Intel Core i9-10940X vs Apple M1

Processor comparisons 17-03-2021

   Let's say you are thinking about choosing a processor, you will be able to make a decision after reading the detailed tests Intel Core i9-10940X vs Apple M1 and decide which is better for games or simple use for streaming, programming, video editing, rendering, machine learning. Here is all information from several benchmarks or real video editing and streaming tests. A thorough analysis of all the technical characteristics, to make it easier to read, is summarized in the table.
   From the comparison video, you can get the results of parallel examination in synthetic type tests like UserBenchmark, Handbrake, Dolphin Emulator, 3DMark, PassMark, DaVinci Resolve Studio, WPrime, GeekBench 6, 5.2, Blender, Furmark, 7zip, Cinebench 23 (20, 15), RealBench, AIDA64, Gears 5, Blender, SuperPi, Prime95, MATLAB, PCMark 10, VeraCrypt, World of Tanks enCore Benchmark.
   Gaming performance of processors in:

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

After reading the results these benchmarks and videos, you can already make an briefed decision about which processor is better to buy for gaming Apple M1 or Intel Core i9-10940X.

Summary benchmark results

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

Core i9-10940X

58%

56%

This value shows the performance of the processors in single-threaded and multi-threaded mode. In this comparison, Core i9-10940X is 3% better than M1. The data source is several popular tests. More detailed information of the benchmarks is below.

Gaming performance
Summary result of all game benchmarks.

Core i9-10940X

59%

54%

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. Therefore, if you think that the selected CPU has a low game result, just look at the FPS that it produces in real games in the final table below.
List of other games in which CPU comparisons were performed: Half-Life: Alyx, Monster Hunter World, Battlefield V, PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG), Hitman 3, Control, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Microsoft Flight Simulator, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS GO), Horizon Zero Dawn, League of Legends (LOL), DOTA 2A, Metro Exodus, Resident Evil 7 Biohazard, Ghostrunner, Forza Horizon 4, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, NBA 2K20.

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	104.3	95.8
Valorant	118.5	108.9
Cyberpunk 2077	66.4	61.0
Apex Legends	111.4	102.4
Call of Duty Warzone	88.9	81.7
Overwatch	96.0	88.2
Red Dead Redemption 2	81.8	75.1
DOOM Eternal	59.2	54.5
Warzone	92.4	84.9
Assassin's Creed	99.5	91.5
Valheim	98.3	90.4

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 amounts of RAM and different video cards. But users also tested them at different screen resolutions: 2K, 4K or FullHD. Therefore, the game benchmark data is approximate. But all video cards met the average system requirements of games. To be sure exactly how much performance 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 i9-10940X

24%

388%

To make a finishing 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 i9-10940X since it has less power consumption: 165W vs. 15W. Power consumption is particularly important for laptops. Also, when choosing a processor cooling system, you must 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

If you want to use the processor not only for gaming, but also for machine learning, programming, streaming, video rendering or video editing, then first of all you need to pay attention to the performance in multi-threaded mode. In this mode, to reach maximum performance, the processor includes 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 make sure that the program that you are going to use on your computer can work in multi-threaded mode. Because there are still many programs that 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

	Intel Core i9-10940X	Apple M1
Cinbench 15 Single-core	201	209
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	3117	1163
Cinbench 20 Single-core	442	402
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	7609	1987
Cinbench 23 Single-core	1263	1512
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	21309	7782

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

	Intel Core i9-10940X	Apple M1
Single-Core	2704	3413
Multi-Core	29374	22028

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

	Intel Core i9-10940X	Apple M1
Single-Core	1226	1746
Multi-Core	15950	7683

Comparison of specifications

In the specification comparison table, the processor release date and overclocking capability will be the most useful. 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. When the processor can be overclocked, thereby increasing its performance, then it will continue to maintain maximum FPS in the newest games. Accordingly, you do not need to buy a new CPU to enjoy the games any longer. The economy are obvious!

	Intel Core i9-10940X	Apple M1
Announcement date	October 01, 2019	October 01, 2020
Type	Desktop	Laptop
Socket	FCLGA2066	M1
Core name	Cascade Lake	4x Firestorm;4x Icestorm
Architecture	x86	hybrid (big.LITTLE)
Generation	10	1
Turbo Frequency	4.8 MHz
Frequency	3.3 MHz	3.2 MHz
Cores	14	8
Threads	28	16
Bus rate	8 GT/s DMI3
Bit	64	64
Lithography	14 nm	5 nm
Transistors count	9200 millions	16000 millions
Power consumption (TDP)	165 W	15 W
Memory type	DDR4-2933	LPDDR4 - Up to 4266MHz
Max. Memory	256 Gb
Memory Frequency		4266
Memory bandwidth	94 GB/s
L1 cache		2MB
L2 cache		16MB
L3 cache	19.25 MB
Overclocking	Yes	No
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 i9-10940X is 3% better than M1 in terms of CPU frequency. Another difference is that Core i9-10940X has 6 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 Intel Core i9-10940X is better: 27
The number of parameters for which Apple M1 is better: 11
Although it should be realized that all the figures in the text above do not mean that you should be guided entirely by them and trust a simple comparison of these numbers. Better to watch the testing video and read the reviews of real owners of Intel Core i9-10940X and Apple M1 before making a decision which CPU to buy for gaming and which not.

• Intel Core i9-10940X specs and review.

• Apple M1 specs and review.