Apple A9 vs Intel Atom Z2580

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CPU comparison with benchmarks

-VS-

CPU lineage

Apple A9 or Apple A9 – 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 A9 features 2 processor cores and has the capability to manage 2 threads concurrently.
It was released in Q3/2015 and belongs to the 9 generation of the Apple A series series.
The Intel Atom Z2580 features 2 processor cores and has the capability to manage 4 threads concurrently.
It was released in Q2/2013 and belongs to the 2 generation of the Intel Atom series.
To use the Intel Atom Z2580, you'll need a motherboard with a BGA socket.
Apple A9/A9X Group Intel Atom Z2500/Z2700
9 Generation 2
Mobile Segment Mobile
Apple A9 Name Intel Atom Z2580
Apple A series Family Intel Atom
 
 

CPU Cores and Base Frequency

The Apple A9 has 2 CPU cores and can calculate 2 threads in parallel.
The clock frequency of the Apple A9 is 1.85 GHz
The Intel Atom Z2580 has 2 CPU cores and can calculate 4 threads in parallel.
The clock frequency of the Intel Atom Z2580 is 2.0 GHz
No Hyperthreading Yes
2x Twister Cores 2x
No Overclocking No
2 Threads 4
2 CPU Cores 2
normal Core architecture normal
1.85 GHz Frequency 2.0 GHz
 
 

Internal Graphics

The Apple A9 has integrated graphics, called iGPU for short.
Specifically, the Apple A9 uses the Apple A9, which has 192 texture shaders
and 24 execution units.
The iGPU uses the system's main memory as graphics memory and sits on the processor's die.
The Intel Atom Z2580 has integrated graphics, called iGPU for short.
Specifically, the Intel Atom Z2580 uses the PowerVR SGX544 MP2, which has 8 texture shaders
and 4 execution units.
192 Shaders 8
Q3/2015 Release date Q1/2010
16 nm Technology 45 nm
-- Direct X 10.1
4.0 GB Max. GPU Memory 0 bytes
-- Max. displays --
24 Execution units 4
0.65 GHz GPU frequency 0.4 GHz
6 Generation --
-- GPU (Turbo) 0.53 GHz
Apple A9 GPU name PowerVR SGX544 MP2
 
 

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

Memory & PCIe

The processor supports a maximum memory capacity of 2.0 GB distributed across 1 memory channels. It offers a peak memory bandwidth of 25.6 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 2.0 GB distributed across 2 memory channels. It offers a peak memory bandwidth of 8.5 GB/s. Both the type and quantity of memory can have a substantial impact on the overall system performance.
pci PCIe pci
No AES-NI No
LPDDR4-3200 Memory type LPDDR2-1066
No ECC No
2.0 GB Max. Memory 2.0 GB
1 Memory channels 2
25.6 GB/s Bandwidth 8.5 GB/s
 
 

Thermal Management

The processor has a thermal design power (TDP) of 5 W watts.
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.
5 W TDP (PL1 / PBP) None
-- Tjunction max 90 °C
 
 

Technical details

The Apple A9 is manufactured using a 16 nm process.
A smaller manufacturing process indicates a more contemporary and energy-efficient CPU.
In total, this processor boasts a generous 4.0 MB cache.
A substantial cache can significantly enhance the processor's performance, particularly in scenarios like gaming.
The Intel Atom Z2580 is manufactured using a 32 nm process.
Q3/2015 Release date Q2/2013
None Virtualization None
ISA extensions SSE3, MMX, SSSE3
16 nm Technology 32 nm
Chiplet Chip design Monolithic
-- Release price --
A9 Architecture Cloverview
4.0 MB L3-Cache 0 bytes
iOS Operating systems
Technical data sheet Documents Technical data sheet
ARMv8-A64 (64 bit) Instruction set (ISA) x86-64 (64 bit)
-- Part Number --
Socket BGA
3.0 MB L2-Cache 1.0 MB