Apple M5 Performance: Nearly as Fast as Workstation-Class M1 Ultra; Only 5% Slower in Multi-Core Performance with Half the CPU Cores

Three years prior, Apple launched its groundbreaking M1 Ultra chipset, captivating attention from industry giants Intel and AMD in the realm of high-performance computing. Since then, Apple has diligently advanced its Apple Silicon technology, culminating in the introduction of the M5 processor—a testament to the company’s evolution in this field. Currently featured in the newest MacBook Pro and iPad Pro models, the M5 showcases remarkable capabilities, performing almost on par with the M1 Ultra in Geekbench 6’s multi-core benchmark despite housing only half the number of cores.

The M5 Surpasses the M1 Ultra in Single-Core Performance

To provide context, the M1 Ultra is equipped with a robust 20-core CPU layout, consisting of 16 performance cores and four efficiency cores, and reaching a peak frequency of 3.22GHz. In contrast, the M5 is structured with 10 cores—six performance and four efficiency cores. Notably, benchmark comparisons in Geekbench 6 indicate a disparity among M5 models; the variant within the iPad Pro operates at a lower speed of 4.43GHz.

The M5 chipset in the MacBook Pro, however, boasts a higher operating frequency of 4.61GHz, which we will use for a direct comparison against the M1 Ultra. At first glance, the multi-core performance results yield only a minimal difference, reflecting less than a 5% variance. Should an enterprising user like Geekerwan employ extreme cooling techniques for the M5 MacBook Pro, it’s plausible that this gap could further diminish.

M5 Performance Metrics

Single-core score: 4, 263 (178.6% faster than the M1 Ultra)
Multi-core score: 17, 862 (4.9% slower than the M1 Ultra)

M1 Ultra Performance Metrics

Single-core score: 2, 387
Multi-core score: 18, 792

M5 is nearly as fast as the M1 Ultra in Geekbench 6 multi-core performance

Another notable distinction is that the M5 features a 50% larger L2 cache compared to the M1 Ultra, totaling 6MB. Apple’s decision to enhance the cache appears to have come with this generation, as previous models exhibited a static 4MB of L2 cache, as seen in the comparison between the M5 and M4 iPad Pro.

In terms of single-core performance, the M5 solidifies its status as the fastest chipset available, eclipsing the M1 Ultra by an astonishing 178.6%.This leap can be attributed to its refined architecture and elevated clock speeds. Anticipation builds as we look forward to the M5 Pro and M5 Max, which are expected to be launched next year—potentially setting new benchmarks in multi-core processing.

News Source: Geekbench 6

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