Apple M1 vs Intel Core i5-8500

The Intel Core i5-8500, introduced around 2018, is a 14 nm desktop processor (Coffee Lake S) with 6 cores/6 threads, aimed at the mainstream market for office and light applications.

The Apple M1, unveiled in late 2020, is a 5 nm System-on-a-Chip (M1 architecture) with 8 cores (4 performance, 4 efficiency cores)/8 threads, developed for Apple Macs with a focus on high performance and efficiency.

In benchmarks, the Apple M1 significantly outperforms the Intel Core i5-8500 in single-core and multi-core performance, enabling higher performance for demanding tasks. For gaming, the integrated Apple M1 (8 Core) graphics unit delivers significantly higher performance than the Intel UHD Graphics 630 of the Intel Core i5-8500.

The Intel processor (PCIe 3.0) benefits from broad x86 compatibility; the Apple M1 (PCIe 4.0) benefits from stronger graphics, although native game support on ARM under macOS may vary. The Intel Core i5-8500 has a Thermal Design Power (TDP) of 65W and offers 43 GB/s memory bandwidth.

The Apple M1 is characterized by significantly lower energy consumption and achieves 68 GB/s memory bandwidth. A direct price/performance comparison is difficult, as the Intel Core i5-8500 is mainly available on the used market, while the Apple M1 is an integral part of Apple systems and is not sold separately.

In summary, the Intel Core i5-8500 is an option for budget-oriented x86 users with a focus on broad software compatibility. The Apple M1 offers superior performance per watt, more powerful integrated graphics, and is the choice for users who desire maximum efficiency and performance within the Apple ecosystem.