path so you can see which CPU actually makes more sense.

Core i5-12500TE

2022

Why buy it

✅100+% more PCIe lanes (20 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with UHD 770, while M2 needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Launch MSRP is still $225 MSRP, while M2 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌75% higher power demand at 35W vs 20W.

M2

2022

Why buy it

✅Draws 20W instead of 35W, a 15W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (14,933 vs 15,008).
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i5-12500TE can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Core i5-12500TE

2022

M2

2022

Why buy it

✅100+% more PCIe lanes (20 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with UHD 770, while M2 needs a discrete GPU.

Why buy it

✅Draws 20W instead of 35W, a 15W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Launch MSRP is still $225 MSRP, while M2 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌75% higher power demand at 35W vs 20W.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (14,933 vs 15,008).
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i5-12500TE can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i5-12500TE better than M2?

Yes. Core i5-12500TE is the better overall CPU here. You are getting 0.5% better PassMark, which makes it the stronger all-around choice.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Core i5-12500TE is the better fit because it leads the single-thread side of the matchup with 23.6% higher max boost clock.

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i5-12500TE is the better fit. You are getting 0.5% better PassMark, backed by 6 cores and 12 threads.

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?

Core i5-12500TE is the smarter buy today. Core i5-12500TE is at an unclear MSRP at $225 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it gives you 0.5% higher PassMark. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (66.7 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), so the better CPU is not just faster, it is also the cleaner value play on paper. That said, if you already own a compatible none + DDR5 setup, M2 can still make sense as a platform-matched option because it avoids a motherboard and RAM swap.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

M2 is the safer long-term CPU choice because it gives you more overall headroom and a better platform outlook.

Games Benchmarks

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.

Core i5-12500TE Benchmark Check

M2 Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i5-12500TE	M2
1080p
low	177 FPS	175 FPS
medium	154 FPS	140 FPS
high	127 FPS	113 FPS
ultra	106 FPS	90 FPS
1440p
low	148 FPS	141 FPS
medium	124 FPS	111 FPS
high	100 FPS	88 FPS
ultra	82 FPS	69 FPS
4K
low	78 FPS	66 FPS
medium	70 FPS	55 FPS
high	56 FPS	44 FPS
ultra	43 FPS	35 FPS

Open Core i5-12500TE Open M2

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i5-12500TE	M2
1080p
low	229 FPS	288 FPS
medium	201 FPS	246 FPS
high	172 FPS	213 FPS
ultra	152 FPS	166 FPS
1440p
low	203 FPS	248 FPS
medium	181 FPS	220 FPS
high	159 FPS	193 FPS
ultra	137 FPS	150 FPS
4K
low	143 FPS	174 FPS
medium	129 FPS	159 FPS
high	119 FPS	136 FPS
ultra	103 FPS	106 FPS

Open Core i5-12500TE Open M2

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i5-12500TE	M2
1080p
low	375 FPS	373 FPS
medium	375 FPS	373 FPS
high	375 FPS	373 FPS
ultra	375 FPS	373 FPS
1440p
low	375 FPS	373 FPS
medium	375 FPS	373 FPS
high	375 FPS	373 FPS
ultra	375 FPS	363 FPS
4K
low	375 FPS	373 FPS
medium	353 FPS	314 FPS
high	304 FPS	277 FPS
ultra	247 FPS	221 FPS

Open Core i5-12500TE Open M2

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i5-12500TE	M2
1080p
low	375 FPS	373 FPS
medium	375 FPS	373 FPS
high	375 FPS	373 FPS
ultra	375 FPS	373 FPS
1440p
low	375 FPS	373 FPS
medium	375 FPS	373 FPS
high	375 FPS	373 FPS
ultra	375 FPS	373 FPS
4K
low	375 FPS	373 FPS
medium	375 FPS	373 FPS
high	375 FPS	373 FPS
ultra	340 FPS	328 FPS

Open Core i5-12500TE Open M2

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-12500TE and M2

Core i5-12500TE

The Core i5-12500TE is manufactured by Intel. It was released in Janeiro 2022 (3 years ago). It is based on the Alder Lake-S (2022) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 1.9 GHz, with boost up to 4.3 GHz. L3 cache: 18 MB (total). L2 cache: 1.25 MB (per core). Built on 10 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1700. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR4, DDR5 Dual-channel. Passmark benchmark score: 15,008 points. Launch price was $299.

M2

The M2 is manufactured by Apple. It was released in 10 June 2022 (3 years ago). It features 8 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 2.424 GHz, with boost up to 3.48 GHz. L2 cache: 20 MB. Built on 5 nm process technology. Socket: none. Thermal design power (TDP): 20 Watt. Memory support: LPDDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 14,933 points. Launch price was $149.

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Processing Power

The Core i5-12500TE packs 6 cores / 12 threads, while the M2 offers 8 cores / 8 threads — the M2 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.3 GHz on the Core i5-12500TE versus 3.48 GHz on the M2 — a 21.1% clock advantage for the Core i5-12500TE (base: 1.9 GHz vs 2.424 GHz). The Core i5-12500TE is built on the Alder Lake-S (2022) architecture. In PassMark, the Core i5-12500TE scores 15,008 against the M2's 14,933 — a 0.5% lead for the Core i5-12500TE.

Feature	Core i5-12500TE	M2
Cores / Threads	6 / 12	8 / 8+33%
Boost Clock	4.3 GHz+24%	3.48 GHz
Base Clock	1.9 GHz	2.424 GHz+28%
L3 Cache	18 MB (total)	—
L2 Cache	1.25 MB (per core)	20 MB+1500%
Process	10 nm	5 nm-50%
Architecture	Alder Lake-S (2022)	—
PassMark	15,008	14,933
Cinebench R23 Multi	659	—
Geekbench 6 Single	1,962	—
Geekbench 6 Multi	1,898	—

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Memory & Platform

The Core i5-12500TE uses the LGA1700 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the M2 uses none (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

Feature	Core i5-12500TE	M2
Socket	LGA1700	none
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0+25%	PCIe 4.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR5-4800	—
Max RAM Capacity	128 GB	—
RAM Channels	2	—
ECC Support	Yes	—
PCIe Lanes	20	—

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Advanced Features

Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d (Core i5-12500TE) / not specified (M2). The Core i5-12500TE includes integrated graphics (UHD 770), while the M2 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-12500TE targets Budget. Direct competitor: Core i5-12500TE rivals Core i5-12400T.