Intel Core i9-11900 vs Apple M1

Processor comparisons 18-03-2021

   Let's say you are thinking about choosing a CPU, you will be able to make a decision by looking at the Intel Core i9-11900 vs Apple M1 tests and understand which is better for games or normal use for machine learning, streaming, programming, rendering, video editing. Here you can find all information from real streaming and video editing tests or several benchmarks. A careful analysis of all the specifications, so that it can be easier to understand, is summarized in the table.
   From the video comparison, you can get the results of parallel examination in synthetic type tests such as AIDA64, VeraCrypt, RealBench, PCMark 10, Blender, 3DMark, Blender, MATLAB, SuperPi, 7zip, Prime95, Furmark, PassMark, GeekBench 6, 5.2, DaVinci Resolve Studio, Dolphin Emulator, Cinebench 23 (20, 15), World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, Gears 5, WPrime, UserBenchmark, Handbrake.
   Gaming performance of processors in:

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

After reading the results of joint benchmarks and videos, you already be able to know which CPU is better to buy for gaming Apple M1 or Intel Core i9-11900.

Summary benchmark results

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

Core i9-11900

58%

56%

This parameter shows the performance of the processors in single-threaded and multi-threaded mode. In this comparison, Core i9-11900 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 i9-11900

55%

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

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	97.8	95.8
Valorant	111.1	108.9
Cyberpunk 2077	62.2	61.0
Apex Legends	104.4	102.4
Call of Duty Warzone	83.3	81.7
Overwatch	90.0	88.2
Red Dead Redemption 2	76.7	75.1
DOOM Eternal	55.5	54.5
Warzone	86.7	84.9
Assassin's Creed	93.3	91.5
Valheim	92.2	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 tested computers 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 get acquainted with the benchmarks that are made with the same video card that is installed in your computer.

Power consumption

Core i9-11900

87%

388%

To make a final 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 M1 is more energy efficient than the Core i9-11900 as it consumes less power: 65W vs. 15W. Power consumption is especially important for laptops. Also, when choosing a processor cooling system, you need 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

If you plan to use the processor not only for gaming, but also for machine learning, video rendering or video editing, streaming, programming, then first of all you need to pay attention to the performance in multi-threaded mode. In this mode, the processor 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 check whether the program you are going to use on your computer supports multi-threaded mode. Since 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 i9-11900	Apple M1
Cinbench 15 Single-core	278	209
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	2524	1163
Cinbench 20 Single-core	623	402
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	5611	1987
Cinbench 23 Single-core	1620	1512
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	16146	7782

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

	Intel Core i9-11900	Apple M1
Single-Core	3725	3413
Multi-Core	27603	22028

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

	Intel Core i9-11900	Apple M1
Single-Core	1713	1746
Multi-Core	9575	7683

Comparison of specifications

In the specification comparison table, the most useful will be the release date of the processor and the possibility of overclocking it. The newer the processor, the longer it will last you. And the easier it will be to upgrade the system later. The same benefits from the presence of overclocking. If the processor can be overclocked, increasing its performance, then it will still be able to produce maximum FPS in new games. Accordingly, you do not need to buy a new CPU to enjoy the games any longer. The savings are obvious!

	Intel Core i9-11900	Apple M1
Announcement date	March 18, 2021	October 01, 2020
Type	Desktop	Laptop
Socket	FCLGA1200	M1
Core name	Rocket Lake	4x Firestorm;4x Icestorm
Architecture	x86	hybrid (big.LITTLE)
Generation	11	1
Turbo Frequency	5.1 MHz
Frequency	2.5 MHz	3.2 MHz
Cores	8	8
Threads	16	16
Bus rate	8 GT/s
Bit	64	64
Lithography	14 nm	5 nm
Transistors count	9800 millions	16000 millions
Power consumption (TDP)	65 W	15 W
Memory type	DDR4-3200	LPDDR4 - Up to 4266MHz
Max. Memory	128 Gb
Memory Frequency	3200	4266
Memory bandwidth	50 GB/s
L1 cache		2MB
L2 cache	4 MB	16MB
L3 cache	16 MB
Overclocking	No	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 M1 is 21% better than Core i9-11900 in terms of CPU frequency. 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 i9-11900 is better: 28
The number of parameters for which Apple M1 is better: 7
However, it should be understood that all the figures in the table above do not mean that taking them into account you should fully trust a simple quantitative comparison. Better to watch benchmarks video and read the opinion of real owners of Intel Core i9-11900 and Apple M1 before making a choice which CPU to buy for gaming and which not.

• Intel Core i9-11900 specs and review.

• Apple M1 specs and review.