Apple M1 vs Intel Core i5-10600K

Processor comparisons 17-03-2021

   For example you can't decide which processor to buy, you can make a choice by looking at the Apple M1 vs Intel Core i5-10600K tests and decide which is better for games or simple use for video editing, streaming, machine learning, programming, rendering. Here is useful information from real streaming and video editing tests or different benchmarks. A thorough review of all the technical characteristics, so that it can be easier to read, is summarized in the table.
   From the video comparison, you can get the results of parallel examination in special test applications like Gears 5, AIDA64, WPrime, Dolphin Emulator, Blender, Handbrake, Furmark, Blender, GeekBench 6, 5.2, 7zip, DaVinci Resolve Studio, VeraCrypt, 3DMark, PassMark, World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, UserBenchmark, Prime95, Cinebench 23 (20, 15), PCMark 10, MATLAB, SuperPi, RealBench.
   And how good the CPUs are in games:

Valorant
Call of Duty: Warzone and Modern Warfare
Fallout 76
Borderlands 3
Death Stranding
World of Warcraft: Shadowlands
Last Man Standing
Assassin's Creed Valhalla
Red Dead Redemption 2
Grand Theft Auto V
Overwatch
Watch Dogs Legion
Cyberpunk 2077
Apex Legends
Rainbow Six Siege
Halo Infinite
DOOM: Eternal
Fortnite
Valheim

After reading the results of all benchmarks and videos, you can already make an informed decision about which processor is better to buy for gaming Intel Core i5-10600K or Apple M1.

Summary benchmark results

As a percentage of the maximum value based on a sample from the entire base of all processors
Processor Benchmark

56%

Core i5-10600K

54%

The number of this parameter shows the performance of the processors in single-threaded and multi-threaded mode. In this comparison, M1 is 3% better than Core i5-10600K. The data source is several popular tests. More detailed information of the benchmarks is below.

Gaming performance
Summary result of all game benchmarks.

54%

Core i5-10600K

55%

For the maximum in this test, the results of the most powerful processor in the site database are taken. And it is clear that this is a server processor, on which no one will play games. Because the cost of this processor reaches several tens of thousands of dollars. And if it seems to you that the selected CPU has a small game result, just look at the FPS that it produces in real games in the summary table below.
List of other games in which processors were compared: NBA 2K20, Forza Horizon 4, Control, League of Legends (LOL), Hitman 3, Horizon Zero Dawn, Battlefield V, DOTA 2A, Resident Evil 7 Biohazard, Metro Exodus, Ghostrunner, Half-Life: Alyx, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS GO), The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Microsoft Flight Simulator, Monster Hunter World, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG).

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	95.8	97.0
Valorant	108.9	110.2
Cyberpunk 2077	61.0	61.7
Apex Legends	102.4	103.6
Call of Duty Warzone	81.7	82.7
Overwatch	88.2	89.3
Red Dead Redemption 2	75.1	76.1
DOOM Eternal	54.5	55.1
Warzone	84.9	86.0
Assassin's Creed	91.5	92.6
Valheim	90.4	91.5

The numbers in this table indicate the maximum FPS that was received on the device with the corresponding processor. Depending on the configuration of the computer (RAM size and Video Card) and graphics quality settings (Ultra, Medium, Normal), the results may differ quite significantly. We recommend that you better study the results of the Cinebench, GeekBench and Passmark becnmarks.
The tested computers not only did they have different amounts of RAM and different video cards. But users also tested them at different screen resolutions: FullHD, 2K or 4K. Therefore, the game benchmark data is approximate. But all video cards met the average system requirements of games. You will get more accurate information about how powerful the processor will be in games, if you get acquainted with the benchmarks that are made with the same video card that is installed in your computer.

Power consumption

388%

Core i5-10600K

39%

To make a final decision on which processor is better, you should also consider the generation of its core. The newer the processor generation, the better its performance in games and benchmarks, as well as its energy efficiency. In this case the M1 is more energy efficient than the Core i5-10600K since it has less power consumption: 15W vs. 125W. Power consumption is especially important for laptops. And TDP should be taken into account when choosing a processor cooling system. You need to buy a cooler that has the TDP data specified in the specification was greater than the TDP of the compared processor.

Software benchmarks

For example you plan to use the processor not only for gaming, but also for programming, video editing or video rendering, streaming, machine learning, then first of all you need to pay attention to the performance in multi-threaded mode. In this mode, the processor includes all threads and cores that it has to the maximum to achieve maximum performance. You will learn this data from the benchmark tables below. Before you take into account the data from these tests, be sure to check whether the software you are going to use on your computer supports multi-threaded mode. Since there are still many programs that can use only one core to work, and all the benefit of multi-core mode turns out to be unnecessary.

Cinebench 23, 20 an 15
The results of this benchmark show Single-threaded and Multi-threaded CPU performance

	Apple M1	Intel Core i5-10600K
Cinbench 15 Single-core	209	215
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	1163	1615
Cinbench 20 Single-core	402	501
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	1987	3629
Cinbench 23 Single-core	1512	1376
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	7782	10379

Passmark
This popular benchmark displays Multi-threaded and Single-threaded processor performance

	Apple M1	Intel Core i5-10600K
Single-Core	3413	2967
Multi-Core	22028	14674

GeekBench 6, 5.2
This benchmark shows Multi-threaded and Single-threaded processor performance

	Apple M1	Intel Core i5-10600K
Single-Core	1746	1495
Multi-Core	7683	8815

Comparison of specifications

In the specification comparison table, the most useful will be the the possibility of overclocking it and release date of the processor. The later the processor is released, the longer it will last you. And the easier it will be to upgrade the system in the future. The same can be said about overclocking. When the processor can be overclocked, thereby increasing its performance, then it will continue to maintain maximum FPS even in the newest games. The economy are obvious! Accordingly, you do not need to buy a new CPU to enjoy the games any longer.

	Apple M1	Intel Core i5-10600K
Announcement date	October 01, 2020	April 01, 2020
Type	Laptop	Desktop
Socket	M1	FCLGA1200
Core name	4x Firestorm;4x Icestorm	Comet Lake
Architecture	hybrid (big.LITTLE)	x86
Generation	1	10
Turbo Frequency		4.8 MHz
Frequency	3.2 MHz	4.1 MHz
Cores	8	6
Threads	16	12
Bus rate		8 GT/s
Bit	64	64
Lithography	5 nm	14 nm
Transistors count	16000 millions	4800 millions
Power consumption (TDP)	15 W	125 W
Memory type	LPDDR4 - Up to 4266MHz	DDR4-2666
Max. Memory		128 Gb
Memory Frequency	4266
Memory bandwidth		41.6 GB/s
L1 cache	2MB
L2 cache	16MB
L3 cache		12 MB
Overclocking	No	Yes
Supports ECC	No	No
Part number	APL1102

In this comparison block, you should pay attention to the differences in clock speed and the number of cores. Here Core i5-10600K is 21% better than M1 in terms of CPU frequency. Another difference is that M1 has 2 more core than Core i5-10600K. Also keep in mind that high CPU frequency affects battery life through power consumption (relevant for laptops).

Result:
The number of parameters for which Apple M1 is better: 13
The number of parameters for which Intel Core i5-10600K is better: 25
Although it should be understood that all the number in the table above do not mean that taking them into account you should fully trust a simple comparison of these figures. Be sure to watch benchmarks video and read the opinion of of people who bought Apple M1 and Intel Core i5-10600K before making a decision which CPU to buy for gaming and which not.

• Apple M1 specs and review.

• Intel Core i5-10600K specs and review.