Apple A5X vs Intel Core i7-6700

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CPU comparison with benchmarks

-VS-

CPU lineage

Apple A5X or Apple A5X – 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 A5X 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 i7-6700 features 4 processor cores and has the capability to manage 8 threads concurrently.
It was released in Q3/2015 and belongs to the 6 generation of the Intel Core i7 series.
To use the Intel Core i7-6700, you'll need a motherboard with a LGA 1151 socket.
Mobile Segment Desktop / Server
Apple A5X Name Intel Core i7-6700
Apple A series Family Intel Core i7
5 Generation 6
Apple A5/A5X Group Intel Core i 6000
 
 

CPU Cores and Base Frequency

The Apple A5X has 2 CPU cores and can calculate 2 threads in parallel.
The clock frequency of the Apple A5X is 1.0 GHz
The Intel Core i7-6700 has 4 CPU cores and can calculate 8 threads in parallel.
The clock frequency of the Intel Core i7-6700 is 3.4 GHz
and turbo frequency for one core is 4.0 GHz.
2 Threads 8
None None 3.7 GHz
No Hyperthreading Yes
2x Cortex-A9 Cores 4x
No Overclocking No
normal Core architecture normal
1.0 GHz Frequency 3.4 GHz
None None 4.0 GHz
2 CPU Cores 4
 
 

Internal Graphics

The Apple A5X has integrated graphics, called iGPU for short.
Specifically, the Apple A5X uses the PowerVR SGX543MP4 (4 Cores), which has 64 texture shaders
and 8 execution units.
The iGPU uses the system's main memory as graphics memory and sits on the processor's die.
The Intel Core i7-6700 has integrated graphics, called iGPU for short.
Specifically, the Intel Core i7-6700 uses the Intel HD Graphics 530, which has 192 texture shaders
and 24 execution units.
0.2 GHz GPU frequency 0.35 GHz
Q1/2012 Release date Q3/2015
10 Direct X 12
PowerVR SGX543MP4 (4 Cores) GPU name Intel HD Graphics 530
45 nm Technology 14 nm
-- Max. displays --
64 Shaders 192
0 bytes Max. GPU Memory 32.0 GB
8 Execution units 24
-- Generation 9
-- GPU (Turbo) 1.15 GHz
 
 

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 AVC Decode / Encode
No VC-1 Decode
No VP9 Decode
No h265 / HEVC (10 bit) Decode
No h264 Decode / Encode
No VP8 Decode / Encode
No h265 / HEVC (8 bit) Decode / Encode
No JPEG Decode / Encode
No AV1 No
 
 

Memory & PCIe

The processor supports a maximum memory capacity of 1.0 GB distributed across 4 memory channels. It offers a peak memory bandwidth of 12.8 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 64.0 GB distributed across 2 memory channels. It offers a peak memory bandwidth of 34.1 GB/s. Both the type and quantity of memory can have a substantial impact on the overall system performance.
4 Memory channels 2
1.0 GB Max. Memory 64.0 GB
pci PCIe pci
No AES-NI Yes
No ECC No
12.8 GB/s Bandwidth 34.1 GB/s
LPDDR2-800 Memory type DDR4-2133
 
 

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 65 W watts.
-- Tjunction max --
None TDP (PL1 / PBP) 65 W
 
 

Technical details

The Apple A5X 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 i7-6700 is manufactured using a 14 nm process.
In total, this processor boasts a generous 8.0 MB cache.
Q1/2011 Release date Q3/2015
APL 5498 Part Number --
1.0 MB L2-Cache 0 bytes
None Virtualization VT-x, VT-x EPT, VT-d
ISA extensions SSE4.1, SSE4.2, AVX2
Chiplet Chip design Monolithic
A5 Architecture Skylake S
32 nm Technology 14 nm
Socket LGA 1151
iOS Operating systems Windows 10, Linux
-- Release price 350 $
Technical data sheet Documents Technical data sheet
ARMv7-A32 (32 bit) Instruction set (ISA) x86-64 (64 bit)
0 bytes L3-Cache 8.0 MB
 
 

Benchmarks