Intel Core i5-8500 vs Apple M4

The Intel Core i5-8500 was introduced as part of the Coffee Lake S architecture and is aimed at office and home users.

Manufactured using the 14 nm process, this processor has six cores and six threads. In synthetic tests such as Geekbench 6, the Intel Core i5-8500 shows adequate performance for everyday tasks, but falls behind architectures with smaller process nodes. The integrated Intel UHD Graphics 630 is designed for basic graphical output and does not offer sufficient performance for demanding games.

With a Thermal Design Power of 65 watts and support for PCIe 3.0, the CPU provides a standardized platform. The maximum memory bandwidth is 43 GB/s, while the Level 2 cache is 0 MB and the Level 3 cache is 9 MB. Overall, this processor represents a stable basis for price-conscious user systems. The Apple M4 architecture is based on 3 nm manufacturing.

This processor is designed for users seeking high efficiency and computing power in compact systems. With a memory bandwidth of 120 GB/s and the integrated Apple M4 (10-core) graphics processor, it measurably outperforms 14 nm architectures in benchmarks like Geekbench 6. The Apple M4 shows its strengths particularly in multi-core and single-core performance, supported by 20 MB of Level 2 cache, while the Level 3 cache is specified as 0 MB.

In gaming scenarios, the Apple M4 achieves higher performance than Intel's integrated solution due to the GPU architecture, although usability depends on software optimization. Power consumption is low relative to computing power. The Apple M4 is recommended for creative work processes and digital workflows with a focus on energy efficiency.