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AnandTech's analysis corroborates what DeRock is saying here about the x86 variable length instructions being the limiting factor on how wide the decode stage can be.

The other factor is Apple is using a "better" process node (TSMC 5nm). I put it in quotes because Intel's 10nm and upcoming nodes may be competitive, but Intel's 14nm is what Apple gets to compete against today, right now.

Intel has been defeated in detail.

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> but Intel's 14nm is what Apple gets to compete against today, right now.

Intel's 10nm node is out, I'm typing this on one right now. It's competitive in single-core performance against what we've seen from the M1. Graphics and multi-core it gets beat though...

Or do you mean what Apple used to use? (edit: the following is incorrect) It's true Apple never used an Intel 10nm part.

EDIT: I was wrong! Apple has used an Intel 10nm part. Thanks for the correction!

I'm typing this on a Tiger Lake, too, and it is very fast and draws modest power. But, are they making any money on it? If they lose Apple as a laptop customer how much does that hurt their business.

There was a lot of discussion on a related, recent post about Apple buying many of Intel’s most desirable chips. Will be interesting to see whether the loss of a high-end customer translates into more woes for Intel.

Maybe that will just make PCs better now that Apple isn't buying out the best chips.

I'm using a MacBook Pro with an Intel 10nm part in it. The 4 port 13" MBP still comes with one. I think the MacBook Air might have had a 10nm part before it went ARM, too.

There are still no 10nm parts for the desktop or the high-end/high-TDP laptops anyway afaik.

Tiger Lake is objectively the fastest thing in any laptop you can buy, regardless of whether its TDP is as high as others. You're right about the lack of desktop parts, though.

It's not faster than the M1, is it?

Maybe but I won’t give it credit for existing until it lands in public hands. You can buy tiger lake laptops off literal shelves, today.

Are you sure about the single core performance - Geekbench has the M1 far ahead against 10nm laptops?

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