Apple A9X vs AMD Athlon Silver 3050U

Comparative analysis of Apple A9X and AMD Athlon Silver 3050U processors for all known characteristics in the following categories: Essentials, Performance, Memory, Graphics, Graphics interfaces, Graphics API support, Compatibility, Peripherals. Benchmark processor performance analysis: PassMark - Single thread mark, PassMark - CPU mark.

Apple A9X

AMD Athlon Silver 3050U

Differences

Reasons to consider the Apple A9X

3x more L2 cache, more data can be stored in the L2 cache for quick access later

L2 cache	3 MB (shared) vs 1 MB

Reasons to consider the AMD Athlon Silver 3050U

CPU is newer: launch date 3 year(s) 3 month(s) later
Around 42% higher clock speed: 3.2 GHz vs 2.26 GHz
A newer manufacturing process allows for a more powerful, yet cooler running processor: 14 nm vs 16 nm
1536x more L1 cache, more data can be stored in the L1 cache for quick access later
8x more maximum memory size: 32 GB vs 4 GB
Around 13% better performance in PassMark - Single thread mark: 1701 vs 1509
Around 19% better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 2983 vs 2516

Specifications (specs)
Launch date	6 Jan 2020 vs 7 Sep 2016
Maximum frequency	3.2 GHz vs 2.26 GHz
Manufacturing process technology	14 nm vs 16 nm
L1 cache	192 KB vs 64 KB instruction + 64 KB data (per core)
Maximum memory size	32 GB vs 4 GB
Benchmarks
PassMark - Single thread mark	1701 vs 1509
PassMark - CPU mark	2983 vs 2516

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: Apple A9X
CPU 2: AMD Athlon Silver 3050U

PassMark - Single thread mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

1509

1701

PassMark - CPU mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

2516

2983

Name	Apple A9X	AMD Athlon Silver 3050U
PassMark - Single thread mark	1509	1701
PassMark - CPU mark	2516	2983

Compare specifications (specs)

	Apple A9X	AMD Athlon Silver 3050U
Essentials
Architecture codename	Twister	Zen
Launch date	7 Sep 2016	6 Jan 2020
OS Support	iOS 9.1, iOS 15.7.5, iPadOS 16.4.1, tvOS 16.2
Place in performance rating	1697	1513
Processor Number	APL1W24	3050U
OPN Tray		YM3050C4T2OFG
Vertical segment		Mobile
Performance
Base frequency	2.16 GHz	2.3 GHz
L1 cache	64 KB instruction + 64 KB data (per core)	192 KB
L2 cache	3 MB (shared)	1 MB
Manufacturing process technology	16 nm	14 nm
Maximum frequency	2.26 GHz	3.2 GHz
Number of cores	2	2
Number of threads	2	2
Transistor count	3 billion
L3 cache		4 MB
Maximum core temperature		95 °C
Number of GPU cores		2
Unlocked
Memory
Max memory channels	2	2
Maximum memory bandwidth	51.2 GB/s	35.76 GB/s
Maximum memory size	4 GB	32 GB
Supported memory types	LPDDR4-3200	DDR4-2400
ECC memory support
Graphics
Execution Units	48
Graphics base frequency	650 MHz
iGPU core count	12
Processor graphics	Custom PowerVR Series7XT
Graphics interfaces
DisplayPort
HDMI
Graphics API support
DirectX		12
OpenGL		4.6
Vulkan
Compatibility
Configurable TDP		12-25 Watt
Sockets supported		FP5
Thermal Design Power (TDP)		15 Watt
Peripherals
Max number of PCIe lanes		12
PCI Express revision		3.0
PCIe configurations		1x8+1x4