i7-5500U vs Apple M2

VS

Aggregate performance score

Apple M2
2022
8 cores / 8 threads, 20 Watt
9.40
+437%
Core i7-5500U
2015
2 cores / 4 threads, 15 Watt
1.75

Apple M2 outperforms Core i7-5500U by a whopping 437% based on our aggregate benchmark results.

Primary details

Comparing Apple M2 and Core i7-5500U processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in the ranking8142034
Place by popularitynot in top-100not in top-100
Market segmentLaptopLaptop
SeriesApple Apple M-SeriesIntel Core i7
Power efficiency44.4811.04
Architecture codenameno dataBroadwell-U (2015)
Release date10 June 2022 (2 years ago)1 March 2015 (9 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)no data$393

Detailed specifications

Apple M2 and Core i7-5500U 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)2 (Dual-core)
Threads84
Base clock speed2.424 GHz2.4 GHz
Boost clock speed3.48 GHz3 GHz
Bus rateno data5 GT/s
L1 cache2 MB64K (per core)
L2 cache20 MB256K (per core)
L3 cacheno data4 MB (shared)
Chip lithography5 nm14 nm
Die sizeno data82 mm2
Maximum core temperatureno data105 °C
Maximum case temperature (TCase)no data105 °C
Number of transistors20000 Million1300 Million
64 bit support++
Windows 11 compatibilityno data-

Compatibility

Information on Apple M2 and Core i7-5500U 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 dataFCBGA1168
Power consumption (TDP)20 Watt15 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Apple M2 and Core i7-5500U. 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+
Turbo Boost Technologyno data2.0
Hyper-Threading Technologyno data+
Idle Statesno data+
Thermal Monitoring-+
Flex Memory Accessno data+
Smart Responseno data+
FDIno data+
Fast Memory Accessno data+

Security technologies

Apple M2 and Core i7-5500U technologies aimed at improving security, for example, by protecting against hacks.

TXTno data-
EDBno data+
Secure Keyno data+
Identity Protection-+
OS Guardno data+

Virtualization technologies

Virtual machine speed-up technologies supported by Apple M2 and Core i7-5500U 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 i7-5500U. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory typesno dataDDR3
Maximum memory sizeno data16 GB
Max memory channelsno data2
Maximum memory bandwidthno data25.6 GB/s

Graphics specifications

General parameters of integrated GPUs, if any.

Integrated graphics cardApple M2 10-Core GPU ( - 1398 MHz)Intel HD Graphics 5500
Max video memoryno data16 GB
Quick Sync Video-+
Clear Videono data+
Clear Video HDno data+
Graphics max frequencyno data950 MHz
InTru 3Dno data+

Graphics interfaces

Available interfaces and connections of Apple M2 and Core i7-5500U integrated GPUs.

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

Graphics image quality

Maximum display resolutions supported by Apple M2 and Core i7-5500U integrated GPUs, including resolutions over different interfaces.

Max resolution over HDMI 1.4no data2560x1600@60Hz
Max resolution over DisplayPortno data3840x2160@60Hz

Graphics API support

APIs supported by Apple M2 and Core i7-5500U integrated GPUs, sometimes API versions are included.

DirectXno data11.2/12
OpenGLno data4.3

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Apple M2 and Core i7-5500U.

PCIe versionno data2.0
PCI Express lanesno data12

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
+437%
i7-5500U 1.75

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
+436%
i7-5500U 2786

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
+320%
i7-5500U 289

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
+84.3%
i7-5500U 121

Gaming performance

Pros & cons summary


Performance score 9.40 1.75
Recency 10 June 2022 1 March 2015
Physical cores 8 2
Threads 8 4
Chip lithography 5 nm 14 nm
Power consumption (TDP) 20 Watt 15 Watt

Apple M2 has a 437.1% higher aggregate performance score, an age advantage of 7 years, 300% more physical cores and 100% more threads, and a 180% more advanced lithography process.

i7-5500U, on the other hand, has 33.3% lower power consumption.

The Apple M2 is our recommended choice as it beats the Core i7-5500U in performance tests.


Should you still have questions on choice between Apple M2 and Core i7-5500U, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

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Apple M2
M2
Intel Core i7-5500U
Core i7-5500U

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Community ratings

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Questions & comments

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