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Astounding M1X multi-core performance estimates have the Apple Silicon playing in the same ballpark as the Intel Core i9-10900K and Ryzen 7 5800X

Estimates for the Apple M1X see it speeding past its AMD and Intel rivals. (Image source: AMD/Apple/Intel - edited)
Estimates for the Apple M1X see it speeding past its AMD and Intel rivals. (Image source: AMD/Apple/Intel - edited)
Estimated multi-core performance results for the expected M1X processor have the upcoming Apple Silicon taking on power-hungry desktop rivals such as the Intel Core i9-10900K and AMD Ryzen 7 5800X. Speculated Geekbench 5 and Cinebench R23 scores for the Apple M1X chip are based on it offering 1.77x the performance of the current M1 silicon.

Even though Apple has not officially named a successor to its M1 silicon, the name "M1X" has started to stick, at least for the time being until some confirmation comes out of Cupertino. The expected hybrid Apple Silicon, which is believed to sport 12 CPU cores (8x high-performance “Firestorm” cores and 4x power-saving “Icestorm” cores), has been estimated by content creator Luke Miani to potentially offer 1.77x the performance of the Apple M1. Miani came to this estimate by comparing the differences in results between the A12 and A12Z (1.68x faster) and the A14 and M1 (1.87x faster) and then picking an average for the M1X. He makes it clear throughout his presentation that these are estimates and guesses that should be taken with a pinch of salt.

With his 1.77x performance multiplier in mind, Miani then predicted some Geekbench 5 and Cinebench R23 multi-core results for the potential Apple M1X. The score for the former benchmark was particularly astonishing, with the Apple Silicon being awarded 13,586 points. Looking at the current Geekbench processor chart shows that this would put the M1X nearly +25% ahead of the 10-core i9-10900K and almost +30% ahead of the 8-core Ryzen 7 5800X. In fact, this mighty result would actually position the Apple M1X just -4.40% behind the 12-core Ryzen 9 5900X. Miani stresses that he does not believe the Apple Silicon will be ready to take on such a Ryzen 9 competitor just yet, but the estimates certainly indicate that future owners of 2021 MacBook Pro laptops or iMac desktops fitted with this particular processor will not be left wanting for performance.

The Cinebench R23 estimates paint a similar picture for the 12-core Apple Silicon, with the Intel Core i9-10900K and AMD Ryzen 7 5800X being faster on this synthetic benchmark but not by much and also having much higher power draws than the M1X. Miani reasons that there might be a 35 W TDP variant of the Apple M1X for the MacBook Pro 14 while a “full-fat” 45 W TDP version could appear in the 2021 iMac refresh. It’s reasonable speculation, and his result predictions are still incredible when you take into account that the Ryzen 7 5800X has a 105 W TDP and the i9-10900K has a 125 W TDP. Of course, as Miani rightly states, these figures are based on his “napkin math”, but he has also been cautious with some of his estimates, and the Apple M1X might even perform at a greater pace than what has been suggested here.

Buy the M1 MacBook Pro on Amazon

M1X vs. other Apple Silicon estimate. (Image source: Luke Miani)
M1X vs. other Apple Silicon estimate. (Image source: Luke Miani)
M1X vs. other SKUs estimate. (Image source: Luke Miani)
M1X vs. other SKUs estimate. (Image source: Luke Miani)
M1X 45 W variant on Cinebench. (Image source: Luke Miani)
M1X 45 W variant on Cinebench. (Image source: Luke Miani)
M1X 1.77x gain estimate. (Image source: Luke Miani)
M1X 1.77x gain estimate. (Image source: Luke Miani)
M1X Geekbench 5 multi-core. (Image source: Luke Miani)
M1X Geekbench 5 multi-core. (Image source: Luke Miani)
 

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> Expert Reviews and News on Laptops, Smartphones and Tech Innovations > News > News Archive > Newsarchive 2021 03 > Astounding M1X multi-core performance estimates have the Apple Silicon playing in the same ballpark as the Intel Core i9-10900K and Ryzen 7 5800X
Daniel R Deakin, 2021-03-13 (Update: 2021-03-13)