Apple A5 vs Intel Core i5-661

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CPU comparison with benchmarks

-VS-

CPU lineage

Apple A5 or Apple A5 – which processor offers superior performance? In this comparison, we examine disparities and assess which of these two CPUs outperforms the other. We delve into technical specifications and benchmark outcomes.
The Apple A5 features 2 processor cores and has the capability to manage 2 threads concurrently.
It was released in Q1/2011 and belongs to the 5 generation of the Apple A series series.
The Intel Core i5-661 features 2 processor cores and has the capability to manage 4 threads concurrently.
It was released in Q1/2010 and belongs to the 1 generation of the Intel Core i5 series.
To use the Intel Core i5-661, you'll need a motherboard with a LGA 1156 socket.
Apple A5 Name Intel Core i5-661
Apple A series Family Intel Core i5
5 Generation 1
Mobile Segment Desktop / Server
Apple A5/A5X Group Intel Core i5 600
 
 

CPU Cores and Base Frequency

The Apple A5 has 2 CPU cores and can calculate 2 threads in parallel.
The clock frequency of the Apple A5 is 1.0 GHz
The Intel Core i5-661 has 2 CPU cores and can calculate 4 threads in parallel.
The clock frequency of the Intel Core i5-661 is 3.33 GHz
and turbo frequency for one core is 3.6 GHz.
normal Core architecture normal
1.0 GHz Frequency 3.33 GHz
No Hyperthreading Yes
2 Threads 4
2x Cortex-A9 Cores 2x
2 CPU Cores 2
None None 3.6 GHz
No Overclocking No
 
 

Internal Graphics

The Apple A5 has integrated graphics, called iGPU for short.
Specifically, the Apple A5 uses the PowerVR SGX543MP2 (2 Cores), which has 32 texture shaders
and 4 execution units.
The iGPU uses the system's main memory as graphics memory and sits on the processor's die.
The Intel Core i5-661 has integrated graphics, called iGPU for short.
Specifically, the Intel Core i5-661 uses the Intel HD Graphics (Westmere), which has 24 texture shaders
and 12 execution units.
-- Max. displays --
Q1/2012 Release date Q1/2010
-- GPU (Turbo) 0.9 GHz
4 Execution units 12
PowerVR SGX543MP2 (2 Cores) GPU name Intel HD Graphics (Westmere)
-- Generation 5
32 Shaders 24
0 bytes Max. GPU Memory 2.0 GB
0.2 GHz GPU frequency 0.5 GHz
32 nm Technology 32 nm
10 Direct X 10.1
 
 

Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning

-- AI hardware --
-- AI specifications --
 
 

Hardware codec support

A photo or video codec that is accelerated in hardware can greatly accelerate the working speed of a processor and extend the battery life of notebooks or smartphones when playing videos.
No h265 / HEVC (8 bit) No
No JPEG No
No h264 Decode
No VC-1 No
No AV1 No
No VP9 No
No h265 / HEVC (10 bit) No
No VP8 No
No AVC Decode
 
 

Memory & PCIe

The processor supports a maximum memory capacity of 1.0 GB distributed across 2 memory channels. It offers a peak memory bandwidth of 6.4 GB/s. Both the type and quantity of memory can have a substantial impact on the overall system performance.
The processor supports a maximum memory capacity of 16.0 GB distributed across 2 memory channels. It offers a peak memory bandwidth of 21.0 GB/s. Both the type and quantity of memory can have a substantial impact on the overall system performance.
LPDDR2-800 Memory type DDR3-1066, DDR3-1333
2 Memory channels 2
6.4 GB/s Bandwidth 21.0 GB/s
No ECC No
pci PCIe pci
1.0 GB Max. Memory 16.0 GB
No AES-NI Yes
 
 

Thermal Management

TDP indicates the cooling solution needed to effectively manage the processor's heat. It generally provides an approximate indication of the actual power consumption of the CPU itself.
The processor has a thermal design power (TDP) of 73 W watts.
None TDP (PL1 / PBP) 73 W
-- Tjunction max --
 
 

Technical details

The Apple A5 is manufactured using a 32 nm process.
A smaller manufacturing process indicates a more contemporary and energy-efficient CPU.
A substantial cache can significantly enhance the processor's performance, particularly in scenarios like gaming.
The Intel Core i5-661 is manufactured using a 32 nm process.
In total, this processor boasts a generous 4.0 MB cache.
Q1/2011 Release date Q1/2010
1.0 MB L2-Cache 512.0 KB
0 bytes L3-Cache 4.0 MB
ISA extensions SSE4.1, SSE4.2
None Virtualization VT-x, VT-x EPT, VT-d
-- Release price 177 $
Socket LGA 1156
Chiplet Chip design Monolithic
iOS Operating systems Windows 10, Linux
Technical data sheet Documents Technical data sheet
A5 Architecture Clarkdale
APL 0498 Part Number --
ARMv7-A32 (32 bit) Instruction set (ISA) x86-64 (64 bit)
32 nm Technology 32 nm