Apple M2 Pro vs i5-6600

Aggregate performance score

Core i5-6600
2015
4 cores / 4 threads, 65 Watt
3.96
Apple M2 Pro
2023
12 cores / 12 threads, 2424 Watt
14.20
+259%

Apple M2 Pro outperforms Core i5-6600 by a whopping 259% based on our aggregate benchmark results.

Primary details

Comparing Core i5-6600 and Apple M2 Pro processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in the ranking1459536
Place by popularitynot in top-100not in top-100
Cost-effectiveness evaluation0.76no data
Market segmentDesktop processorLaptop
SeriesIntel Core i5Apple Apple M-Series
Power efficiency5.56no data
Architecture codenameSkylake (2015−2016)no data
Release date1 September 2015 (9 years ago)17 January 2023 (1 year ago)
Launch price (MSRP)$224no data

Cost-effectiveness evaluation

Performance per price, higher is better.

no data

Detailed specifications

Core i5-6600 and Apple M2 Pro 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 cores4 (Quad-Core)12 (Dodeca-Core)
Threads412
Base clock speed3.3 GHz2.424 GHz
Boost clock speed3.9 GHz3.5 GHz
Bus typeDMI 3.0no data
Bus rate4 × 8 GT/sno data
Multiplier33no data
L1 cache256 KB3.3 MB
L2 cache1 MB36 MB
L3 cache6 MB (shared)24 MB
Chip lithography14 nm5 nm
Die size122 mm2no data
Maximum case temperature (TCase)66 °Cno data
Number of transistorsno data40000 Million
64 bit support++
Windows 11 compatibility-no data

Compatibility

Information on Core i5-6600 and Apple M2 Pro 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 configuration1 (Uniprocessor)no data
SocketFCLGA1151no data
Power consumption (TDP)65 Watt2424 ‑ 3504 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Core i5-6600 and Apple M2 Pro. You'll probably need this information if you require some particular technology.

Instruction set extensionsIntel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX2no data
AES-NI+-
AVX+-
vPro+no data
Enhanced SpeedStep (EIST)+no data
Turbo Boost Technology2.0no data
Hyper-Threading Technology-no data
TSX+-
Idle States+no data
Thermal Monitoring+-
SIPP+-

Security technologies

Core i5-6600 and Apple M2 Pro technologies aimed at improving security, for example, by protecting against hacks.

TXT+no data
EDB+no data
Secure Key+no data
MPX+-
Identity Protection+-
SGXYes with Intel® MEno data
OS Guard+no data

Virtualization technologies

Virtual machine speed-up technologies supported by Core i5-6600 and Apple M2 Pro are enumerated here.

VT-d+no data
VT-x+no data
EPT+no data

Memory specs

Types, maximum amount and channel quantity of RAM supported by Core i5-6600 and Apple M2 Pro. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory typesDDR4no data
Maximum memory size64 GBno data
Max memory channels2no data
Maximum memory bandwidth34.134 GB/sno data

Graphics specifications

General parameters of integrated GPUs, if any.

Integrated graphics card
Compare
Intel HD Graphics 530Apple M2 Pro 19-Core GPU
Max video memory64 GBno data
Quick Sync Video+-
Clear Video+no data
Clear Video HD+no data
Graphics max frequency1.15 GHzno data
InTru 3D+no data

Graphics interfaces

Available interfaces and connections of Core i5-6600 and Apple M2 Pro integrated GPUs.

Number of displays supported3no data
eDP+no data
DisplayPort+-
HDMI+-
DVI+no data

Graphics image quality

Maximum display resolutions supported by Core i5-6600 and Apple M2 Pro integrated GPUs, including resolutions over different interfaces.

4K resolution support+no data
Max resolution over HDMI 1.44096x2304@24Hzno data
Max resolution over eDP4096x2304@60Hzno data
Max resolution over DisplayPort4096x2304@60Hzno data
Max resolution over VGAN/Ano data

Graphics API support

APIs supported by Core i5-6600 and Apple M2 Pro integrated GPUs, sometimes API versions are included.

DirectX12no data
OpenGL4.5no data

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Core i5-6600 and Apple M2 Pro.

PCIe version3.0no data
PCI Express lanes16no data

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.

i5-6600 3.96
Apple M2 Pro 14.20
+259%

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.

i5-6600 6055
Apple M2 Pro 21731
+259%

Gaming performance

Pros & cons summary


Performance score 3.96 14.20
Recency 1 September 2015 17 January 2023
Physical cores 4 12
Threads 4 12
Chip lithography 14 nm 5 nm
Power consumption (TDP) 65 Watt 2424 Watt

i5-6600 has 3629.2% lower power consumption.

Apple M2 Pro, on the other hand, has a 258.6% higher aggregate performance score, an age advantage of 7 years, 200% more physical cores and 200% more threads, and a 180% more advanced lithography process.

The Apple M2 Pro is our recommended choice as it beats the Core i5-6600 in performance tests.

Note that Core i5-6600 is a desktop processor while Apple M2 Pro is a notebook one.


Should you still have questions on choice between Core i5-6600 and Apple M2 Pro, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

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Intel Core i5-6600
Core i5-6600
Apple M2 Pro
M2 Pro

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Community ratings

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Questions & comments

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