Apple's M1 Chip vs Intel's Processors: Which Is Best?
The battle between Mac and PC is one of the oldest in tech. This battle is fought not only by the technology backing their products but also by the corporate competition between Apple and Microsoft.
Until relatively recently, Apple and Intel were among the strongest alliances in the tech world. Apple products from iPads to iPhones have been backed by Intel core processors since 2005. In late 2020, everything changed.
2020 saw the introduction of Apple’s M1 Chip. This chip sought to simplify the overall system architecture and reduce power consumption on devices like the Mac Mini, Macbook Air, 13-inch Macbook Pro, and 16-inch Macbook Pro. At the same time, dropping Intel as a quad-core CPU manufacturer dealt a serious blow to the storied chip manufacturer.
Did Apple’s gamble pay off? That’s the answer we are going to explore here. We are diving into the history of Apple’s M1 processors and comparing them to Intel’s offerings to uncover which one is best.
Below, WTFast highlights the essentials we should expect from any processor. Once that’s covered, the real competition can begin.
What To Look For From Your Processor
We look for different things from our processors and the devices we use with them. Part of what makes Apple products so effective is the way devices in the same line can interact. Apple has also made massive strides in streamlining its technology. The sleek size of portable devices like the Apple Macbook Pro further cements their futuristic reputation.
Size isn’t what we look for first in a processor, however. The key when creating smaller designs is to do so while maintaining processing power. There isn’t much use in putting a computer on a grain of rice if it’s not usable for essential tasks.
Some basic parameters can indicate the overall quality of a piece. Clock speed, core count, and power consumption all factor into the use and design of a processor.
For workstations, the ability to replicate tasks and perform them quickly is essential. For gaming builds, you’ll want to focus on maximum performance metrics, including processing power.
Of course, Apple’s M1 chip can only be bought within Apple products, whereas Intel’s processors are compatible with multiple systems. If you’re deciding between these two processors, this could be the deciding factor for PC users.
Now that we have an idea of what to start looking for, it’s time to take a closer look into these two options.
What Is Apple’s M1 Processor?
The original M1 processor is an effective chip, but its initial release had some problems. Using third-party devices with Apple products is always a risky maneuver, but using third-party chargers with initially-released products can cause devices to be bricked entirely.
Thankfully, a logic board replacement and software patch fixed these issues with Macbook Pros and other devices after the M1’s launch.
The initial M1 has since been succeeded by the Apple M1 Pro, Apple M1 Max iMac, and Apple M1 Ultra. These chips have powered new Macbooks and the iPad Pro for a given generation at their time of release. The M1 series is part of Apple’s broader processor series, collectively referred to as Apple silicon.
The M1 chip is a systems-on-chip (SoC). What this means is that the majority of components needed to operate the device are included on the chip. This includes the CPU and GPU joined together. Everything from the integrated chip to the SSD is made to simplify the interior design of the piece.
Apple chips rely on a form of microarchitecture referred to as “Firestorm” and “Icestorm” cores. The former enhances performance, while the latter improves efficiency. The end result is a complexly designed chip series.
The most current M1 chip — the M1 Ultra — is a threat to Intel that must be described to be believed. The piece is specifically designed to work with Mac Studio as a workstation PC. This massive processor features 20 cores, 16 dedicated to performance, and a transistor count of 114 billion. Apple claims that the chip can even beat out the Nvidia RTX 3090.
They are right… sort of. The chip absolutely excels at complex tasks such as video and photo-editing software. Unfortunately, the integrated graphics card still is unable to match the power of discrete graphics cards where gaming’s involved.
How Is an Intel Processor Different?
Unlike Apple’s chips, which are cycled in new M1 Macbooks and the like, Intel offers a range of processors. These include the Intel Core series, such as the Intel Core i5, Intel Core i7, and Intel Core i9. It also includes workstation processors like the Intel Xeon series.
Like Apple, most Intel chips utilize integrated graphics cards. These are often less effective for gaming but allow for easier builds. Intel also produces chips sans graphics cards, giving you compatibility with the Nvidia or AMD graphics card that you use for gaming or video editing.
The highest tier of Intel processors — the i9 — utilize both performance cores and efficiency cores to address two core needs (pun intended). The first need is to ensure the processor’s nature as a high-performance chip. The second is to address TDP issues that multi-core intensity caused in the previous Rocket Lake generation.
Intel processors have recently run powerful and hot. If you’re buying an upper-level chip, a strong cooling system is necessary. Intel is now in its 12th generation — known as Alder Lake — but the heating issue persists.
Thankfully, the issue is improving, especially with low-power processors — but it is still something to keep in mind. If you have concerns, consult a guide to what a normal CPU temperature looks like.
Intel chips support most major operating systems aside from MacOS, including Windows, Linux, and Chrome. They also support PCIe 5.0 and PCIe 4.0, providing access to the newest form factors available.
The clock speed of the most powerful processor, the Core i9-12900K, depends on what core is calculated. There are eight of each type of core, with 24 threads overall. For performance cores, the base clock is 3.2 GHz, and the max turbo allows for 5.2 GHz.
Apple’s M1 Chip vs. Intel: How Do the Two Compare?
We earlier stated that Apple chips were developed as a way to combat power consumption. We’ve also highlighted the massive power consumption many Intel processors have. The result is that Apple devices tend to have a better battery life than Intel-powered ones. The neural engine utilized in devices like modern Macbook Pro models further helps to accelerate standard operating processes.
Trying to game on Mac devices can provide some issues, however. Fewer games offer support for macOS compared to windows. Others may be less optimized. This can curtail your gaming experience if you want a gaming-specific device.
Some Intel chips also come with overclocking automatically unlocked, offering turbo where Apple doesn’t allow it. This combined with the already powerful Alder Lake generation allows for better single-core speed benchmarks.
Price is something to be examined on a case-by-case basis. When you buy an Apple device, you are buying a complete technology. The same may not necessarily be true when it comes to Intel. You can buy laptops and pre-made PCs with chips or simply upgrade your existing build.
We didn’t create this examination to simply compare two chips. We want to showcase them practically to help serve choices between M1 Macs and Intel-powered electronics.
Which Chip Is Best for You?
If you’re researching chip comparisons, you have more interest than the average user in creating the best build possible. Answer the question for yourself: What am I looking for in my computer? Are you looking for sleek portable laptops, unstoppable gaming rigs, or a workstation with which to hone your craft?
Even a new mac isn’t built to be a gaming PC. If you want to play the best games with the highest settings, we recommend a desktop. We also recommend using a high-end Intel chip without integrated graphics or a similarly-powerful chip. From there, take your pick of the best GPUs available to complete your gaming setup.
On the other hand, if you primarily want a workstation, you’ll want to look elsewhere. Admittedly, Intel’s Xeon line is fairly effective for workspace use. The absolute behemoth that is the M1 Ultra serves to compare with any other device when it comes to creation. The fact that Apple’s products are all branded with ease of use means there’s no need for much complex assembly.
In short, if gaming is your top interest, choose Intel. If you want a highly effective working PC, the M1 Ultra may be the best. If both are necessary, then you will have to make a compromise in one direction or another regarding your specs. You may try pairing a workstation Intel processor with a high-end graphics card to minimize the loss of either function.
You may also want to try a route optimizer. Route optimizers are a great way to improve your experience playing your favorite online games. Though it won’t address hardware, it can resolve any issues caused by poor or unstable connections. This can lead to a more efficient workstation computer or a devastatingly efficient gaming PC.
Sources:
Apple is Breaking a 15-year Partnership With Intel On Its Macs — Here's Why I CNBC
UM researchers create world's smallest 'computer' | University of Michigan News
M1 Ultra Vs. RTX 3090: Did Apple Really Beat Nvidia? I Screenrant
