Apple A9 vs Intel Core i9-11900K

Comparative analysis of Apple A9 and Intel Core i9-11900K processors for all known characteristics in the following categories: Essentials, Performance, Memory, Graphics, Graphics interfaces, Graphics image quality, Graphics API support, Compatibility, Peripherals, Security & Reliability, Advanced Technologies, Virtualization. Benchmark processor performance analysis: PassMark - Single thread mark, PassMark - CPU mark, 3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score.

Apple A9

Intel Core i9-11900K

Differences

Reasons to consider the Apple A9

Around 50% more L2 cache; more data can be stored in the L2 cache for quick access later

L2 cache	3 MB (shared) vs 2 MB

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i9-11900K

CPU is newer: launch date 5 year(s) 6 month(s) later
6 more cores, run more applications at once: 8 vs 2
14 more threads: 16 vs 2
Around 186% higher clock speed: 5.30 GHz vs 1.85 GHz
A newer manufacturing process allows for a more powerful, yet cooler running processor: 14 nm vs 16 nm
4096x more L1 cache, more data can be stored in the L1 cache for quick access later
4x more L3 cache, more data can be stored in the L3 cache for quick access later
64x more maximum memory size: 128 GB vs 2 GB
3x better performance in PassMark - Single thread mark: 3510 vs 1187
12.1x better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 25059 vs 2069

Specifications (specs)
Launch date	16 Mar 2021 vs 9 Sep 2015
Number of cores	8 vs 2
Number of threads	16 vs 2
Maximum frequency	5.30 GHz vs 1.85 GHz
Manufacturing process technology	14 nm vs 16 nm
L1 cache	512 KB vs 64 KB instruction + 64 KB data (per core)
L3 cache	16 MB vs 4 MB (shared)
Maximum memory size	128 GB vs 2 GB
Benchmarks
PassMark - Single thread mark	3510 vs 1187
PassMark - CPU mark	25059 vs 2069

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: Apple A9
CPU 2: Intel Core i9-11900K

PassMark - Single thread mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

1187

3510

PassMark - CPU mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

2069

25059

Name	Apple A9	Intel Core i9-11900K
PassMark - Single thread mark	1187	3510
PassMark - CPU mark	2069	25059
3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score		8346

Compare specifications (specs)

	Apple A9	Intel Core i9-11900K
Essentials
Architecture codename	Twister	Rocket Lake
Launch date	9 Sep 2015	16 Mar 2021
OS Support	iOS 9.0, iOS 15.7.5, iPadOS 16.4.1, tvOS 16.2
Place in performance rating	2059	427
Processor Number	APL1021	i9-11900K
Launch price (MSRP)		$539 - $549
Series		11th Generation Intel Core i9 Processors
Status		Launched
Vertical segment		Desktop
Performance
Base frequency	1.85 GHz	3.50 GHz
L1 cache	64 KB instruction + 64 KB data (per core)	512 KB
L2 cache	3 MB (shared)	2 MB
L3 cache	4 MB (shared)	16 MB
Manufacturing process technology	16 nm	14 nm
Maximum frequency	1.85 GHz	5.30 GHz
Number of cores	2	8
Number of threads	2	16
Transistor count	2 billion
64 bit support
Bus Speed		8 GT/s
Maximum core temperature		100°C
Memory
Max memory channels	1	2
Maximum memory bandwidth	25.6 GB/s	50 GB/s
Maximum memory size	2 GB	128 GB
Supported memory types	LPDDR4-3200	DDR4-3200
Graphics
Execution Units	24	32
Graphics base frequency	650 MHz	350 MHz
iGPU core count	6
Processor graphics	Custom PowerVR Series 7XT @ 650MHz	Intel UHD Graphics 750
Device ID		0x4C8A
Graphics max dynamic frequency		1.30 GHz
Intel® Clear Video HD technology
Intel® Clear Video technology
Intel® InTru™ 3D technology
Intel® Quick Sync Video
Max video memory		64 GB
Graphics interfaces
Number of displays supported		3
Graphics image quality
4K resolution support
Max resolution over DisplayPort		5120 x 3200 @60Hz
Max resolution over eDP		5120 x 3200 @60Hz
Graphics API support
DirectX		12.1
OpenGL		4.5
Compatibility
Configurable TDP-down		95 Watt
Configurable TDP-down Frequency		3.00 GHz
Max number of CPUs in a configuration		1
Package Size		37.5 mm x 37.5 mm
Sockets supported		FCLGA1200
Thermal Design Power (TDP)		125 Watt
Thermal Solution		PCG 2019A
Peripherals
Max number of PCIe lanes		20
PCI Express revision		4.0
PCIe configurations		Up to 1x16+1x4, 2x8+1x4, 1x8+3x4
Scalability		1S Only
Security & Reliability
Execute Disable Bit (EDB)
Intel® Identity Protection technology
Intel® OS Guard
Intel® Secure Key technology
Intel® Software Guard Extensions (Intel® SGX)
Intel® Trusted Execution technology (TXT)
Secure Boot
Advanced Technologies
Enhanced Intel SpeedStep® technology
Idle States
Instruction set extensions		Intel SSE4.1, Intel SSE4.2, Intel AVX2, Intel AVX-512
Intel 64
Intel® AES New Instructions
Intel® Hyper-Threading technology
Intel® Optane™ Memory Supported
Intel® Stable Image Platform Program (SIPP)
Intel® Thermal Velocity Boost
Intel® Turbo Boost technology
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)