Apple M1 Intel Core Ultra 7 255H
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Apple M1 vs Intel Core Ultra 7 255H

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The Apple M1, introduced in 2020, is a 5 nm System-on-a-Chip (SoC) with 8 CPU cores (4 performance cores, 4 efficiency cores) and 16 MB L2 cache.

It is aimed at users who value high energy efficiency and an integrated system architecture for everyday tasks and creative work within the Apple ecosystem. Its integrated Apple M1 (8 Core) graphics and 68 GB/s memory bandwidth enable solid single-core and good multi-core performance.

The M1 is known for its exceptional energy efficiency, which promotes long battery life and quiet operation. For gaming, it is well-suited for optimized titles at medium settings. Its price-performance ratio is integrated into the overall Apple system. The Intel Core Ultra 7 255H is based on the 3 nm Arrow Lake H architecture and features a hybrid core design with 6 MB L2 and 24 MB L3 cache.

It is designed for maximum performance in demanding notebooks, gaming, content creation, and multitasking. With 134 GB/s memory bandwidth and an integrated Intel Arc 140T graphics unit, it significantly surpasses the Apple M1 in single-core and multi-core performance. Its stronger graphics performance enables a smoother gaming experience at higher settings.

However, its higher performance tends to require higher power consumption and more robust cooling systems. The price-performance ratio varies greatly depending on the system configuration.

Apple M1

  • Excellent energy efficiency
  • Integrated SoC design
  • Optimized performance for Apple ecosystem
  • Long battery life and quiet operation

Intel Core Ultra 7 255H

  • Superior single-core and multi-core performance
  • Stronger integrated graphics unit (Intel Arc 140T)
  • Ideal for gaming and demanding multitasking
  • Wide availability in various notebook systems

Performance Overview
Average performance across multiple benchmarks

Single-core performance
Rank 2 - 86 %
Apple M1
Rank 1 - 100 %
Intel Core Ultra 7 255H
Multi-core performance
Rank 2 - 54 %
Apple M1
Rank 1 - 100 %
Intel Core Ultra 7 255H
Cinebench 2026 Single-Thread

Cinebench 2026 Single-Thread
Single-core performance

Apple M1
Apple M1 85 %
8C / 8T · 3.20 GHz
419 pts
Intel Core Ultra 7 255H
16C / 16T · 5.10 GHz
495 pts
Cinebench 2026 Multi-Core

Cinebench 2026 Multi-Core
Multi-core performance

Apple M1
Apple M1 60 %
8C / 8T · 3.20 GHz
1,722 pts
Intel Core Ultra 7 255H
16C / 16T · 5.10 GHz
2,861 pts
Geekbench 6 Single-Core

Geekbench 6 Single-Core
Single-core performance

Apple M1
Apple M1 86 %
8C / 8T · 3.20 GHz
2,369
Intel Core Ultra 7 255H
16C / 16T · 5.10 GHz
2,761
Geekbench 6 Multi-Core

Geekbench 6 Multi-Core
Multi-core performance

Apple M1
Apple M1 60 %
8C / 8T · 3.20 GHz
8,576
Intel Core Ultra 7 255H
16C / 16T · 2.00 GHz
14,339
iGPU - FP32 Performance (Single-precision GFLOPS)

iGPU - FP32 Performance (Single-precision GFLOPS)

Apple M1
Apple M1 48 %
Apple M1 (8 Core)
2,610
Intel Core Ultra 7 255H
Intel Arc 140T
5,458

More benchmarks

At a glance

Wischen
Apple M1Intel Core Ultra 7 255H
FamilyApple M series (38)Intel Core Ultra 7 (31)
CPU groupApple M1 (9)Intel Core Ultra 200H (5)
ArchitectureM1Arrow Lake H
Technology5 nm3 nm
SegmentNotebookNotebook
SocketBGA 2049
PredecessorIntel Core Ultra 7 155H
SuccessorApple M2Intel Core Ultra X7 358H

CPU Cores and Base Frequency

Wischen
Apple M1Intel Core Ultra 7 255H
CPU Cores / Threads8 / 816 / 16
Hyperthreading / SMT
Core architecturehybrid (big.LITTLE)hybrid (big.LITTLE)
Core Cluster 1: 4x Firestorm
0.60 - 3.20 GHz
6x Lion Cove
2.00 - 5.10 GHz
Core Cluster 2: 4x Icestorm
0.60 - 2.06 GHz
8x Skymont
1.50 - 4.40 GHz
Core Cluster 3: 2x Crestmont
0.70 - 2.50 GHz
L2-Cache16.00 MB6.00 MB
L3-Cache24.00 MB
Overclocking

Integrated graphics (iGPU)

Wischen
Apple M1Intel Core Ultra 7 255H
GPU nameApple M1 (8 Core)Intel Arc 140T
GPU frequency0.39 - 1.30 GHz0.60 - 2.25 GHz
CUs / Shader128 / 102464 / 1024
Raytracing
Max. displays23
Max. GPU Memory8 GB32 GB
Technology5 nm5 nm
Release dateQ4/2020Q1/2025

NPU AI performance

Wischen
Apple M1Intel Core Ultra 7 255H
AI hardwareApple Neural EngineIntel® AI Boost
AI specifications16 Neural cores @ 11 TOPSIntel AI Boost (OpenVINO, WindowsML, DirectML, ONNX RT)
NPU + CPU + iGPU96 TOPS

Memory & PCIe

Wischen
Apple M1Intel Core Ultra 7 255H
MemoryLPDDR4X-4266 (68.2 GB/s)
LPDDR5X-8400 (134.4 GB/s)
DDR5-6400 (102.4 GB/s)
Max. Memory16 GB128 GB
Memory channels22
ECCNoNo
PCIe4.05.0 x 28
PCIe Bandwidth110.3 GB/s

Thermal Management

Wischen
Apple M1Intel Core Ultra 7 255H
TDP18 W28 W
TDP (PL2)115 W
TDP up20 W
TDP down10 W20 W
T. junction max.110 °C

Technical details

Wischen
Apple M1Intel Core Ultra 7 255H
Chip designMonolithicChiplet
AES-NI
Operating systemsmacOSWindows 11, Linux
Instruction setArmv8.5-A (64 bit)x86-64 (64 bit)
ISA extensionsRosetta 2 x86-EmulationSSE4.1, SSE4.2, AVX2
Release dateQ4/2020Q1/2025
Release price
DocumentsTechnical data sheet

Your rating

Here you can rate one or both of the processors. The average rating of Apple M1 is 4.5 stars (775 ratings), while Intel Core Ultra 7 255H has received 3.6 stars (241 ratings).

Click on the stars to rate one or both processors.

Apple M1
Apple M1
8C / 8T · 0.60 - 3.20 GHz
Intel Core Ultra 7 255H
Intel Core Ultra 7 255H
16C / 16T · 2.00 - 5.10 GHz

Most popular CPUs in both categories

Apple M1
Apple M1
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