Apple M3 Pro (12-CPU 18-GPU) vs Apple A6X
Last updated:
CPU comparison with benchmarks
|
 |
|
| Apple M3 Pro (12-CPU 18-GPU) | Apple A6X | |
CPU comparisonApple M3 Pro (12-CPU 18-GPU) or Apple A6X - which processor is faster? In this comparison we look at the differences and analyze which of these two CPUs is better. We compare the technical data and benchmark results.
The Apple M3 Pro (12-CPU 18-GPU) has 12 cores with 12 threads and clocks with a maximum frequency of 4.06 GHz. Up to 36 GB of memory is supported in 2 memory channels. The Apple M3 Pro (12-CPU 18-GPU) was released in Q4/2023. The Apple A6X has 2 cores with 2 threads and clocks with a maximum frequency of 1.40 GHz. The CPU supports up to 1 GB of memory in 4 memory channels. The Apple A6X was released in Q3/2012. |
||
| Apple M series (25) | Family | Apple A series (22) |
| Apple M3 (6) | CPU group | Apple A6/A6X (2) |
| 3 | Generation | 6 |
| M3 | Architecture | A6 |
| Mobile | Segment | Mobile |
| Apple M2 Pro (12-CPU 19-GPU) | Predecessor | Apple A5X |
| -- | Successor | Apple A8X |
|
|
||
CPU Cores and Base FrequencyThe Apple M3 Pro (12-CPU 18-GPU) has 12 CPU cores and can calculate 12 threads in parallel. The clock frequency of the Apple M3 Pro (12-CPU 18-GPU) is 0.70 GHz (4.06 GHz) while the Apple A6X has 2 CPU cores and 2 threads can calculate simultaneously. The clock frequency of the Apple A6X is at 1.40 GHz. |
||
| Apple M3 Pro (12-CPU 18-GPU) | Characteristic | Apple A6X |
| 12 | Cores | 2 |
| 12 | Threads | 2 |
| hybrid (big.LITTLE) | Core architecture | normal |
| No | Hyperthreading | No |
| No | Overclocking ? | No |
| 0.70 GHz (4.06 GHz) 6x P-Core |
A-Core | 1.40 GHz 2x Swift |
| 0.74 GHz (2.75 GHz) 6x E-Core |
B-Core | -- |
NPU AI performanceThe performance values of the processor's AI unit. The isolated NPU performance is specified here, the total AI performance (NPU+CPU+iGPU) can be higher. Processors with support for artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) can process many calculations, especially audio, image and video processing, much faster than classic processors. |
||
| Apple M3 Pro (12-CPU 18-GPU) | Characteristic | Apple A6X |
| Apple Neural Engine | AI hardware | -- |
| 16 Neural cores @ 35 TOPS | AI specifications | -- |
| -- | NPU + CPU + iGPU | -- |
Integrated graphics (iGPU)The Apple M3 Pro (12-CPU 18-GPU) or Apple A6X has integrated graphics, called iGPU for short. The iGPU uses the system's main memory as graphics memory and sits on the processor's die. |
||
| Apple M3 Pro (18 Core) | GPU | PowerVR SGX554MP4 (4 Cores) |
| 0.39 GHz | GPU frequency | 0.30 GHz |
| 1.40 GHz | GPU (Turbo) | -- |
| -- | GPU Generation | -- |
| 3 nm | Technology | 32 nm |
| 3 | Max. displays | 1 |
| 288 | Compute units | 16 |
| 2304 | Shader | 128 |
| Yes | Hardware Raytracing | No |
| No | Frame Generation | No |
| 36 GB | Max. GPU Memory | -- |
| -- | DirectX Version | 10 |
Hardware codec supportA photo or video codec that is accelerated in hardware can greatly accelerate the working speed of a processor and extend the battery life of notebooks or smartphones when playing videos. |
||
| Apple M3 Pro (18 Core) | GPU | PowerVR SGX554MP4 (4 Cores) |
| Decode / Encode | Codec h265 / HEVC (8 bit) | No |
| Decode / Encode | Codec h265 / HEVC (10 bit) | No |
| Decode / Encode | Codec h264 | No |
| Decode / Encode | Codec VP9 | No |
| Decode | Codec VP8 | No |
| Decode | Codec AV1 | No |
| Decode | Codec AVC | No |
| Decode | Codec VC-1 | No |
| Decode / Encode | Codec JPEG | No |
Memory & PCIeThe Apple M3 Pro (12-CPU 18-GPU) can use up to 36 GB of memory in 2 memory channels. The maximum memory bandwidth is 153.6 GB/s. The Apple A6X supports up to 1 GB of memory in 4 memory channels and achieves a memory bandwidth of up to 17.1 GB/s. |
||
| Apple M3 Pro (12-CPU 18-GPU) | Characteristic | Apple A6X |
| LPDDR5-6400 | Memory | LPDDR2-1066 |
| 36 GB | Max. Memory | 1 GB |
| 2 (Dual Channel) | Memory channels | 4 (Quad Channel) |
| 153.6 GB/s | Max. Bandwidth | 17.1 GB/s |
| No | ECC | No |
| 36.00 MB | L2 Cache | 1.00 MB |
| -- | L3 Cache | -- |
| 4.0 | PCIe version | -- |
| -- | PCIe lanes | -- |
| -- | PCIe Bandwidth | -- |
Thermal ManagementThe thermal design power (TDP for short) of the Apple M3 Pro (12-CPU 18-GPU) is 35 W, while the Apple A6X has a TDP of --. The TDP specifies the necessary cooling solution that is required to cool the processor sufficiently. |
||
| Apple M3 Pro (12-CPU 18-GPU) | Characteristic | Apple A6X |
| 35 W | TDP (PL1 / PBP) | -- |
| -- | TDP (PL2) | -- |
| -- | TDP up | -- |
| -- | TDP down | -- |
| 100 °C | Tjunction max. | -- |
Technical detailsThe Apple M3 Pro (12-CPU 18-GPU) is manufactured in 3 nm and has 36.00 MB cache. The Apple A6X is manufactured in 32 nm and has a 1.00 MB cache. |
||
| Apple M3 Pro (12-CPU 18-GPU) | Characteristic | Apple A6X |
| 3 nm | Technology | 32 nm |
| Chiplet | Chip design | Chiplet |
| Armv8-A (64 bit) | Instruction set (ISA) | Armv7-A (32 bit) |
| Rosetta 2 x86-Emulation | ISA extensions | -- |
| -- | Socket | -- |
| Apple Virtualization Framework | Virtualization | None |
| Yes | AES-NI | No |
| macOS, iPadOS | Operating systems | iOS |
| Q4/2023 | Release date | Q3/2012 |
| -- | Release price | -- |
| show more data | show more data | |
12C 12T @ 0.70 GHz (4.06 GHz) buy now on Amazon and save!
2C 2T @ 1.40 GHz buy now on Amazon and save!
|
||
Rate these processors
iGPU - FP32 Performance (Single-precision GFLOPS)
The theoretical computing performance of the internal graphics unit of the processor with simple accuracy (32 bit) in GFLOPS. GFLOPS indicates how many billion floating point operations the iGPU can perform per second.
|
Apple M3 Pro (12-CPU 18-GPU)
Apple M3 Pro (18 Core) @ 1.40 GHz |
||
|
Apple A6X
PowerVR SGX554MP4 (4 Cores) @ 0.30 GHz |
||
Cinebench 2024 (Single-Core)
The Cinebench 2024 benchmark is based on the Redshift rendering engine, which is also used in Maxon's 3D program Cinema 4D. The benchmark runs are each 10 minutes long to test whether the processor is limited by its heat generation.
|
|
Apple M3 Pro (12-CPU 18-GPU)
12C 12T @ 4.06 GHz |
||
|
|
Apple A6X
2C 2T @ 1.40 GHz |
||
Cinebench 2024 (Multi-Core)
The Multi-Core test of the Cinebench 2024 benchmark uses all cpu cores to render using the Redshift rendering engine, which is also used in Maxons Cinema 4D. The benchmark run is 10 minutes long to test whether the processor is limited by its heat generation.
|
|
Apple M3 Pro (12-CPU 18-GPU)
12C 12T @ 4.06 GHz |
||
|
|
Apple A6X
2C 2T @ 1.40 GHz |
||
Cinebench R23 (Single-Core)
Cinebench R23 is the successor of Cinebench R20 and is also based on the Cinema 4 Suite. Cinema 4 is a worldwide used software to create 3D forms. The single-core test only uses one CPU core, the amount of cores or hyperthreading ability doesn't count.
|
|
Apple M3 Pro (12-CPU 18-GPU)
12C 12T @ 4.06 GHz |
||
|
|
Apple A6X
2C 2T @ 1.40 GHz |
||
Cinebench R23 (Multi-Core)
Cinebench R23 is the successor of Cinebench R20 and is also based on the Cinema 4 Suite. Cinema 4 is a worldwide used software to create 3D forms. The multi-core test involves all CPU cores and taks a big advantage of hyperthreading.
|
|
Apple M3 Pro (12-CPU 18-GPU)
12C 12T @ 3.80 GHz |
||
|
|
Apple A6X
2C 2T @ 1.40 GHz |
||
Geekbench 5, 64bit (Single-Core)
Geekbench 5 is a cross plattform benchmark that heavily uses the systems memory. A fast memory will push the result a lot. The single-core test only uses one CPU core, the amount of cores or hyperthreading ability doesn't count.
|
|
Apple M3 Pro (12-CPU 18-GPU)
12C 12T @ 4.06 GHz |
||
|
|
Apple A6X
2C 2T @ 1.40 GHz |
||
Geekbench 5, 64bit (Multi-Core)
Geekbench 5 is a cross plattform benchmark that heavily uses the systems memory. A fast memory will push the result a lot. The multi-core test involves all CPU cores and taks a big advantage of hyperthreading.
|
|
Apple M3 Pro (12-CPU 18-GPU)
12C 12T @ 3.80 GHz |
||
|
|
Apple A6X
2C 2T @ 1.40 GHz |
||
Geekbench 6 (Single-Core)
Geekbench 6 is a benchmark for modern computers, notebooks and smartphones. What is new is an optimized utilization of newer CPU architectures, e.g. based on the big.LITTLE concept and combining CPU cores of different sizes. The single-core benchmark only evaluates the performance of the fastest CPU core, the number of CPU cores in a processor is irrelevant here.
|
|
Apple M3 Pro (12-CPU 18-GPU)
12C 12T @ 4.06 GHz |
||
|
|
Apple A6X
2C 2T @ 1.40 GHz |
||
Geekbench 6 (Multi-Core)
Geekbench 6 is a benchmark for modern computers, notebooks and smartphones. What is new is an optimized utilization of newer CPU architectures, e.g. based on the big.LITTLE concept and combining CPU cores of different sizes. The multi-core benchmark evaluates the performance of all of the processor's CPU cores. Virtual thread improvements such as AMD SMT or Intel's Hyper-Threading have a positive impact on the benchmark result.
|
|
Apple M3 Pro (12-CPU 18-GPU)
12C 12T @ 3.80 GHz |
||
|
|
Apple A6X
2C 2T @ 1.40 GHz |
||
Estimated results for PassMark CPU Mark
Some of the CPUs listed below have been benchmarked by CPU-monkey. However the majority of CPUs have not been tested and the results have been estimated by a CPU-monkey’s secret proprietary formula. As such they do not accurately reflect the actual Passmark CPU mark values and are not endorsed by PassMark Software Pty Ltd.
|
|
Apple M3 Pro (12-CPU 18-GPU)
12C 12T @ 3.80 GHz |
||
|
|
Apple A6X
2C 2T @ 1.40 GHz |
||
AI performance (NPU)
The performance values of the processor's AI unit. The isolated NPU performance is given here, the total AI performance (NPU+CPU+iGPU) can be higher.
Processors with the support of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) can process many calculations, especially audio, image and video processing, much faster than classic processors. The performance is given in the number (trillions) of arithmetic operations per second (TOPS).
Processors with the support of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) can process many calculations, especially audio, image and video processing, much faster than classic processors. The performance is given in the number (trillions) of arithmetic operations per second (TOPS).
|
|
Apple M3 Pro (12-CPU 18-GPU)
12C 12T @ 0.70 GHz |
||
|
|
Apple A6X
2C 2T @ 1.40 GHz |
||
Devices using this processor |
|
| Apple M3 Pro (12-CPU 18-GPU) | Apple A6X |
| Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2023) |
Apple iPad (4. Gen) |
Popular comparisons containing this CPUs
back to index
