Apple M1 vs i5-6600

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Aggregate performance score

Core i5-6600
2015
4 cores / 4 threads, 65 Watt
3.81
Apple M1
2020
8 cores / 8 threads
5.17
+35.7%

Apple M1 outperforms Core i5-6600 by a substantial 36% based on our aggregate benchmark results.

Primary details

Comparing Core i5-6600 and M1 processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in the ranking14771205
Place by popularitynot in top-100not in top-100
Cost-effectiveness evaluation0.82no data
Market segmentDesktop processorLaptop
SeriesIntel Core i5Apple Apple M-Series
Power efficiency10.30no data
Architecture codenameSkylake (2015−2016)no data
Release date1 July 2015 (9 years ago)10 November 2020 (4 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)$224no data

Cost-effectiveness evaluation

Performance per price, higher is better.

no data

Detailed specifications

Core i5-6600 and M1 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)8 (Octa-Core)
Threads48
Base clock speed3.3 GHz2.064 GHz
Boost clock speed3.9 GHz3.2 GHz
Bus typeDMI 3.0no data
Bus rate4 × 8 GT/sno data
Multiplier33no data
L1 cache64 KB (per core)2 MB
L2 cache256 KB (per core)16 MB
L3 cache6 MB (shared)16 MB
Chip lithography14 nm5 nm
Die size177 mm2no data
Maximum case temperature (TCase)66 °Cno data
Number of transistorsno data16000 Million
64 bit support++
Windows 11 compatibility--

Compatibility

Information on Core i5-6600 and M1 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 Wattno data

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Core i5-6600 and M1. 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 M1 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 M1 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 M1. 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 M1 8-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 M1 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 M1 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 M1 integrated GPUs, sometimes API versions are included.

DirectX12no data
OpenGL4.5no data

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Core i5-6600 and M1.

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 3.81
Apple M1 5.17
+35.7%

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 6056
Apple M1 8207
+35.5%

Gaming performance

Pros & cons summary


Performance score 3.81 5.17
Integrated graphics card 2.60 14.49
Recency 1 July 2015 10 November 2020
Physical cores 4 8
Threads 4 8
Chip lithography 14 nm 5 nm

Apple M1 has a 35.7% higher aggregate performance score, 457.3% faster integrated GPU, an age advantage of 5 years, 100% more physical cores and 100% more threads, and a 180% more advanced lithography process.

The M1 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 M1 is a notebook one.


Should you still have questions on choice between Core i5-6600 and Apple M1, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

Vote for your favorite

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Intel Core i5-6600
Core i5-6600
Apple M1
M1

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.


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Questions & comments

Here you can ask a question about Core i5-6600 or M1, agree or disagree with our judgements, or report an error or mismatch.