Intel Core i3-8121U | Apple M1 Pro (10-CPU 14-GPU) | |
CPU comparisonIn this CPU comparison, we compare the Intel Core i3-8121U and the Apple M1 Pro (10-CPU 14-GPU) and use benchmarks to check which processor is faster.
We compare the Intel Core i3-8121U 2 core processor released in Q2/2018 with the Apple M1 Pro (10-CPU 14-GPU) which has 10 CPU cores and was introduced in Q3/2021. |
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Intel Core i3 (205) | Family | Apple M series (25) |
Intel Core i 8000U (CL) (1) | CPU group | Apple M1 (9) |
8 | Generation | 1 |
Cannon Lake U | Architecture | M1 |
Mobile | Segment | Mobile |
-- | Predecessor | -- |
-- | Successor | Apple M2 Pro (10-CPU 16-GPU) |
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CPU Cores and Base FrequencyThe Intel Core i3-8121U is a 2 core processor with a clock frequency of 2.20 GHz (3.20 GHz). The processor can compute 4 threads at the same time. The Apple M1 Pro (10-CPU 14-GPU) clocks with 0.60 GHz (3.20 GHz), has 10 CPU cores and can calculate 10 threads in parallel. |
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Intel Core i3-8121U | Characteristic | Apple M1 Pro (10-CPU 14-GPU) |
2 | Cores | 10 |
4 | Threads | 10 |
normal | Core architecture | hybrid (big.LITTLE) |
Yes | Hyperthreading | No |
No | Overclocking ? | No |
2.20 GHz (3.20 GHz) | A-Core | 0.60 GHz (3.20 GHz) 8x Firestorm |
-- | B-Core | 0.60 GHz (2.06 GHz) 2x Icestorm |
Artificial Intelligence and Machine LearningProcessors 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. Algorithms for ML improve their performance the more data they have collected via software. ML tasks can be processed up to 10,000 times faster than with a classic processor. |
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Intel Core i3-8121U | Characteristic | Apple M1 Pro (10-CPU 14-GPU) |
-- | AI hardware | Apple Neural Engine |
-- | AI specifications | 16 Neural cores @ 11 TOPS |
Internal GraphicsGraphics (iGPU) integrated into the processor not only enable image output without having to rely on a dedicated graphics solution, but can also efficiently accelerate video playback. |
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no iGPU | GPU | Apple M1 Pro (14 Core) |
GPU frequency | 0.39 GHz | |
-- | GPU (Turbo) | 1.30 GHz |
-- | GPU Generation | 1 |
Technology | 5 nm | |
Max. displays | 3 | |
-- | Compute units | 224 |
-- | Shader | 1792 |
No | Hardware Raytracing | No |
No | Frame Generation | No |
-- | Max. GPU Memory | 32 GB |
-- | DirectX Version | -- |
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. |
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no iGPU | GPU | Apple M1 Pro (14 Core) |
No | Codec h265 / HEVC (8 bit) | Decode / Encode |
No | Codec h265 / HEVC (10 bit) | Decode / Encode |
No | Codec h264 | Decode / Encode |
No | Codec VP9 | Decode / Encode |
No | Codec VP8 | Decode |
No | Codec AV1 | No |
No | Codec AVC | Decode |
No | Codec VC-1 | Decode |
No | Codec JPEG | Decode / Encode |
Memory & PCIeUp to 32 GB of memory in a maximum of 2 memory channels is supported by the Intel Core i3-8121U, while the Apple M1 Pro (10-CPU 14-GPU) supports a maximum of 32 GB of memory with a maximum memory bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s enabled. |
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Intel Core i3-8121U | Characteristic | Apple M1 Pro (10-CPU 14-GPU) |
LPDDR4-2400, DDR4-2400 | Memory | LPDDR5-6400 |
32 GB | Max. Memory | 32 GB |
2 (Dual Channel) | Memory channels | 2 (Dual Channel) |
38.4 GB/s | Max. Bandwidth | 102.4 GB/s |
No | ECC | No |
-- | L2 Cache | 28.00 MB |
4.00 MB | L3 Cache | -- |
3.0 | PCIe version | 4.0 |
16 | PCIe lanes | -- |
15.8 GB/s | PCIe Bandwidth | -- |
Thermal ManagementThe Intel Core i3-8121U has a TDP of 15 W. The TDP of the Apple M1 Pro (10-CPU 14-GPU) is 45 W. System integrators use the TDP of the processor as a guide when dimensioning the cooling solution. |
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Intel Core i3-8121U | Characteristic | Apple M1 Pro (10-CPU 14-GPU) |
15 W | TDP (PL1 / PBP) | 45 W |
-- | TDP (PL2) | -- |
-- | TDP up | -- |
-- | TDP down | -- |
105 °C | Tjunction max. | -- |
Technical detailsThe Intel Core i3-8121U has 4.00 MB cache and is manufactured in 10 nm. The cache of Apple M1 Pro (10-CPU 14-GPU) is at 28.00 MB. The processor is manufactured in 5 nm. |
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Intel Core i3-8121U | Characteristic | Apple M1 Pro (10-CPU 14-GPU) |
10 nm | Technology | 5 nm |
Monolithic | Chip design | Chiplet |
x86-64 (64 bit) | Instruction set (ISA) | Armv8.5-A (64 bit) |
SSE4.1, SSE4.2, AVX2, AVX-512 | ISA extensions | Rosetta 2 x86-Emulation |
BGA 1356 | Socket | -- |
VT-x, VT-x EPT, VT-d | Virtualization | Apple Virtualization Framework |
Yes | AES-NI | Yes |
Windows 10, Windows 11, Linux | Operating systems | macOS |
Q2/2018 | Release date | Q3/2021 |
-- | Release price | -- |
show more data | show more data | |
Intel Core i3-8121U
2C 4T @ 3.20 GHz |
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Apple M1 Pro (10-CPU 14-GPU)
10C 10T @ 3.20 GHz |
Intel Core i3-8121U
2C 4T @ 2.70 GHz |
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Apple M1 Pro (10-CPU 14-GPU)
10C 10T @ 3.20 GHz |
Intel Core i3-8121U
2C 4T @ 3.20 GHz |
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Apple M1 Pro (10-CPU 14-GPU)
10C 10T @ 3.20 GHz |
Intel Core i3-8121U
2C 4T @ 2.70 GHz |
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Apple M1 Pro (10-CPU 14-GPU)
10C 10T @ 3.20 GHz |
Intel Core i3-8121U
2C 4T @ 3.20 GHz |
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Apple M1 Pro (10-CPU 14-GPU)
10C 10T @ 3.20 GHz |
Intel Core i3-8121U
2C 4T @ 3.20 GHz |
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Apple M1 Pro (10-CPU 14-GPU)
10C 10T @ 3.20 GHz |
Intel Core i3-8121U
2C 4T @ 3.20 GHz |
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Apple M1 Pro (10-CPU 14-GPU)
10C 10T @ 3.20 GHz |
Intel Core i3-8121U
2C 4T @ 2.70 GHz |
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Apple M1 Pro (10-CPU 14-GPU)
10C 10T @ 3.20 GHz |
Intel Core i3-8121U
@ 0.00 GHz |
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Apple M1 Pro (10-CPU 14-GPU)
Apple M1 Pro (14 Core) @ 1.30 GHz |
Intel Core i3-8121U
2C 4T @ 2.70 GHz |
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Apple M1 Pro (10-CPU 14-GPU)
10C 10T @ 3.20 GHz |
Intel Core i3-8121U
2C 4T @ 2.70 GHz |
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Apple M1 Pro (10-CPU 14-GPU)
10C 10T @ 3.20 GHz |
Intel Core i3-8121U
2C 4T @ 3.20 GHz |
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Apple M1 Pro (10-CPU 14-GPU)
10C 10T @ 3.20 GHz |
Intel Core i3-8121U
2C 4T @ 2.70 GHz |
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Apple M1 Pro (10-CPU 14-GPU)
10C 10T @ 3.20 GHz |
Intel Core i3-8121U
2.20 GHz |
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Apple M1 Pro (10-CPU 14-GPU)
12,390 CB R23 MC @ 45 W |
Intel Core i3-8121U
2C 4T @ 2.20 GHz |
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Apple M1 Pro (10-CPU 14-GPU)
10C 10T @ 0.60 GHz |
Devices using this processor |
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Intel Core i3-8121U | Apple M1 Pro (10-CPU 14-GPU) |
Unknown | Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) |