Apple A9X vs Intel Core i7-7500U

Comparative analysis of Apple A9X and Intel Core i7-7500U 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, Geekbench 4 - Single Core, Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core, 3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score, 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 - Car Chase Offscreen (Frames), GFXBench 4.0 - Manhattan (Frames), GFXBench 4.0 - T-Rex (Frames), GFXBench 4.0 - Car Chase Offscreen (Fps), GFXBench 4.0 - Manhattan (Fps), GFXBench 4.0 - T-Rex (Fps).

Apple A9X

Intel Core i7-7500U

Differences

Reasons to consider the Apple A9X

6x more L2 cache, more data can be stored in the L2 cache for quick access later

L2 cache	3 MB (shared) vs 512 KB

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i7-7500U

2 more threads: 4 vs 2
Around 55% higher clock speed: 3.50 GHz vs 2.26 GHz
A newer manufacturing process allows for a more powerful, yet cooler running processor: 14 nm vs 16 nm
1024x 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 28% better performance in PassMark - Single thread mark: 1926 vs 1509
Around 45% better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 3650 vs 2515

Specifications (specs)
Number of threads	4 vs 2
Maximum frequency	3.50 GHz vs 2.26 GHz
Manufacturing process technology	14 nm vs 16 nm
L1 cache	128 KB vs 64 KB instruction + 64 KB data (per core)
Maximum memory size	32 GB vs 4 GB
Benchmarks
PassMark - Single thread mark	1926 vs 1509
PassMark - CPU mark	3650 vs 2515

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: Apple A9X
CPU 2: Intel Core i7-7500U

PassMark - Single thread mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

1509

1926

PassMark - CPU mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

2515

3650

Name	Apple A9X	Intel Core i7-7500U
PassMark - Single thread mark	1509	1926
PassMark - CPU mark	2515	3650
Geekbench 4 - Single Core		548
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core		1254
3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score		0
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)		2.5
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)		41.612
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)		0.301
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)		1.092
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)		3.009
GFXBench 4.0 - Car Chase Offscreen (Frames)		1553
GFXBench 4.0 - Manhattan (Frames)		2764
GFXBench 4.0 - T-Rex (Frames)		5150
GFXBench 4.0 - Car Chase Offscreen (Fps)		1553
GFXBench 4.0 - Manhattan (Fps)		2764
GFXBench 4.0 - T-Rex (Fps)		5150

Compare specifications (specs)

	Apple A9X	Intel Core i7-7500U
Essentials
Architecture codename	Twister	Kaby Lake
Launch date	7 Sep 2016	30 August 2016
OS Support	iOS 9.1, iOS 15.7.5, iPadOS 16.4.1, tvOS 16.2
Place in performance rating	1593	1596
Processor Number	APL1W24	i7-7500U
Launch price (MSRP)		$393
Series		7th Generation Intel® Core™ i7 Processors
Status		Launched
Vertical segment		Mobile
Performance
Base frequency	2.16 GHz	2.70 GHz
L1 cache	64 KB instruction + 64 KB data (per core)	128 KB
L2 cache	3 MB (shared)	512 KB
Manufacturing process technology	16 nm	14 nm
Maximum frequency	2.26 GHz	3.50 GHz
Number of cores	2	2
Number of threads	2	4
Transistor count	3 billion
64 bit support
Bus Speed		4 GT/s OPI
L3 cache		4 MB
Maximum core temperature		100°C
Memory
Max memory channels	2	2
Maximum memory bandwidth	51.2 GB/s	34.1 GB/s
Maximum memory size	4 GB	32 GB
Supported memory types	LPDDR4-3200	DDR4-2133, LPDDR3-1866, DDR3L-1600
Graphics
Execution Units	48
Graphics base frequency	650 MHz	300 MHz
iGPU core count	12
Processor graphics	Custom PowerVR Series7XT	Intel® HD Graphics 620
Device ID		0x5916
Graphics max dynamic frequency		1.05 GHz
Graphics max frequency		1.05 GHz
Intel® Clear Video HD technology
Intel® Clear Video technology
Intel® InTru™ 3D technology
Intel® Quick Sync Video
Max video memory		32 GB
Graphics interfaces
DisplayPort
DVI
eDP
HDMI
Number of displays supported		3
Graphics image quality
4K resolution support
Max resolution over DisplayPort		4096x2304@60Hz
Max resolution over eDP		4096x2304@60Hz
Max resolution over HDMI 1.4		4096x2304@24Hz
Graphics API support
DirectX		12
OpenGL		4.5
Compatibility
Configurable TDP-down		7.5 W
Configurable TDP-down Frequency		800 MHz
Configurable TDP-up		25 W
Configurable TDP-up Frequency		2.90 GHz
Low Halogen Options Available
Max number of CPUs in a configuration		1
Package Size		42mm X 24mm
Sockets supported		FCBGA1356
Thermal Design Power (TDP)		15 Watt
Peripherals
Max number of PCIe lanes		12
PCI Express revision		3.0
PCIe configurations		1x4, 2x2, 1x2+2x1 and 4x1
Security & Reliability
Execute Disable Bit (EDB)
Intel® Identity Protection technology
Intel® Memory Protection Extensions (Intel® MPX)
Intel® OS Guard
Intel® Secure Key technology
Intel® Software Guard Extensions (Intel® SGX)
Intel® Trusted Execution technology (TXT)
Advanced Technologies
Enhanced Intel SpeedStep® technology
Idle States
Instruction set extensions		Intel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX2
Intel 64
Intel® Advanced Vector Extensions (AVX)
Intel® AES New Instructions
Intel® Flex Memory Access
Intel® Hyper-Threading technology
Intel® My WiFi technology
Intel® Optane™ Memory Supported
Intel® Smart Response technology
Intel® Stable Image Platform Program (SIPP)
Intel® TSX-NI
Intel® Turbo Boost technology
Intel® vPro™ Platform Eligibility
Speed Shift technology
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)