CPU Comparison
Apple M2 vs Core i7-680UM
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.
Will struggle heavily with modern office software and web apps.
Gaming
Solid for 1080p and many 1440p titles at medium–high settings; not intended for high‑refresh 4K gaming or heavy ray tracing.
Completely incapable of modern gaming.
Virtualization
Capable of light VM/container use, but limited to 8 threads and not aimed at heavy server workloads.
Lacks the cores and RAM support for practical virtualization.
Efficiency
Outstanding performance per watt; typically around 20 W CPU package power under multi‑threaded load, far below comparable x86 ultrabook chips.
Good for 2010, but modern 3W chips outperform it massively.
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
- No AI capabilities.
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
- Ironlake graphics offer no 3D acceleration capability for modern titles.
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
- Extremely low 18W TDP for its time
- Good battery life for 2010 laptops
- Included AES-NI for encryption
- Turbo Boost provided burst performance
Cons
- Very low base clock speed
- Integrated graphics are obsolete
- Soldered to motherboard
- Cannot handle modern web browsing
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
Core i7-680UM
- Intel Core 2 Duo SU7300Rival
Mobile ULV
- AMD Athlon II Neo K325Rival
Mobile ULV
- Intel Core i5-430UMRival
Mobile ULV
- Intel Core i7-640UMRival
Mobile ULV
- AMD Turion II Neo K625Rival
Mobile ULV
Modern low-power mobile CPU with lightyears better performance and efficiency.
Compare head-to-head- AMD Ryzen 3 5425UAlt
Modern budget alternative with excellent battery life.
- Intel Core i7-2637MAlt
The Sandy Bridge ULV successor for historical context.
- Alt
Shows the modern peak of ultra-low voltage mobile computing.
Compare head-to-head - Intel Processor N200Alt
A 6W modern Intel chip that destroys this old i7.
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 reviewA groundbreaking ultra-low voltage chip for 2010, but completely incapable of handling modern web or software demands.
Best for: Collector's item
Read the full reviewFrequently Asked Questions
Which is better, Apple M2 or Core i7-680UM?
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 Core i7-680UM?
For gaming, the Apple M2 leads with a gaming performance score of 78/100 among Apple M2 and Core i7-680UM.
Which uses less power?
The Core i7-680UM has the lowest rated TDP. Power draw across these chips: Core i7-680UM (18 W).
Do Apple M2 and Core i7-680UM use the same socket?
No. They use different sockets (Apple M2: On‑Package (BGA), Core i7-680UM: BGA 1288), so each needs a compatible motherboard.
Which has more cores?
The Apple M2 has the most cores. Core counts: Apple M2 (8 cores), Core i7-680UM (2 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), Core i7-680UM (1,300). Benchmark figures are approximate and workload-dependent.