Intel Core i7-4960X vs Apple A8X

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CPU comparison with benchmarks


Intel Core i7-4960X CPU1 vs CPU2 Apple A8X
Intel Core i7-4960X Apple A8X

CPU comparison

In this CPU comparison, we compare the Intel Core i7-4960X and the Apple A8X and use benchmarks to check which processor is faster.

We compare the Intel Core i7-4960X 6 core processor released in Q3/2013 with the Apple A8X which has 3 CPU cores and was introduced in Q3/2014.
Intel Core i7 Extreme Edition (24) Family Apple A series (22)
Intel Core i 4000X (3) CPU group Apple A8/A8X (2)
4 Generation 8
Ivy Bridge E Architecture A8
Desktop / Server Segment Mobile
-- Predecessor Apple A6X
Intel Core i7-5960X Successor Apple A9X

CPU Cores and Base Frequency

The Intel Core i7-4960X is a 6 core processor with a clock frequency of 3.60 GHz (4.00 GHz). The processor can compute 12 threads at the same time. The Apple A8X clocks with 1.50 GHz, has 3 CPU cores and can calculate 3 threads in parallel.

Intel Core i7-4960X Characteristic Apple A8X
6 Cores 3
12 Threads 3
normal Core architecture normal
Yes Hyperthreading No
Yes Overclocking ? No
3.60 GHz Frequency 1.50 GHz
4.00 GHz Turbo Frequency (1 Core) --
4.00 GHz Turbo Frequency (All Cores) --

NPU AI performance

The 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.

Intel Core i7-4960X Characteristic Apple A8X
-- AI hardware --
-- AI specifications --
-- NPU + CPU + iGPU --

Integrated graphics (iGPU)

Graphics (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.

no iGPU GPU Apple A8X
GPU frequency 0.45 GHz
-- GPU (Turbo) --
-- GPU Generation 5
Technology 20 nm
Max. displays 1
-- Compute units 32
-- Shader 256
No Hardware Raytracing No
No Frame Generation No
-- Max. GPU Memory 2 GB
-- DirectX Version --

Hardware codec support

A 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.

no iGPU GPU Apple A8X
No Codec h265 / HEVC (8 bit) No
No Codec h265 / HEVC (10 bit) No
No Codec h264 Decode
No Codec VP9 No
No Codec VP8 No
No Codec AV1 No
No Codec AVC Decode
No Codec VC-1 Decode
No Codec JPEG Decode / Encode

Memory & PCIe

Up to 64 GB of memory in a maximum of 4 memory channels is supported by the Intel Core i7-4960X, while the Apple A8X supports a maximum of 2 GB of memory with a maximum memory bandwidth of 12.8 GB/s enabled.

Intel Core i7-4960X Characteristic Apple A8X
DDR3-1866 Memory LPDDR3-1600
64 GB Max. Memory 2 GB
4 (Quad Channel) Memory channels 1 (Single Channel)
59.7 GB/s Max. Bandwidth 12.8 GB/s
No ECC No
-- L2 Cache 2.00 MB
15.00 MB L3 Cache 4.00 MB
3.0 PCIe version --
40 PCIe lanes --
39.4 GB/s PCIe Bandwidth --

Thermal Management

The Intel Core i7-4960X has a TDP of 130 W. The TDP of the Apple A8X is 8 W. System integrators use the TDP of the processor as a guide when dimensioning the cooling solution.

Intel Core i7-4960X Characteristic Apple A8X
130 W TDP (PL1 / PBP) 8 W
-- TDP (PL2) --
-- TDP up --
-- TDP down --
-- Tjunction max. --

Technical details

The Intel Core i7-4960X has 15.00 MB cache and is manufactured in 22 nm. The cache of Apple A8X is at 6.00 MB. The processor is manufactured in 20 nm.

Intel Core i7-4960X Characteristic Apple A8X
22 nm Technology 20 nm
Monolithic Chip design Chiplet
x86-64 (64 bit) Instruction set (ISA) Armv8-A (64 bit)
SSE4.1, SSE4.2, AVX ISA extensions --
LGA 2011 Socket --
VT-x, VT-x EPT, VT-d Virtualization None
Yes AES-NI No
Windows 10, Linux Operating systems iOS
Q3/2013 Release date Q3/2014
960 $ Release price --
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Here you can rate the Intel Core i7-4960X to help other visitors make their purchasing decisions. The average rating is 4.0 stars (2 ratings). Rate now:
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Average performance in benchmarks

⌀ Single core performance in 2 CPU benchmarks
Intel Core i7-4960X (100%)
Apple A8X (52%)
⌀ Multi core performance in 3 CPU benchmarks
Intel Core i7-4960X (100%)
Apple A8X (25%)

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.
Intel Core i7-4960X Intel Core i7-4960X
6C 12T @ 4.00 GHz
806 (100%)
Apple A8X Apple A8X
3C 3T @ 1.50 GHz
386 (48%)

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.
Intel Core i7-4960X Intel Core i7-4960X
6C 12T @ 4.00 GHz
5189 (100%)
Apple A8X Apple A8X
3C 3T @ 1.50 GHz
1075 (21%)

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.
Intel Core i7-4960X Intel Core i7-4960X
6C 12T @ 4.00 GHz
757 (100%)
Apple A8X Apple A8X
3C 3T @ 1.50 GHz
427 (56%)

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.
Intel Core i7-4960X Intel Core i7-4960X
6C 12T @ 4.00 GHz
3062 (100%)
Apple A8X Apple A8X
3C 3T @ 1.50 GHz
959 (31%)

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.
Intel Core i7-4960X Intel Core i7-4960X
6C 12T @ 4.00 GHz
10145 (100%)
Apple A8X Apple A8X
3C 3T @ 1.50 GHz
2356 (23%)

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.
Intel Core i7-4960X Intel Core i7-4960X
@ 0.00 GHz
0 (0%)
Apple A8X Apple A8X
Apple A8X @ 0.45 GHz
230 (100%)

CPU-Z Benchmark 17 (Multi-Core)

The CPU-Z benchmark measures a processor's performance by measuring the time it takes the system to complete all benchmark calculations. The faster the benchmark is completed, the higher the score.
Intel Core i7-4960X Intel Core i7-4960X
6C 12T @ 3.60 GHz
2868 (100%)
Apple A8X Apple A8X
3C 3T @ 1.50 GHz
0 (0%)

Cinebench R15 (Single-Core)

Cinebench R15 is the successor of Cinebench 11.5 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.
Intel Core i7-4960X Intel Core i7-4960X
6C 12T @ 4.00 GHz
151 (100%)
Apple A8X Apple A8X
3C 3T @ 1.50 GHz
0 (0%)

Cinebench R15 (Multi-Core)

Cinebench R15 is the successor of Cinebench 11.5 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.
Intel Core i7-4960X Intel Core i7-4960X
6C 12T @ 4.00 GHz
1092 (100%)
Apple A8X Apple A8X
3C 3T @ 1.50 GHz
0 (0%)

Devices using this processor

Intel Core i7-4960X Apple A8X
Unknown Apple iPad Air 2

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