Apple A9 vs Intel Core i7-2920XM

Comparative analysis of Apple A9 and Intel Core i7-2920XM 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.

Apple A9

Intel Core i7-2920XM

Differences

Reasons to consider the Apple A9

CPU is newer: launch date 4 year(s) 8 month(s) later
A newer manufacturing process allows for a more powerful, yet cooler running processor: 16 nm vs 32 nm
3x more L2 cache, more data can be stored in the L2 cache for quick access later

Launch date	9 Sep 2015 vs 6 January 2011
Manufacturing process technology	16 nm vs 32 nm
L2 cache	3 MB (shared) vs 1024 KB

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i7-2920XM

Processor is unlocked, an unlocked multiplier allows for easier overclocking
2 more cores, run more applications at once: 4 vs 2
6 more threads: 8 vs 2
Around 89% higher clock speed: 3.50 GHz vs 1.85 GHz
2048x more L1 cache, more data can be stored in the L1 cache for quick access later
2x more L3 cache, more data can be stored in the L3 cache for quick access later
16x more maximum memory size: 32 GB vs 2 GB
Around 21% better performance in PassMark - Single thread mark: 1438 vs 1187
2.1x better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 4286 vs 2067

Specifications (specs)
Unlocked	Unlocked vs Locked
Number of cores	4 vs 2
Number of threads	8 vs 2
Maximum frequency	3.50 GHz vs 1.85 GHz
L1 cache	256 KB vs 64 KB instruction + 64 KB data (per core)
L3 cache	8192 KB vs 4 MB (shared)
Maximum memory size	32 GB vs 2 GB
Benchmarks
PassMark - Single thread mark	1438 vs 1187
PassMark - CPU mark	4286 vs 2067

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: Apple A9
CPU 2: Intel Core i7-2920XM

PassMark - Single thread mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

1187

1438

PassMark - CPU mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

2067

4286

Name	Apple A9	Intel Core i7-2920XM
PassMark - Single thread mark	1187	1438
PassMark - CPU mark	2067	4286
Geekbench 4 - Single Core		673
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core		2511

Compare specifications (specs)

	Apple A9	Intel Core i7-2920XM
Essentials
Architecture codename	Twister	Sandy Bridge
Launch date	9 Sep 2015	6 January 2011
OS Support	iOS 9.0, iOS 15.7.5, iPadOS 16.4.1, tvOS 16.2
Place in performance rating	2056	2054
Processor Number	APL1021	i7-2920XM
Launch price (MSRP)		$1,096
Price now		$608.95
Series		Legacy Intel® Core™ Processors
Status		Launched
Value for money (0-100)		3.40
Vertical segment		Mobile
Performance
Base frequency	1.85 GHz	2.50 GHz
L1 cache	64 KB instruction + 64 KB data (per core)	256 KB
L2 cache	3 MB (shared)	1024 KB
L3 cache	4 MB (shared)	8192 KB
Manufacturing process technology	16 nm	32 nm
Maximum frequency	1.85 GHz	3.50 GHz
Number of cores	2	4
Number of threads	2	8
Transistor count	2 billion	995 Million
64 bit support
Die size		216 mm
Maximum core temperature		100 C
Unlocked
Memory
Max memory channels	1	2
Maximum memory bandwidth	25.6 GB/s	25.6 GB/s
Maximum memory size	2 GB	32 GB
Supported memory types	LPDDR4-3200	DDR3 1066/1333/1600
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		1.30 GHz
Graphics max frequency		1.3 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		37.5mm x 37.5mm (rPGA998)
Sockets supported		FCPGA988
Thermal Design Power (TDP)		55 Watt
Peripherals
Max number of PCIe lanes		16
PCI Express revision		2.0
PCIe configurations		1x16, 2x8, 1x8+2x4
Security & Reliability
Anti-Theft technology
Execute Disable Bit (EDB)
Intel® Identity Protection 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)