CPU Comparison
Apple M2 vs Intel Core i7-4950HQ
A side-by-side comparison of specs, performance and value. The Apple M2 is a second‑generation 5 nm ARM‑based system‑on‑chip for Macs, with an 8‑core CPU, up to a 10‑core GPU, 16‑core Neural Engine, and 100 GB/s unified memory bandwidth, designed for thin‑and‑light laptops and compact desktops.
The Bottom Line
Overview & Launch
Specifications Compared
Performance Compared
Productivity
Very strong single‑thread and good multi‑thread performance for everyday apps and light creator workloads.
Handles everyday tasks well, but slow by modern standards.
Gaming
Solid for 1080p and many 1440p titles at medium–high settings; not intended for high‑refresh 4K gaming or heavy ray tracing.
Competent for 2013 games, but struggles with modern titles.
Virtualization
Capable of light VM/container use, but limited to 8 threads and not aimed at heavy server workloads.
Adequate for basic VM usage.
Efficiency
Outstanding performance per watt; typically around 20 W CPU package power under multi‑threaded load, far below comparable x86 ultrabook chips.
High TDP and 22nm process result in poor battery life.
Specialized Performance
AI / ML
- 16‑core Neural Engine at 15.8 TOPS
- Good for on‑device inference and Core ML workloads
- No large‑scale training focus; more for consumer features than datacenter AI
- Lacks modern AI acceleration
- Slow compute times
Content Creation
Gaming
- Integrated 8–10 core GPU with up to 3.6 TFLOPS FP32
- Good for 1080p and some 1440p gaming at medium–high settings
- Limited by unified memory bandwidth and 8 CPU threads for CPU‑heavy titles
- Best experienced in macOS; Windows via virtualization or translation has overhead
- Iris Pro eDRAM helps textures
- Unlocked multiplier allows slight performance tuning
- Not for modern AAA gaming
Industry Impact
Best CPU by Use Case
Target Audience
Strengths & Weaknesses
Pros
- Very strong single‑core performance for an ultrabook‑class chip
- Integrated 8–10 core GPU with up to 3.6 TFLOPS and hardware ProRes acceleration
- Unified memory architecture with 100 GB/s bandwidth simplifies development and avoids CPU–GPU copies
- 16‑core Neural Engine accelerates on‑device ML workloads
- Fanless designs in MacBook Air and very quiet operation under typical loads
Cons
- Not sold as a standalone CPU; only available inside Macs
- No user‑upgradable RAM or PCIe slots; I/O limited to what Apple provides
- Only 8 CPU threads; heavy multi‑threaded workloads are limited compared to higher‑core M2 Pro/Max or x86 chips
- CPU efficiency is slightly worse than M1 at maximum performance due to higher clocks and power
- Gaming performance is constrained by 8 threads and integrated GPU; not a gaming‑focused SoC
Pros
- Unlocked multiplier (rare for mobile)
- Iris Pro 5200 with eDRAM
- Solid multi-threaded performance for its era
Cons
- Very poor efficiency by modern standards
- End-of-life
- Soldered to motherboard
Competitors & Alternatives
Apple M2
- AMD Ryzen 7 6800URival
Ultrabook
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i7‑1260PRival
Ultrabook
- Intel Core i7‑1355URival
Ultrabook
- AMD Ryzen 7 7730URival
Ultrabook
- Compare head-to-headApple M1Rival
Ultrabook
- Alt
More CPU/GPU cores and higher memory bandwidth for heavier creator workloads.
Compare head-to-head - AMD Ryzen 7 7840UAlt
Stronger multi‑threaded performance and better x86 Windows compatibility in ultrabook form factors.
- Intel Core Ultra 7 155HAlt
Good balance of CPU and integrated GPU performance for Windows ultrabooks with NPU‑accelerated AI features.
- Alt
Newer architecture with higher performance and better efficiency if you are buying a new Mac in 2024+.
Compare head-to-head
Intel Core i7-4950HQ
- AMD A10-5750MRival
Mobile
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i7-4700HQRival
Mobile
- AMD FX-7600PRival
Mobile
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i7-3632QMRival
Mobile
- Apple A7Rival
Mobile
- AMD Ryzen 7 5700UAlt
Massive leap in efficiency and multi-core performance.
- Intel Core i7-1165G7Alt
Modern single-core speeds and superior integrated graphics.
- Alt
Industry-leading performance per watt.
Compare head-to-head Better battery life and modern feature set.
Compare head-to-head- AMD Ryzen 5 5500UAlt
Affordable modern alternative with 6 cores.
Our Verdict on Each
A very efficient, well‑balanced SoC that makes more sense inside a Mac than as a standalone chip; strong single‑core performance, capable integrated graphics, and excellent efficiency, but not a workstation‑class part.
Best for: You are buying a new or refurbished Mac laptop or desktop and want a significant step up from Intel‑based Macs or older M1 models, especially for single‑threaded tasks and GPU‑accelerated apps.
Read the full reviewAn important step forward for mobile integrated graphics, offering unique overclocking potential, but now obsolete.
Best for: Purchasing a used laptop at a rock-bottom price. Buying advice for the Core i7-4950HQ today suggests avoiding significant investment. While it was a formidable processor in its prime, modern applications and operating systems demand greater efficiency and newer instruction sets. If you encounter a used laptop featuring this chip at a very low price, it can still serve adequately for web browsing, office tasks, and media playback. However, its 47-watt TDP and older 22nm process mean it will run warmer and consume more power than modern equivalents. For gaming or content creation, its integrated graphics, while historically significant, no longer meet modern baseline requirements. Save your budget for a newer system that offers better longevity.
Read the full reviewFrequently Asked Questions
Which is better, Apple M2 or Intel Core i7-4950HQ?
Based on our editorial ratings, the Apple M2 comes out ahead with a score of 8.8/10. That said, the best choice depends on your workload — check the spec and performance breakdown above for gaming, productivity and efficiency differences.
Which is faster for gaming, Apple M2 or Intel Core i7-4950HQ?
For gaming, the Apple M2 leads with a gaming performance score of 78/100 among Apple M2 and Intel Core i7-4950HQ.
Which uses less power?
The Intel Core i7-4950HQ has the lowest rated TDP. Power draw across these chips: Intel Core i7-4950HQ (47 W).
Do Apple M2 and Intel Core i7-4950HQ use the same socket?
No. They use different sockets (Apple M2: On‑Package (BGA), Intel Core i7-4950HQ: Intel BGA 1364), so each needs a compatible motherboard.
Which has more cores?
The Apple M2 has the most cores. Core counts: Apple M2 (8 cores), Intel Core i7-4950HQ (4 cores).
Which is faster in multi-core benchmarks?
The Apple M2 posts the highest multi-core benchmark score. Multi-core results: Apple M2 (9,800), Intel Core i7-4950HQ (8,400). Benchmark figures are approximate and workload-dependent.