Apple M1X vs Intel Core i9-10980XE

Processor comparisons 17-03-2021

   Perhaps you are thinking about choosing a processor, you will be able to make a choice by looking at the Apple M1X vs Intel Core i9-10980XE tests and see which is better for games or simple use for programming, streaming, video editing, rendering, machine learning. Here is all information from many benchmarks or real streaming and video editing tests. A step-by-step analysis of all the technical characteristics, to make it easier to read, is summarized in the table.
   From the video comparison, you can get the results of parallel examination in software tests such as SuperPi, AIDA64, GeekBench 6, 5.2, 3DMark, DaVinci Resolve Studio, RealBench, Prime95, PassMark, PCMark 10, WPrime, MATLAB, Blender, UserBenchmark, World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, VeraCrypt, Furmark, Dolphin Emulator, 7zip, Blender, Gears 5, Handbrake, Cinebench 23 (20, 15).
   And how good the CPUs are in games:

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

After reading the results these benchmarks and videos, you already be able to figure out which processor is better to buy for gaming Intel Core i9-10980XE or Apple M1X.

Summary benchmark results

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

M1X

58%

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 3% better than M1X. The data source is several popular tests. More detailed information of the benchmarks is below.

Gaming performance
Summary result of all game benchmarks.

M1X

55%

Core i9-10980XE

61%

The maximum result in this parameter is 100 percent, which is the performance of the most powerful processor currently available. And it is clear that this is a server processor, on which no one will play games. Because this processor costs several tens of thousands of dollars. Therefore, if you think that the selected CPU has a low 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, Resident Evil 7 Biohazard, Hitman 3, NBA 2K20, Monster Hunter World, Metro Exodus, Microsoft Flight Simulator, Ghostrunner, Control, Half-Life: Alyx, League of Legends (LOL), The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Horizon Zero Dawn, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS GO), Battlefield V, PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG), DOTA 2A, Shadow of the Tomb Raider.

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	97.6	108.7
Valorant	110.9	123.5
Cyberpunk 2077	62.1	69.2
Apex Legends	104.2	116.1
Call of Duty Warzone	83.2	92.6
Overwatch	89.8	100.0
Red Dead Redemption 2	76.5	85.2
DOOM Eternal	55.4	61.8
Warzone	86.5	96.3
Assassin's Creed	93.1	103.7
Valheim	92.0	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 tested computers not only did they have different video cards and different amounts of RAM. But users also tested them at different screen resolutions: 2K, FullHD or 4K. 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 get acquainted with the benchmarks that are made with the same video card that is installed in your computer.

Power consumption

M1X

161%

Core i9-10980XE

28%

To make a finishing resolution 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 M1X is more energy efficient than the Core i9-10980XE as it consumes less power: 35W vs. 165W. Power consumption is particularly important for laptops. Also, when choosing a processor cooling system, it will be useful to know its TDP. 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 streaming, video editing or video rendering, programming, machine learning, then first of all you need to pay attention to the performance in multi-threaded mode. In this mode, to achieve maximum performance, the processor uses all threads and cores that it has. You will find out this data from the benchmark tables below. Before using the data from these tests, be sure to check whether the program you are going to use on your computer supports 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 M1X	Intel Core i9-10980XE
Cinbench 15 Single-core	270	211
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	2615	3800
Cinbench 20 Single-core	629	480
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	5732	8848
Cinbench 23 Single-core	1628	1191
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	14587	24309

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

	Apple M1X	Intel Core i9-10980XE
Single-Core	3485	2626
Multi-Core	28843	34005

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

	Apple M1X	Intel Core i9-10980XE
Single-Core	1695	1417
Multi-Core	9389	20280

Comparison of specifications

In the specification comparison table, the processor release date and overclocking capability will be the most helpful. The newer the processor, the longer it will last you. And the easier it will be to upgrade the system later. The same can be said about overclocking. If the processor can be overclocked, thereby increasing its performance, then it will still be able to produce maximum FPS even in new games. It turns out that there is no longer a need to buy a new CPU to enjoy the games any longer. The savings are obvious!

	Apple M1X	Intel Core i9-10980XE
Announcement date	February 12, 2021	October 01, 2019
Type	Laptop;Desktop	Desktop
Socket	M1X	FCLGA2066
Core name	8x 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	12	18
Threads	12	36
Bus rate		8 GT/s DMI3
Bit	64	64
Lithography	5 nm	14 nm
Transistors count	24000 millions	9200 millions
Power consumption (TDP)	35 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	12MB
L2 cache	28MB
L3 cache	64MB	24.75 MB
Overclocking	No	Yes
Supports ECC	No	No
Part number

In this comparison block, you should pay attention to the differences in clock speed and the number of cores. Here M1X is 6% better than Core i9-10980XE in terms of CPU frequency. Another difference is that Core i9-10980XE has 6 more core than M1X. 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 M1X is better: 14
The number of parameters for which Intel Core i9-10980XE is better: 24
Although it should be realized that the summary data in the text above do not mean that taking them into account you should completely trust a simple quantitative comparison. Be sure to watch benchmarks video and read the opinion of real owners of Apple M1X and Intel Core i9-10980XE before making a selection which of the processors to buy for gaming.

• Apple M1X specs and review.

• Intel Core i9-10980XE specs and review.