i5-8259U vs Apple M2

Aggregate performance score

Apple M2
2022
8 cores / 8 threads, 20 Watt
9.76
+89.5%

Apple M2 outperforms Core i5-8259U by an impressive 90% based on our aggregate benchmark results.

Primary details

Comparing Apple M2 and Core i5-8259U processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in the ranking8051219
Place by popularitynot in top-100not in top-100
Market segmentLaptopLaptop
SeriesApple Apple M-SeriesIntel Core i5
Power efficiency44.5016.77
Architecture codenameno dataCoffee Lake-U (2018−2019)
Release date10 June 2022 (2 years ago)2 April 2018 (6 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)no data$320

Detailed specifications

Apple M2 and Core i5-8259U 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 cores8 (Octa-Core)4 (Quad-Core)
Threads88
Base clock speed2.424 GHz2.3 GHz
Boost clock speed3.48 GHz3.8 GHz
Bus typeno dataOPI
Bus rateno data4 GT/s
Multiplierno data23
L1 cache2 MB256 KB
L2 cache20 MB1 MB
L3 cacheno data6 MB (shared)
Chip lithography5 nm14 nm
Die sizeno data126 mm2
Maximum core temperatureno data100 °C
Maximum case temperature (TCase)no data72 °C
Number of transistors20000 Millionno data
64 bit support++
Windows 11 compatibilityno data+

Compatibility

Information on Apple M2 and Core i5-8259U 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 dataFCBGA1528
Power consumption (TDP)20 Watt28 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Apple M2 and Core i5-8259U. 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-+
Enhanced SpeedStep (EIST)no data+
eDRAMno data128 MB
Speed Shiftno data+
My WiFino data+
Turbo Boost Technologyno data2.0
Hyper-Threading Technologyno data+
Idle Statesno data+
Thermal Monitoring-+
Flex Memory Accessno data+

Security technologies

Apple M2 and Core i5-8259U 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 M2 and Core i5-8259U 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 M2 and Core i5-8259U. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory typesno dataDDR4
Maximum memory sizeno data32 GB
Max memory channelsno data2
Maximum memory bandwidthno data38.397 GB/s

Graphics specifications

General parameters of integrated GPUs, if any.

Integrated graphics cardApple M2 10-Core GPU ( - 1398 MHz)Intel Iris Plus Graphics 655
Max video memoryno data32 GB
Quick Sync Video-+
Clear Videono data+
Clear Video HDno data+
Graphics max frequencyno data1.05 GHz
InTru 3Dno data+

Graphics interfaces

Available interfaces and connections of Apple M2 and Core i5-8259U integrated GPUs.

Number of displays supportedno data3
eDPno data+
DisplayPort-+
HDMI-+
DVIno data+

Graphics image quality

Maximum display resolutions supported by Apple M2 and Core i5-8259U integrated GPUs, including resolutions over different interfaces.

4K resolution supportno data+
Max resolution over HDMI 1.4no data4096x2304@30Hz
Max resolution over eDPno data4096x2304@60Hz
Max resolution over DisplayPortno data4096x2304@60Hz

Graphics API support

APIs supported by Apple M2 and Core i5-8259U integrated GPUs, sometimes API versions are included.

DirectXno data12
OpenGLno data4.5

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Apple M2 and Core i5-8259U.

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 M2 9.76
+89.5%
i5-8259U 5.15

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 M2 14933
+89.6%
i5-8259U 7877

Cinebench 15 64-bit multi-core

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

Apple M2 1215
+97.6%
i5-8259U 615

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 M2 223
+50%
i5-8259U 149

Gaming performance

Pros & cons summary


Performance score 9.76 5.15
Recency 10 June 2022 2 April 2018
Physical cores 8 4
Chip lithography 5 nm 14 nm
Power consumption (TDP) 20 Watt 28 Watt

Apple M2 has a 89.5% higher aggregate performance score, an age advantage of 4 years, 100% more physical cores, a 180% more advanced lithography process, and 40% lower power consumption.

The Apple M2 is our recommended choice as it beats the Core i5-8259U in performance tests.


Should you still have questions on choice between Apple M2 and Core i5-8259U, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

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Apple M2
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Community ratings

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Questions & comments

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