Apple A8 vs AMD GX-420MC

Comparative analysis of Apple A8 and AMD GX-420MC processors for all known characteristics in the following categories: Essentials, Performance, Memory, Graphics, Graphics API support, Compatibility. Benchmark processor performance analysis: PassMark - Single thread mark, PassMark - CPU mark.

Apple A8

AMD GX-420MC

Differences

Reasons to consider the Apple A8

CPU is newer: launch date 3 month(s) later
A newer manufacturing process allows for a more powerful, yet cooler running processor: 20 nm vs 28 nm
Around 32% better performance in PassMark - Single thread mark: 915 vs 695

Specifications (specs)
Launch date	9 Sep 2014 vs 6 Jun 2014
Manufacturing process technology	20 nm vs 28 nm
Benchmarks
PassMark - Single thread mark	915 vs 695

Reasons to consider the AMD GX-420MC

2 more cores, run more applications at once: 4 vs 2
2 more threads: 4 vs 2
Around 33% higher clock speed: 2.0 GHz vs 1.5 GHz
2048x more L1 cache, more data can be stored in the L1 cache for quick access later
2x more L2 cache, more data can be stored in the L2 cache for quick access later
Around 18% better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 1796 vs 1525

Specifications (specs)
Number of cores	4 vs 2
Number of threads	4 vs 2
Maximum frequency	2.0 GHz vs 1.5 GHz
L1 cache	256 KB vs 64 KB instruction + 64 KB data (per core)
L2 cache	2 MB vs 1 MB (shared)
Benchmarks
PassMark - CPU mark	1796 vs 1525

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: Apple A8
CPU 2: AMD GX-420MC

PassMark - Single thread mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

915

695

PassMark - CPU mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

1525

1796

Name	Apple A8	AMD GX-420MC
PassMark - Single thread mark	915	695
PassMark - CPU mark	1525	1796

Compare specifications (specs)

	Apple A8	AMD GX-420MC
Essentials
Architecture codename	Typhoon	Puma
Launch date	9 Sep 2014	6 Jun 2014
OS Support	iOS 8.0, iOS 12.5.7, iPadOS 15.7.4, audioOS 11.0, tvOS 9.0, tvOS 16.2
Place in performance rating	2364	2647
Processor Number	APL1011
Vertical segment		Embedded
Performance
Base frequency	1.1 GHz	2.0 GHz
L1 cache	64 KB instruction + 64 KB data (per core)	256 KB
L2 cache	1 MB (shared)	2 MB
L3 cache	4 MB
Manufacturing process technology	20 nm	28 nm
Maximum frequency	1.5 GHz	2.0 GHz
Number of cores	2	4
Number of threads	2	4
Transistor count	2 billion
Memory
Max memory channels	1	1
Maximum memory bandwidth	12.8 GB/s
Maximum memory size	2 GB
Supported memory types	LPDDR3-1600	DDR3-1600
ECC memory support
Graphics
Execution Units	16
Graphics base frequency	533 MHz
iGPU core count	4
Processor graphics	Custom PowerVR Series 6XT
Graphics API support
DirectX		11.2
OpenGL		4.3
Compatibility
Sockets supported		FT3b
Thermal Design Power (TDP)		17.5 Watt