i7-8700K vs Apple M1 Pro

VS

Aggregate performance score

Apple M1 Pro
2021
10 cores / 10 threads, 2064 Watt
10.82
+26.1%
Core i7-8700K
2017
6 cores / 12 threads, 95 Watt
8.58

Apple M1 Pro outperforms Core i7-8700K by a significant 26% based on our aggregate benchmark results.

Primary details

Comparing Apple M1 Pro and Core i7-8700K processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in the ranking713876
Place by popularitynot in top-100not in top-100
Cost-effectiveness evaluationno data4.50
Market segmentLaptopDesktop processor
SeriesApple M-SeriesIntel Core i7
Power efficiencyno data8.55
Architecture codenameno dataCoffee Lake-S (2017−2018)
Release date18 October 2021 (3 years ago)5 October 2017 (7 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)no data$359

Cost-effectiveness evaluation

Performance per price, higher is better.

no data

Detailed specifications

Apple M1 Pro and Core i7-8700K basic parameters such as number of cores, number of threads, base frequency and turbo boost clock, lithography, cache size and multiplier lock state. These parameters indirectly say of CPU speed, though for more precise assessment you have to consider their test results.

Physical cores10 (Deca-Core)6 (Hexa-Core)
Threads1012
Base clock speed2.064 GHz3.7 GHz
Boost clock speed3.22 GHz4.7 GHz
Bus typeno dataDMI 3.0
Bus rateno data4 × 8 GT/s
Multiplierno data37
L1 cache2.9 MB64K (per core)
L2 cache28 MB256K (per core)
L3 cache24 MB12288 KB
Chip lithography5 nm14 nm
Die sizeno data149 mm2
Maximum core temperatureno data100 °C
Maximum case temperature (TCase)no data72 °C
Number of transistors33700 Millionno data
64 bit support++
Windows 11 compatibilityno data+
Unlocked multiplier-+

Compatibility

Information on Apple M1 Pro and Core i7-8700K compatibility with other computer components: motherboard (look for socket type), power supply unit (look for power consumption) etc. Useful when planning a future computer configuration or upgrading an existing one. Note that power consumption of some processors can well exceed their nominal TDP, even without overclocking. Some can even double their declared thermals given that the motherboard allows to tune the CPU power parameters.

Number of CPUs in a configurationno data1 (Uniprocessor)
Socketno dataFCLGA1151
Power consumption (TDP)2064 ‑ 3220 Watt95 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Apple M1 Pro and Core i7-8700K. You'll probably need this information if you require some particular technology.

Instruction set extensionsno dataIntel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX2
AES-NI-+
AVX-+
vProno data+
Enhanced SpeedStep (EIST)no data+
Turbo Boost Technologyno data2.0
Hyper-Threading Technologyno data+
TSX-+
Idle Statesno data+
Thermal Monitoring-+
SIPP-+

Security technologies

Apple M1 Pro and Core i7-8700K technologies aimed at improving security, for example, by protecting against hacks.

TXTno data+
EDBno data+
Secure Keyno data+
MPX-+
Identity Protection-+
SGXno dataYes with Intel® ME
OS Guardno data+

Virtualization technologies

Virtual machine speed-up technologies supported by Apple M1 Pro and Core i7-8700K are enumerated here.

AMD-V-+
VT-dno data+
VT-xno data+
EPTno data+

Memory specs

Types, maximum amount and channel quantity of RAM supported by Apple M1 Pro and Core i7-8700K. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory typesno dataDDR3, DDR4
Maximum memory sizeno data128 GB
Max memory channelsno data2
Maximum memory bandwidthno data42.671 GB/s

Graphics specifications

General parameters of integrated GPUs, if any.

Integrated graphics card
Compare
Apple M1 Pro 16-Core GPUIntel UHD Graphics 630
Max video memoryno data64 GB
Quick Sync Video-+
Clear Videono data+
Clear Video HDno data+
Graphics max frequencyno data1.2 GHz
InTru 3Dno data+

Graphics interfaces

Available interfaces and connections of Apple M1 Pro and Core i7-8700K integrated GPUs.

Number of displays supportedno data3

Graphics image quality

Maximum display resolutions supported by Apple M1 Pro and Core i7-8700K integrated GPUs, including resolutions over different interfaces.

4K resolution supportno data+
Max resolution over HDMI 1.4no data4096 x 2304@24Hz
Max resolution over eDPno data4096 x 2304@60Hz
Max resolution over DisplayPortno data4096 x 2304@60Hz

Graphics API support

APIs supported by Apple M1 Pro and Core i7-8700K integrated GPUs, sometimes API versions are included.

DirectXno data12
OpenGLno data4.5

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Apple M1 Pro and Core i7-8700K.

PCIe versionno data3.0
PCI Express lanesno data16

Synthetic benchmark performance

Various benchmark results of the processors in comparison. Overall score is measured in points in 0-100 range, higher is better.


Combined synthetic benchmark score

This is our combined benchmark performance rating. We are regularly improving our combining algorithms, but if you find some perceived inconsistencies, feel free to speak up in comments section, we usually fix problems quickly.

Apple M1 Pro 10.82
+26.1%
i7-8700K 8.58

Passmark

Passmark CPU Mark is a widespread benchmark, consisting of 8 different types of workload, including integer and floating point math, extended instructions, compression, encryption and physics calculation. There is also one separate single-threaded scenario measuring single-core performance.

Apple M1 Pro 17191
+26.2%
i7-8700K 13622

Cinebench 15 64-bit multi-core

Cinebench Release 15 Multi Core is a variant of Cinebench R15 which uses all the processor threads.

Apple M1 Pro 1690
+24.1%
i7-8700K 1362

Cinebench 15 64-bit single-core

Cinebench R15 (standing for Release 15) is a benchmark made by Maxon, authors of Cinema 4D. It was superseded by later versions of Cinebench, which use more modern variants of Cinema 4D engine. The Single Core version (sometimes called Single-Thread) only uses a single processor thread to render a room full of reflective spheres and light sources.

Apple M1 Pro 209
+8.9%
i7-8700K 192

Geekbench 5.5 Multi-Core

Apple M1 Pro 12499
+98.1%
i7-8700K 6310

Geekbench 5.5 Single-Core

Apple M1 Pro 1768
+46.1%
i7-8700K 1210

Gaming performance

Pros & cons summary


Performance score 10.82 8.58
Recency 18 October 2021 5 October 2017
Physical cores 10 6
Threads 10 12
Chip lithography 5 nm 14 nm
Power consumption (TDP) 2064 Watt 95 Watt

Apple M1 Pro has a 26.1% higher aggregate performance score, an age advantage of 4 years, 66.7% more physical cores, and a 180% more advanced lithography process.

i7-8700K, on the other hand, has 20% more threads, and 2072.6% lower power consumption.

The Apple M1 Pro is our recommended choice as it beats the Core i7-8700K in performance tests.

Be aware that Apple M1 Pro is a notebook processor while Core i7-8700K is a desktop one.


Should you still have questions on choice between Apple M1 Pro and Core i7-8700K, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

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Apple M1 Pro
M1 Pro
Intel Core i7-8700K
Core i7-8700K

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Community ratings

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