Intel Core i5-11600K vs Apple M1X

Processor comparisons   17-03-2021
   For example you can't decide which processor to buy, you can make a decision after reading the comprehensive tests Intel Core i5-11600K vs Apple M1X and decide which is better for games or simple use for streaming, machine learning, programming, video editing, rendering. Here is useful information from various benchmarks or real streaming and video editing tests. A thorough review of all the specifications, to make it easier to understand, is summarized in the table.
   From the comparison video, you can get the results of parallel examination in software tests like Prime95, Furmark, VeraCrypt, RealBench, MATLAB, GeekBench 6, 5.2, Handbrake, UserBenchmark, WPrime, SuperPi, AIDA64, 7zip, World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, 3DMark, Gears 5, Dolphin Emulator, PassMark, PCMark 10, Blender, Blender, Cinebench 23 (20, 15), DaVinci Resolve Studio.
   Gaming performance of CPUs in:

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

After looking at the data of all benchmarks and videos, you already be able to know which CPU is better to buy for gaming Apple M1X or Intel Core i5-11600K.

Summary benchmark results

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

Core i5-11600K

56%

M1X

58%

This value shows the performance of the processors in single-threaded and multi-threaded mode. In this comparison, M1X is 3% better than Core i5-11600K. The data source is several popular tests. Detailed information can be found below.

Gaming performance
Summary result of all game benchmarks.

Core i5-11600K

54%

M1X

55%

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: The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Metro Exodus, Microsoft Flight Simulator, Half-Life: Alyx, Battlefield V, Forza Horizon 4, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG), Horizon Zero Dawn, Monster Hunter World, Control, Resident Evil 7 Biohazard, Hitman 3, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS GO), DOTA 2A, Ghostrunner, NBA 2K20, League of Legends (LOL).

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	95.2	97.6
Valorant	108.1	110.9
Cyberpunk 2077	60.6	62.1
Apex Legends	101.6	104.2
Call of Duty Warzone	81.1	83.2
Overwatch	87.6	89.8
Red Dead Redemption 2	74.6	76.5
DOOM Eternal	54.1	55.4
Warzone	84.3	86.5
Assassin's Creed	90.8	93.1
Valheim	89.7	92.0

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 participating in the comparisons not only were the equipped with different amounts of RAM and different video cards. 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 compare it in one assembly with the video card that is installed in your computer.

Power consumption

Core i5-11600K

43%

M1X

161%

To make a finishing resolution 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 M1X is more energy efficient than the Core i5-11600K as it consumes less power: 125W vs. 35W. Power consumption is particularly important for laptops. Also, when choosing a processor cooling system, it will be useful to know its TDP. It is necessary to count so that the TDP data specified in the cooler specification is greater than the TDP of the compared processor.

Software benchmarks

Let's say you plan to use the processor not only for gaming, but also for streaming, video rendering or video editing, machine learning, programming, then the main parameter for you is its performance in multi-threaded mode. In this mode, to achieve maximum performance, the CPU includes all threads and cores that it has. You will learn this data from the benchmark tables below. Before using the data from these tests, be sure to check whether the software you are going to use on your computer supports multi-threaded mode. Because there are still many programs that use only one core to run, and all the benefit of multi-core mode are unused.
Cinebench 23, 20 an 15
The results of this benchmark show Single-threaded and Multi-threaded CPU performance

	Intel Core i5-11600K	Apple M1X
Cinbench 15 Single-core	199	270
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	1905	2615
Cinbench 20 Single-core	465	629
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	4270	5732
Cinbench 23 Single-core	1213	1628
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	11302	14587

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

	Intel Core i5-11600K	Apple M1X
Single-Core	2707	3485
Multi-Core	20616	28843

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

	Intel Core i5-11600K	Apple M1X
Single-Core	1621	1695
Multi-Core	7012	9389

Comparison of specifications

In the specification comparison table, the processor release date and overclocking capability will be the most helpful. The later the processor is released, 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, increasing its performance, then it will still be able to produce maximum FPS in new games. It turns out that you do not need to buy a new CPU to enjoy the games any longer. The economy are obvious!

	Intel Core i5-11600K	Apple M1X
Announcement date	January 20, 2021	February 12, 2021
Type	Desktop	Laptop;Desktop
Socket	FCLGA1200	M1X
Core name	Rocket Lake	8x Firestorm;4x Icestorm
Architecture	x86	hybrid (big.LITTLE)
Generation	11	1
Turbo Frequency	4.9 MHz
Frequency	3.9 MHz	3.2 MHz
Cores	6	12
Threads	12	12
Bus rate	8 GT/s
Bit	64	64
Lithography	14 nm	5 nm
Transistors count	5400 millions	24000 millions
Power consumption (TDP)	125 W	35 W
Memory type	DDR4-3200	LPDDR4 - Up to 4266MHz
Max. Memory	128 Gb
Memory Frequency	3200	4266
Memory bandwidth	50 GB/s
L1 cache		12MB
L2 cache	3 MB	28MB
L3 cache	12 MB	64MB
Overclocking	No	No
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 Core i5-11600K is 17% better than M1X in terms of CPU frequency. Another difference is that M1X has 6 more core than Core i5-11600K. Also keep in mind that high CPU frequency affects battery life through power consumption (relevant for laptops).

Result:
The number of parameters for which Intel Core i5-11600K is better: 7
The number of parameters for which Apple M1X is better: 29
Although it should be understood that the summary data in the text above do not mean that taking them into account you should fully trust a simple comparison of these numbers. Better to watch the testing video and read the reviews of of people who bought Intel Core i5-11600K and Apple M1X before making a choice which CPU to buy for gaming and which not.

• Intel Core i5-11600K specs and review.

• Apple M1X specs and review.