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.
Mobile Segment Desktop / Server
Apple A5 Name Intel Core i5-661
Apple A5/A5X Group Intel Core i5 600
5 Generation 1
Apple A series Family Intel Core i5
 
 

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.
No Overclocking No
None None 3.6 GHz
No Hyperthreading Yes
2 CPU Cores 2
2 Threads 4
normal Core architecture normal
2x Cortex-A9 Cores 2x
1.0 GHz Frequency 3.33 GHz
 
 

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.
0.2 GHz GPU frequency 0.5 GHz
4 Execution units 12
Q1/2012 Release date Q1/2010
-- GPU (Turbo) 0.9 GHz
-- Max. displays --
32 Shaders 24
0 bytes Max. GPU Memory 2.0 GB
-- Generation 5
10 Direct X 10.1
32 nm Technology 32 nm
PowerVR SGX543MP2 (2 Cores) GPU name Intel HD Graphics (Westmere)
 
 

Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning

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

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 AV1 No
No VP9 No
No VC-1 No
No VP8 No
No h264 Decode
No JPEG No
No AVC Decode
No h265 / HEVC (10 bit) No
 
 

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.
1.0 GB Max. Memory 16.0 GB
LPDDR2-800 Memory type DDR3-1066, DDR3-1333
pci PCIe pci
No AES-NI Yes
6.4 GB/s Bandwidth 21.0 GB/s
No ECC No
2 Memory channels 2
 
 

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.
iOS Operating systems Windows 10, Linux
1.0 MB L2-Cache 512.0 KB
ISA extensions SSE4.1, SSE4.2
0 bytes L3-Cache 4.0 MB
Q1/2011 Release date Q1/2010
-- Release price 177 $
Technical data sheet Documents Technical data sheet
APL 0498 Part Number --
Socket LGA 1156
A5 Architecture Clarkdale
None Virtualization VT-x, VT-x EPT, VT-d
32 nm Technology 32 nm
Chiplet Chip design Monolithic
ARMv7-A32 (32 bit) Instruction set (ISA) x86-64 (64 bit)