Apple M1 vs Intel Core i9-10980XE

Processor comparisons 17-03-2021

   Let's say you can't decide which CPU to buy, you can make a choice after reading the comprehensive tests Apple M1 vs Intel Core i9-10980XE and decide which is better for games or simple use for streaming, programming, rendering, video editing, machine learning. Here is useful information from many benchmarks or real video editing and streaming tests. A step-by-step analysis of all the specifications, so that it can be easier to read, is summarized in the table.
   From the comparison video, you can get the results of parallel examination in special testing software like MATLAB, Blender, UserBenchmark, Gears 5, SuperPi, Dolphin Emulator, RealBench, PCMark 10, WPrime, Prime95, 3DMark, Handbrake, GeekBench 6, 5.2, PassMark, Blender, Cinebench 23 (20, 15), VeraCrypt, DaVinci Resolve Studio, 7zip, World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, Furmark, AIDA64.
   Gaming performance of processors in:

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

After looking at the data these benchmarks and videos, you already be able to understand which CPU is better to buy for gaming Intel Core i9-10980XE 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 i9-10980XE

60%

This value shows the performance of the processors in single-threaded and multi-threaded mode. In this comparison, Core i9-10980XE is 6% better than M1. The data source is several popular tests. Detailed information can be found below.

Gaming performance
Summary result of all game benchmarks.

54%

Core i9-10980XE

61%

The maximum result in this parameter is 100 percent, which is the performance of the most powerful processor at the moment. And of course, 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, look at the FPS that it produces in real games in the summary table below.
List of other games in which CPU comparisons were performed: Forza Horizon 4, PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG), Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS GO), Resident Evil 7 Biohazard, Ghostrunner, NBA 2K20, Half-Life: Alyx, League of Legends (LOL), Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Hitman 3, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Metro Exodus, Battlefield V, Control, Horizon Zero Dawn, DOTA 2A, Monster Hunter World, Microsoft Flight Simulator.

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	95.8	108.7
Valorant	108.9	123.5
Cyberpunk 2077	61.0	69.2
Apex Legends	102.4	116.1
Call of Duty Warzone	81.7	92.6
Overwatch	88.2	100.0
Red Dead Redemption 2	75.1	85.2
DOOM Eternal	54.5	61.8
Warzone	84.9	96.3
Assassin's Creed	91.5	103.7
Valheim	90.4	102.5

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 computers that were in the comparisons not only did they have different video cards and different amounts of RAM. But users also tested them at different screen resolutions: 2K, 4K or FullHD. So 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 compare it in one assembly with the video card that is installed in your computer.

Power consumption

388%

Core i9-10980XE

28%

To make a final decision on which processor is better, you should also consider the generation of its core. It is clear that the newer the generation, the better the performance of the processor in games and benchmarks, as well as its energy efficiency. In this case the M1 is more energy efficient than the Core i9-10980XE as it consumes less power: 15W vs. 165W. Power consumption is particularly 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 want to use the processor not only for gaming, but also for machine learning, video rendering or video editing, programming, streaming, then first of all you need to pay attention to the performance in multi-threaded mode. In this mode, the CPU uses all cores and threads that it has to the maximum to reach maximum performance. You will find out this data from the benchmark tables below. Before you take into account the data from these tests, be sure to find out whether the software that you are going to use on your computer can work in multi-threaded mode. Because there are still many programs that can use only one core to work, and all the advantages of multi-core mode are unused.

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

	Apple M1	Intel Core i9-10980XE
Cinbench 15 Single-core	209	211
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	1163	3800
Cinbench 20 Single-core	402	480
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	1987	8848
Cinbench 23 Single-core	1512	1191
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	7782	24309

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

	Apple M1	Intel Core i9-10980XE
Single-Core	3413	2626
Multi-Core	22028	34005

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

	Apple M1	Intel Core i9-10980XE
Single-Core	1746	1417
Multi-Core	7683	20280

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 i9-10980XE
Announcement date	October 01, 2020	October 01, 2019
Type	Laptop	Desktop
Socket	M1	FCLGA2066
Core name	4x Firestorm;4x Icestorm	Cascade Lake
Architecture	hybrid (big.LITTLE)	x86
Generation	1	10
Turbo Frequency		4.8 MHz
Frequency	3.2 MHz	3 MHz
Cores	8	18
Threads	16	36
Bus rate		8 GT/s DMI3
Bit	64	64
Lithography	5 nm	14 nm
Transistors count	16000 millions	9200 millions
Power consumption (TDP)	15 W	165 W
Memory type	LPDDR4 - Up to 4266MHz	DDR4-2933
Max. Memory		256 Gb
Memory Frequency	4266
Memory bandwidth		94 GB/s
L1 cache	2MB
L2 cache	16MB
L3 cache		24.75 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 M1 is 6% better than Core i9-10980XE in terms of CPU frequency. Another difference is that Core i9-10980XE has 10 more core than M1. 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: 11
The number of parameters for which Intel Core i9-10980XE is better: 27
Although it should be understood that all the data in the text above do not mean that taking them into account you should fully trust a simple comparison of these figures. Better to watch benchmarks video and read the reviews of real owners of Apple M1 and Intel Core i9-10980XE before making a choice which of the processors to buy for gaming.

• Apple M1 specs and review.

• Intel Core i9-10980XE specs and review.