Apple M1 vs Intel Core i5-1240P

The Apple M1, introduced in 2020, is a 5 nm System-on-a-Chip (SoC) with 8 CPU cores (four performance, four efficiency cores) and an integrated Apple M1 (8 Core) graphics unit.

It offers 16 MB of Level 2 cache and a maximum memory bandwidth of 68 GB/s. It targets users who value high energy efficiency and deep integration into the macOS ecosystem. The Intel Core i5-1240P, introduced in 2022, is a 10 nm Alder Lake U-processor with 12 CPU cores (four performance, eight efficiency cores) and 16 threads, including Intel Iris Xe Graphics 80 (Alder Lake).

It features 9 MB of Level 2 cache, 12 MB of Level 3 cache, and a maximum memory bandwidth of 83 GB/s. It is designed for slim laptops and versatile Windows applications. In single-core performance, both processors are close, with slight advantages for the Apple M1 in some scenarios and the Intel Core i5-1240P in others.

For multi-core tasks, the Intel Core i5-1240P shows superior performance in certain benchmarks. Gaming is possible on both with integrated graphics solutions for light titles, with wider game compatibility under Windows giving the Intel system an advantage. The Apple M1 is significantly more energy-efficient due to its manufacturing process, while the Intel Core i5-1240P exhibits higher thermal design power.

The Apple M1 is tightly integrated into Apple's devices, whereas the Intel Core i5-1240P offers competitive performance in a wide range of Windows devices.