Apple M3 Chip Overtakes Intel Core i9-14900K in Single-Threaded Performance

The Intel Core i9-14900K CPU initially claimed the title of the fastest single-threaded chip in the PassMark benchmark last month upon its debut. However, the reign was short-lived as Apple’s M3 CPU family swiftly took the lead, positioning itself as the new speed champion in the benchmark hierarchy. The benchmark database now encompasses performance scores for all three M3 SKUs: the M3 8-Core, M3 Pro 11-Core, and M3 Max 16-Core.

Apple M3 Chip Pro Tops Single-Core Spot

In terms of performance, the M3 Pro 11-core emerges as the fastest among the trio, boasting a score of 4910 points. Following closely, the M3 Pro 12-core secures 4,841 points, and the M3 8-core follows suit with a score of 4784 points. Impressively, the Apple M3 Pro 11-Core surpasses the Intel Core i9-14900K CPU by 1%, while the other two chips exhibit comparable single-core scores.

Apple strategically emphasized the single-threaded performance of its M3 class chips during official announcements, underscoring their potential in this segment. However, when it comes to multi-threaded performance, the Core i9-14900K outshines the 16-core M3 Max, boasting a 34% increase in performance and a commanding 56% lead over the 12-core M3 Pro. The detailed results highlight these disparities.

Examining multi-core performance, the M3 and M2 12/11 core chips showcase nearly identical performance, while the 8-core see a notable 24% boost in performance attributed to higher clock speeds. To summarize the comparisons:

• M3 Max 16-Core vs M2 Max 12-Core (MT) = +52% Increase
• M3 Pro 12-Core vs M2 Pro 12-Core (MT) = +0.2% Increase
• M3 Pro 11-Core vs M2 Pro 10-Core (MT) = +20% Increase
• M3 8-Core vs M2 8-Core (MT) = +24% Increase

Earlier benchmarks hinted at minimal IPC gains from M2 to M3 chips, with the additional core counts on the M3 Max and the upcoming Ultra chips emerging as pivotal contributors to enhanced performance. Despite the prowess of Apple’s M3 chips in certain aspects, x86 CPUs, represented by Intel and AMD, maintain a significant edge.

Both Intel and AMD are poised to introduce new chips, intensifying competition in the processor landscape. Additionally, the potential entry of NVIDIA and AMD into the Arm space in the coming years poses a substantial threat to both Intel and Apple, provided these companies achieve success in their endeavors.