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People tend to compare the best of one company with the best of any other, though competitors sometimes tend to target different performance segments. This is the case with the M2 Ultra, which is often compared to and falls short of the i9 13900K. In the Core i7 13700K vs Apple M2 Ultra comparison, we will compare the M2 Ultra to the next tier down from Intel’s best to see which processor comes out on top.
Key Takeaways
- The M2 Ultra is about 15-20% faster than the i7 13700K in most tasks, depending on the optimization.
- Intel’s Core i7 13700K can be priced much lower than the M2 Ultra.
- The M2 Ultra is significantly more power efficient than any of its competition.
Core i7 13700K Vs Apple M2 Ultra
Comparison Table
| Technical Specs | Core i7 13700K | Apple M2 Ultra |
| Release Date | September 27, 2022 | May 5, 2023 |
| Code Name | Raptor Lake | Apple M2 |
| P-Cores | 8 | 16 |
| E-Cores | 8 | – |
| Threads | 24 | 16 |
| Base Frequency(P) | 3.4GHz | 3.5GHz |
| Turbo Frequency | 5.4GHz | – |
| Cache | 30MB (L3) | 64MB (L2) |
| Fabrication Process | 10nm | 5nm |
| Memory | DDR5-5600MHz DDR4-3200MHz |
LPDDR5-6400MHz |
| Best CPU Cooler | Best CPU Coolers for Core i7-13700K | – |
| Best Motherboard | Best Motherboards for Core i7-13700K | – |
| Best Memory | Best Memory for Core i7-13700K | – |
Architectural Differences
- Core Count: Apple uses non-hyperthreaded cores in its architecture, which allows it to use 24 cores working as 24 threads. On the other hand, Intel does not make use of hyperthreading either in its 8 efficiency cores, whereas it also had 8 performance cores with hyperthreading, bringing the thread count to 24 threads.
- Clock Speeds: The cores on the i7 13700K can run at anywhere from 2.5GHz to 5.4GHz, whereas the M2 chip has a range of 2.8GHz to 3.5GHz.
- TDP: The M2 Ultra SoC is rated to stay at a power consumption of only 90 watts, whereas the i7 13700K can drain up to 253 watts of power.
- Manufacturing Process: The M2 Ultra uses a more modern 5nm manufacturing process for its chip, allowing for unmatched efficiency. On the other hand, Intel still uses the 10nm manufacturing process.
- Memory: The i7 13700K processor can make use of DDR4 memory of up to 3200MHz and DDR5 memory of up to 5600MHz. In opposition to this, the M2 Ultra processor can only use the memory it is configured with, meaning, at best, you get 192GB of LPDDR5 memory at 6400MHz.
- Other Differences: The i7 13700K processor can be used in a modular PC, while the M2 Ultra chip is integrated into its computer, which itself has no user upgradeable parts. Intel has an advantage in compatibility, but the M2 Ultra chip offers excellent integration.
Also Read: Apple M2 Max Vs Apple M1 Max: [Performance Benchmarks]
Benchmarks
Now that we’ve measured the rather distinct architecture of these two processors, this part of the Core i7 13700K vs Apple M2 Ultra will cover the difference in the benchmark performance between these two processors.
Cinebench R23
- Reviewers have declared this benchmarking software to be one of the most Intel-optimized tests out there, so it gives the best-case scenario to our traditional chip.
- The i7 13700K takes a 24% lead in terms of single-core performance over the M2 Ultra. The Intel chip secured 2029 points, whereas the M2 Ultra managed to get only 1688 points.
- The multi-core performance brought these two processors closer to each other, with the Intel having an 11% lead over the M2 Ultra. It had a performance of 30513 points, whereas the M2 Ultra had a performance of 27472 points.
Also Check: Apple M2 Ultra Vs Apple M2 Max [Benchmarks]
Geekbench 5
- The Geekbench 5 benchmark offers a more fair comparison between the two processors as it can run well on both the Intel and Apple Silicon platforms.
- In the single-core test, the i7 came on top by a margin of about 8%, scoring 2139 points compared to the respectable 1986 points of the M2 Ultra processor.
- The M2 Ultra took command in the multi-core part of Geekbench 5, leading by a whopping 32%. It had a performance score of 28085 points, whereas the i7 13700K had a performance of 21198 points.
Similar Comparison: i7-13700K vs Ryzen 9 7900X
Geekbench 6
- Coming to the newer Geekbench 6 benchmark, this software also offers fairgrounds to both processors, utilizing more modern hardware utilization.
- The single-core test declared the i7 the winner by a small margin of 3.5%. The i7 scored 2787 points, whereas the M2 Ultra scored 2689 points, lagging behind the Intel processor by a rather unnoticeable margin.
- Apple beat the i7 pretty handily in terms of multi-core performance, coming out with a lead of about 24% with a score of 21450 points. The Intel processor, however, could not keep up with a score of only 17208 points.
FP32
- FP32 is a fair test for the integrated graphics performance of both these processors as it has a fundamental process to measure these CPUs, though comparing these two iGPUs irrespective of hardware is not apples-to-apples, but we brought it forth just to show Apple’s achievement with its processor.
- The M2 Ultra processor absolutely demolished the i7, performing over 25 times better with a score of 21300 GFLOPS in this test, whereas the i7 only scored 820 GFLOPS.
Also Read: Apple M2 Pro Vs Apple M1 Pro: [Specifications & Differences]
Which One Should You Go For?
Now that we’ve had a long and hard discussion about the performance of both these processors, this part of the Core i7 13700K vs Apple M2 Ultra comparison will guide you on which processor to buy for your workstyle.
- The M2 Ultra is generally the more powerful processor of the two by about 15-20% in most applications.
- The Apple Silicon processors, including the M2 Ultra, have great efficiency. You can expect a whole M2 Ultra powered computer to use half as much power as a computer with the Core i7 13700K.
- You have to spend at least $4000 for the privilege of owning an M2 Ultra machine, whereas you can make a more graphically capable computer with the i7 for nearly half the price.
- The decision between these two processors also depends highly on which operating system you prefer, Mac OS or Windows/Linux.
Similar Comparison: Intel i7-13700k Vs Ryzen 7 7700X
Pros And Cons
| CPU | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| Core i7 13700K |
|
|
| Apple M2 Ultra |
|
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Frequently Asked Questions
The best bang-for-the-buck machine you can get with the Apple M2 Ultra is the 4000-dollar Mac Studio. Alternatively, you can use the i7 13700K to build a computer that costs between $1,300 and several thousand dollars (if you include a GPU).
The i7 13700K can make use of both DDR5 and DDR4 memory, but the M2 Ultra chip has its own memory, up to 192GB in the Mac Studio using the LPDDR5 technology.
The M2 Ultra SoC is a relatively minor upgrade from the M1 Ultra processor.
More From Core i7 13700K
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[Comparisons Specialist]
I’m a passionate computer hardware expert specializing in CPUs and GPUs. With a lifelong curiosity for hardware and extensive hands-on experience, I provide valuable insights, practical advice, and in-depth analysis on these components. Engaging with the hardware community, I exchange knowledge and stay at the forefront of technological advancements.
Get In Touch: uzair@tech4gamers.com
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