M1 Pro vs Core i9-10980HK
M1 Pro
Core i9-10980HK
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.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar M1 Pro
Performance Per Dollar Core i9-10980HK
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | M1 Pro | Core i9-10980HK |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Legacy / 5 nm) | ✨ Modern (Comet Lake-H (2020) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | M1 Pro | Core i9-10980HK |
|---|---|---|
| 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 M1 Pro and Core i9-10980HK
M1 Pro
The M1 Pro is manufactured by Apple. It was released in 18 October 2021 (4 years ago). It features 10 cores and 10 threads. Base frequency is 2.064 GHz, with boost up to 3.22 GHz. L3 cache: 24 MB. L2 cache: 28 MB. Built on 5 nm process technology. Socket: none. Thermal design power (TDP): 28 MB + 24 MB. Memory support: LPDDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 17,218 points. Launch price was $299.
Core i9-10980HK
The Core i9-10980HK is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2 April 2020 (5 years ago). It is based on the Comet Lake-H (2020) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 2.4 GHz, with boost up to 5.1 GHz. L3 cache: 16 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1440. Thermal design power (TDP): 45 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 17,037 points. Launch price was $583.
Processing Power
The M1 Pro packs 10 cores / 10 threads, while the Core i9-10980HK offers 8 cores / 16 threads — the M1 Pro has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.22 GHz on the M1 Pro versus 5.1 GHz on the Core i9-10980HK — a 45.2% clock advantage for the Core i9-10980HK (base: 2.064 GHz vs 2.4 GHz). The Core i9-10980HK is built on the Comet Lake-H (2020) architecture. In PassMark, the M1 Pro scores 17,218 against the Core i9-10980HK's 17,037 — a 1.1% lead for the M1 Pro. L3 cache: 24 MB on the M1 Pro vs 16 MB (total) on the Core i9-10980HK.
| Feature | M1 Pro | Core i9-10980HK |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 10 / 10+25% | 8 / 16 |
| Boost Clock | 3.22 GHz | 5.1 GHz+58% |
| Base Clock | 2.064 GHz | 2.4 GHz+16% |
| L3 Cache | 24 MB+50% | 16 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 28 MB+11100% | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 5 nm-64% | 14 nm |
| Architecture | — | Comet Lake-H (2020) |
| PassMark | 17,218+1% | 17,037 |
Memory & Platform
The M1 Pro uses the none socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Core i9-10980HK uses BGA1440 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | M1 Pro | Core i9-10980HK |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | none | BGA1440 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 4.0+33% | PCIe 3.0 |
Top Performing CPUs
The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
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