Apple A8 vs Intel Core i5-3210M

Comparative analysis of Apple A8 and Intel Core i5-3210M processors for all known characteristics in the following categories: Essentials, Performance, Memory, Graphics, Graphics interfaces, Compatibility, Peripherals, Security & Reliability, Advanced Technologies, Virtualization. Benchmark processor performance analysis: PassMark - Single thread mark, PassMark - CPU mark, Geekbench 4 - Single Core, Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core, CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s), CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s), CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s), CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s), CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s), GFXBench 4.0 - T-Rex (Frames), GFXBench 4.0 - T-Rex (Fps).

Apple A8

Intel Core i5-3210M

Differences

Reasons to consider the Apple A8

CPU is newer: launch date 2 year(s) 3 month(s) later
A newer manufacturing process allows for a more powerful, yet cooler running processor: 20 nm vs 22 nm
2x more L2 cache, more data can be stored in the L2 cache for quick access later
Around 33% more L3 cache; more data can be stored in the L3 cache for quick access later

Launch date	9 Sep 2014 vs 3 June 2012
Manufacturing process technology	20 nm vs 22 nm
L2 cache	1 MB (shared) vs 512 KB
L3 cache	4 MB vs 3072 KB

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i5-3210M

2 more threads: 4 vs 2
Around 107% higher clock speed: 3.10 GHz vs 1.5 GHz
1024x more L1 cache, more data can be stored in the L1 cache for quick access later
16x more maximum memory size: 32 GB vs 2 GB
Around 67% better performance in PassMark - Single thread mark: 1525 vs 914
Around 62% better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 2464 vs 1517

Specifications (specs)
Number of threads	4 vs 2
Maximum frequency	3.10 GHz vs 1.5 GHz
L1 cache	128 KB vs 64 KB instruction + 64 KB data (per core)
Maximum memory size	32 GB vs 2 GB
Benchmarks
PassMark - Single thread mark	1525 vs 914
PassMark - CPU mark	2464 vs 1517

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: Apple A8
CPU 2: Intel Core i5-3210M

PassMark - Single thread mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

914

1525

PassMark - CPU mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

1517

2464

Name	Apple A8	Intel Core i5-3210M
PassMark - Single thread mark	914	1525
PassMark - CPU mark	1517	2464
Geekbench 4 - Single Core		555
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core		1227
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)		5.786
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)		6.488
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)		0.285
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)		1.245
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)		2.257
GFXBench 4.0 - T-Rex (Frames)		3036
GFXBench 4.0 - T-Rex (Fps)		3036

Compare specifications (specs)

	Apple A8	Intel Core i5-3210M
Essentials
Architecture codename	Typhoon	Ivy Bridge
Launch date	9 Sep 2014	3 June 2012
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	2368	2362
Processor Number	APL1011	i5-3210M
Launch price (MSRP)		$225
Price now		$120.68
Series		Legacy Intel® Core™ Processors
Status		Launched
Value for money (0-100)		9.33
Vertical segment		Mobile
Performance
Base frequency	1.1 GHz	2.50 GHz
L1 cache	64 KB instruction + 64 KB data (per core)	128 KB
L2 cache	1 MB (shared)	512 KB
L3 cache	4 MB	3072 KB
Manufacturing process technology	20 nm	22 nm
Maximum frequency	1.5 GHz	3.10 GHz
Number of cores	2	2
Number of threads	2	4
Transistor count	2 billion
64 bit support
Bus Speed		5 GT/s DMI
Die size		118 mm
Maximum core temperature		105 °C
Memory
Max memory channels	1	2
Maximum memory bandwidth	12.8 GB/s	25.6 GB/s
Maximum memory size	2 GB	32 GB
Supported memory types	LPDDR3-1600	DDR3/L/-RS 1333/1600
Graphics
Execution Units	16
Graphics base frequency	533 MHz	650 MHz
iGPU core count	4
Processor graphics	Custom PowerVR Series 6XT	Intel® HD Graphics 4000
Device ID		0x166
Graphics max dynamic frequency		1.10 GHz
Graphics max frequency		1.1 GHz
Intel® Clear Video HD technology
Intel® Flexible Display Interface (Intel® FDI)
Intel® InTru™ 3D technology
Intel® Quick Sync Video
Graphics interfaces
CRT
DisplayPort
eDP
HDMI
Number of displays supported		3
SDVO
Wireless Display (WiDi) support
Compatibility
Low Halogen Options Available
Max number of CPUs in a configuration		1
Package Size		37.5 x 37.5mm (rPGA988B)
Sockets supported		FCPGA988
Thermal Design Power (TDP)		35 Watt
Peripherals
Max number of PCIe lanes		16
PCI Express revision		3.0
PCIe configurations		1x16, 2x8, 1x8 2x4
Security & Reliability
Anti-Theft technology
Execute Disable Bit (EDB)
Intel® Identity Protection technology
Intel® Secure Key technology
Intel® Trusted Execution technology (TXT)
Advanced Technologies
4G WiMAX Wireless
Enhanced Intel SpeedStep® technology
Flexible Display interface (FDI)
Idle States
Instruction set extensions		Intel® AVX
Intel 64
Intel® Advanced Vector Extensions (AVX)
Intel® AES New Instructions
Intel® Demand Based Switching
Intel® Fast Memory Access
Intel® Flex Memory Access
Intel® Hyper-Threading technology
Intel® My WiFi technology
Intel® Turbo Boost technology
Intel® vPro™ Platform Eligibility
Thermal Monitoring
Virtualization
AMD Virtualization (AMD-V™)
Intel® Virtualization Technology (VT-x)
Intel® Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d)
Intel® VT-x with Extended Page Tables (EPT)