
Core i7-8559U

M1
Performance Spectrum - CPU
About PassMark
PassMark CPU Mark evaluates processor speed through complex mathematical computations. It provides a reliable metric to compare multi-core performance, where higher scores indicate faster processing for multitasking, gaming, and heavy workloads.
Value Upgrade Path
This is the official ChipVERSUS Value Rating, comparing raw performance (PassMark) per dollar. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money. The Core i7-8559U is positioned at rank 815 and the M1 is on rank 1004, so the Core i7-8559U offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-8559U
Performance Per Dollar M1
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i7-8559U | M1 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Coffee Lake-U (2018−2019) / 14 nm) | ✨ Modern (Legacy / 5 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i7-8559U | M1 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
Performance Check
To accurately isolate CPU performance, all benchmarks below use an NVIDIA RTX 4090 as the reference GPU. This eliminates GPU-side bottlenecks and highlights pure processing throughput differences between the CPUs.
Note: Real-world results may vary based on your actual GPU. CPU performance impact is more visible in processing-intensive titles and high-refresh-rate gaming scenarios.
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of Core i7-8559U and M1

Core i7-8559U
The Core i7-8559U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 5 April 2018 (7 years ago). It is based on the Coffee Lake-U (2018−2019) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 2.7 GHz, with boost up to 4.5 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1528. Thermal design power (TDP): 28 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 8,274 points. Launch price was $431.
M1
The M1 is manufactured by Apple. It was released in 10 November 2020 (5 years ago). It features 8 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 2.064 GHz, with boost up to 3.2 GHz. L3 cache: 16 MB. L2 cache: 16 MB. Built on 5 nm process technology. Passmark benchmark score: 8,207 points. Launch price was $149.
Processing Power
The Core i7-8559U packs 4 cores / 8 threads, while the M1 offers 8 cores / 8 threads — the M1 has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.5 GHz on the Core i7-8559U versus 3.2 GHz on the M1 — a 33.8% clock advantage for the Core i7-8559U (base: 2.7 GHz vs 2.064 GHz). The Core i7-8559U is built on the Coffee Lake-U (2018−2019) architecture. In PassMark, the Core i7-8559U scores 8,274 against the M1's 8,207 — a 0.8% lead for the Core i7-8559U. L3 cache: 8 MB (total) on the Core i7-8559U vs 16 MB on the M1.
| Feature | Core i7-8559U | M1 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 8 | 8 / 8+100% |
| Boost Clock | 4.5 GHz+41% | 3.2 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.7 GHz+31% | 2.064 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 8 MB (total) | 16 MB+100% |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 16 MB+6300% |
| Process | 14 nm | 5 nm-64% |
| Architecture | Coffee Lake-U (2018−2019) | — |
| PassMark | 8,274 | 8,207 |
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