Intel Core i7-4790 vs Apple M1

The Intel Core i7-4790, introduced in 2014, targeted the mainstream desktop market. Based on the Haswell S architecture and manufactured in 22 nm, it features 4 cores, 8 threads, and 8 MB of Level 3 Cache.

Integrated Intel HD Graphics 4600 and PCIe 3.0 are supported, with a maximum memory bandwidth of 26 GB/s. The Apple M1, unveiled in late 2020, targets Apple users who value high performance per watt and efficiency on Mac devices.

Manufactured using an advanced 5 nm process, it integrates 8 cores (4 performance, 4 efficiency cores) with 8 threads and 16 MB of Level 2 Cache. A powerful Apple M1 (8 Core) graphics unit and PCIe 4.0 are present, with a maximum memory bandwidth of 68 GB/s. In terms of performance comparison, the Apple M1 shows significantly higher performance than the Intel Core i7-4790 in single-core and multi-core applications, due to its newer architecture.

For gaming, the M1's integrated graphics unit offers significantly better performance than the Intel HD Graphics 4600; software optimization is crucial. Regarding power consumption, the Apple M1 is far superior to the Intel Core i7-4790 and offers excellent energy efficiency.

The Intel Core i7-4790 is now only available used. The Apple M1 is integrated into Apple systems. For budget-conscious upgrades of older x86 systems, the Intel Core i7-4790 is an option, while the Apple M1 is the choice for maximum efficiency and high computing performance within the Apple ecosystem.