i7-2600 vs Apple M2

VS

Aggregate performance score

Apple M2
2022
8 cores / 8 threads, 20 Watt
9.40
+179%
Core i7-2600
2011
4 cores / 8 threads, 95 Watt
3.37

Apple M2 outperforms Core i7-2600 by a whopping 179% based on our aggregate benchmark results.

Primary details

Comparing Apple M2 and Core i7-2600 processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in the ranking8141575
Place by popularitynot in top-10062
Cost-effectiveness evaluationno data0.58
Market segmentLaptopDesktop processor
SeriesApple Apple M-Seriesno data
Power efficiency44.483.36
Architecture codenameno dataSandy Bridge (2011−2013)
Release date10 June 2022 (2 years ago)9 January 2011 (13 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)no data$247

Cost-effectiveness evaluation

Performance per price, higher is better.

no data

Detailed specifications

Apple M2 and Core i7-2600 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 GHz3.4 GHz
Boost clock speed3.48 GHz3.8 GHz
Bus rateno data5 GT/s
L1 cache2 MB64 KB (per core)
L2 cache20 MB256 KB (per core)
L3 cacheno data8192 KB (shared)
Chip lithography5 nm32 nm
Die sizeno data216 mm2
Maximum core temperatureno data73 °C
Number of transistors20000 Million1,160 million
64 bit support++
Windows 11 compatibilityno data-

Compatibility

Information on Apple M2 and Core i7-2600 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
Socketno dataLGA1155
Power consumption (TDP)20 Watt95 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Apple M2 and Core i7-2600. You'll probably need this information if you require some particular technology.

Instruction set extensionsno dataIntel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX
AES-NI-+
AVX-+
Enhanced SpeedStep (EIST)no data+
Turbo Boost Technologyno data2.0
Hyper-Threading Technologyno data+
Idle Statesno data+
Thermal Monitoring-+
Flex Memory Accessno data+
FDIno data+
Fast Memory Accessno data+

Security technologies

Apple M2 and Core i7-2600 technologies aimed at improving security, for example, by protecting against hacks.

TXTno data+
EDBno data+
Identity Protection-+

Virtualization technologies

Virtual machine speed-up technologies supported by Apple M2 and Core i7-2600 are enumerated here.

VT-dno data+
VT-xno data+
EPTno data+

Memory specs

Types, maximum amount and channel quantity of RAM supported by Apple M2 and Core i7-2600. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory typesno dataDDR3
Maximum memory sizeno data32 GB
Max memory channelsno data2
Maximum memory bandwidthno data21 GB/s

Graphics specifications

General parameters of integrated GPUs, if any.

Integrated graphics cardApple M2 10-Core GPU ( - 1398 MHz)Intel HD Graphics 2000
Quick Sync Video-+
Clear Video HDno data+
Graphics max frequencyno data1.35 GHz
InTru 3Dno data+

Graphics interfaces

Available interfaces and connections of Apple M2 and Core i7-2600 integrated GPUs.

Number of displays supportedno data2

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Apple M2 and Core i7-2600.

PCIe versionno data2.0
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 9.40
+179%
i7-2600 3.37

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
+179%
i7-2600 5346

Gaming performance

Pros & cons summary


Performance score 9.40 3.37
Recency 10 June 2022 9 January 2011
Physical cores 8 4
Chip lithography 5 nm 32 nm
Power consumption (TDP) 20 Watt 95 Watt

Apple M2 has a 178.9% higher aggregate performance score, an age advantage of 11 years, 100% more physical cores, a 540% more advanced lithography process, and 375% lower power consumption.

The Apple M2 is our recommended choice as it beats the Core i7-2600 in performance tests.

Be aware that Apple M2 is a notebook processor while Core i7-2600 is a desktop one.


Should you still have questions on choice between Apple M2 and Core i7-2600, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

Vote for your favorite

Do you think we are right or mistaken in our choice? Vote by clicking "Like" button near your favorite CPU.


Apple M2
M2
Intel Core i7-2600
Core i7-2600

Similar processor comparisons

We picked several similar comparisons of processors in the same market segment and performance relatively close to those reviewed on this page.

Community ratings

Here you can see how users rate the processors, as well as rate them yourself.


3.5 619 votes

Rate Apple M2 on a scale of 1 to 5:

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
3.9 2787 votes

Rate Core i7-2600 on a scale of 1 to 5:

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5

Questions & comments

Here you can ask a question about Apple M2 or Core i7-2600, agree or disagree with our judgements, or report an error or mismatch.