Apple A9 vs Intel Core i5-2515E

Comparative analysis of Apple A9 and Intel Core i5-2515E 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.

Apple A9

Intel Core i5-2515E

Differences

Reasons to consider the Apple A9

CPU is newer: launch date 4 year(s) 7 month(s) later
A newer manufacturing process allows for a more powerful, yet cooler running processor: 16 nm vs 32 nm
6x 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
Around 10% better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 2067 vs 1882

Specifications (specs)
Launch date	9 Sep 2015 vs February 2011
Manufacturing process technology	16 nm vs 32 nm
L2 cache	3 MB (shared) vs 256 KB (per core)
L3 cache	4 MB (shared) vs 3072 KB (shared)
Benchmarks
PassMark - CPU mark	2067 vs 1882

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i5-2515E

2 more threads: 4 vs 2
Around 68% higher clock speed: 3.10 GHz vs 1.85 GHz
1024x more L1 cache, more data can be stored in the L1 cache for quick access later
8.3x more maximum memory size: 16.6 GB vs 2 GB

Specifications (specs)
Number of threads	4 vs 2
Maximum frequency	3.10 GHz vs 1.85 GHz
L1 cache	64 KB (per core) vs 64 KB instruction + 64 KB data (per core)
Maximum memory size	16.6 GB vs 2 GB
Benchmarks
PassMark - Single thread mark	1189 vs 1187

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: Apple A9
CPU 2: Intel Core i5-2515E

PassMark - Single thread mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

1187

1189

PassMark - CPU mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

2067

1882

Name	Apple A9	Intel Core i5-2515E
PassMark - Single thread mark	1187	1189
PassMark - CPU mark	2067	1882

Compare specifications (specs)

	Apple A9	Intel Core i5-2515E
Essentials
Architecture codename	Twister	Sandy Bridge
Launch date	9 Sep 2015	February 2011
OS Support	iOS 9.0, iOS 15.7.5, iPadOS 16.4.1, tvOS 16.2
Place in performance rating	2056	2066
Processor Number	APL1021	i5-2515E
Series		Legacy Intel® Core™ Processors
Status		Launched
Vertical segment		Embedded
Performance
Base frequency	1.85 GHz	2.50 GHz
L1 cache	64 KB instruction + 64 KB data (per core)	64 KB (per core)
L2 cache	3 MB (shared)	256 KB (per core)
L3 cache	4 MB (shared)	3072 KB (shared)
Manufacturing process technology	16 nm	32 nm
Maximum frequency	1.85 GHz	3.10 GHz
Number of cores	2	2
Number of threads	2	4
Transistor count	2 billion	624 million
64 bit support
Die size		149 mm
Maximum core temperature		100 C
Memory
Max memory channels	1	2
Maximum memory bandwidth	25.6 GB/s	21.3 GB/s
Maximum memory size	2 GB	16.6 GB
Supported memory types	LPDDR4-3200	DDR3 1066/1333
ECC memory support
Graphics
Execution Units	24
Graphics base frequency	650 MHz	650 MHz
iGPU core count	6
Processor graphics	Custom PowerVR Series 7XT @ 650MHz	Intel® HD Graphics 3000
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		2
SDVO
Wireless Display (WiDi) support
Compatibility
Low Halogen Options Available
Max number of CPUs in a configuration		1
Package Size		31mm x 24mm (FCBGA1023)
Sockets supported		FCBGA1023
Thermal Design Power (TDP)		35 Watt
Peripherals
Max number of PCIe lanes		16
PCI Express revision		2.0
PCIe configurations		1x16, 2x8, 1x8+2x4
Security & Reliability
Intel® Identity Protection technology
Intel® Trusted Execution technology (TXT)
Advanced Technologies
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® Turbo Boost technology
Intel® vPro™ Platform Eligibility
Thermal Monitoring
Virtualization
Intel® Virtualization Technology (VT-x)
Intel® Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d)
Intel® VT-x with Extended Page Tables (EPT)