M2 vs Xeon D-1733NT

PassMark CPU Mark evaluates processor speed through complex mathematical computations. It provides a reliable metric to compare multi-core performance, where higher scores indicate faster processing for multitasking, gaming, and heavy workloads.

Head-to-Head Verdict, Benchmarks, Value & Long-Term Outlook

This comparison brings together gaming FPS, productivity performance, platform differences, power efficiency, pricing context, and upgrade path so you can see which CPU actually makes more sense.

M2

2022

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +7.3% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Draws 20W instead of 53W, a 33W reduction.
✅Newer platform on none with DDR5 support instead of FCBGA2227 and DDR4.

Trade-offs

❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Xeon D-1733NT, which brings 8 cores / 16 threads.

Xeon D-1733NT

2022

Why buy it

✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 8 cores / 16 threads.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than M2 across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (14,849 vs 14,933).
❌Launch MSRP is still $300 MSRP, while M2 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌165% higher power demand at 53W vs 20W.
❌Older platform position on FCBGA2227 with DDR4, while M2 moves to none and DDR5.

M2

2022

Xeon D-1733NT

2022

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +7.3% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Draws 20W instead of 53W, a 33W reduction.
✅Newer platform on none with DDR5 support instead of FCBGA2227 and DDR4.

Why buy it

✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 8 cores / 16 threads.

Trade-offs

❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Xeon D-1733NT, which brings 8 cores / 16 threads.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than M2 across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (14,849 vs 14,933).
❌Launch MSRP is still $300 MSRP, while M2 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌165% higher power demand at 53W vs 20W.
❌Older platform position on FCBGA2227 with DDR4, while M2 moves to none and DDR5.

Quick Answers

So, is M2 better than Xeon D-1733NT?

Not in a simple one-size-fits-all way. Xeon D-1733NT makes more sense for workstation-style multi-core throughput, while M2 is the better mainstream desktop choice for gaming, platform cost, and day-to-day practicality.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, M2 is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 7.3% more average FPS across 4 shared CPU game tests.

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, M2 is the better fit. You are getting 0.6% better PassMark, backed by 8 cores and 8 threads.

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?

M2 is the smarter buy by a wide margin for any fresh desktop build. M2 is at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus $300 MSRP, and it gives you a 7.3% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data. Xeon D-1733NT only looks good on raw value math because it is a cheap legacy laptop CPU, not because it is a serious desktop gaming option. It simply cannot keep up with modern games, especially when the gap is already 7.3% in the shared gaming data.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

M2 is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a healthier platform with none and DDR5 instead of FCBGA2227 and more multi-core headroom with 8 cores / 8 threads instead of 8/16. That extra compute headroom should age better as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

Games Benchmarks

Paired with RTX 4090

To accurately isolate CPU performance, all benchmarks below use an NVIDIA RTX 4090 as the reference GPU. This eliminates GPU-side bottlenecks and highlights pure processing throughput differences between the CPUs.

Note: Real-world results may vary based on your actual GPU. CPU performance impact is more visible in processing-intensive titles and high-refresh-rate gaming scenarios.

M2 Benchmark Check

Xeon D-1733NT Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	M2	Xeon D-1733NT
1080p
low	175 FPS	177 FPS
medium	140 FPS	144 FPS
high	113 FPS	117 FPS
ultra	90 FPS	94 FPS
1440p
low	141 FPS	143 FPS
medium	111 FPS	114 FPS
high	88 FPS	90 FPS
ultra	69 FPS	71 FPS
4K
low	66 FPS	68 FPS
medium	55 FPS	57 FPS
high	44 FPS	45 FPS
ultra	35 FPS	36 FPS

Open M2 Open Xeon D-1733NT

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	M2	Xeon D-1733NT
1080p
low	288 FPS	159 FPS
medium	246 FPS	139 FPS
high	213 FPS	124 FPS
ultra	166 FPS	98 FPS
1440p
low	248 FPS	139 FPS
medium	220 FPS	126 FPS
high	193 FPS	113 FPS
ultra	150 FPS	90 FPS
4K
low	174 FPS	101 FPS
medium	159 FPS	94 FPS
high	136 FPS	83 FPS
ultra	106 FPS	65 FPS

Open M2 Open Xeon D-1733NT

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	M2	Xeon D-1733NT
1080p
low	373 FPS	371 FPS
medium	373 FPS	371 FPS
high	373 FPS	371 FPS
ultra	373 FPS	371 FPS
1440p
low	373 FPS	371 FPS
medium	373 FPS	371 FPS
high	373 FPS	371 FPS
ultra	363 FPS	345 FPS
4K
low	373 FPS	371 FPS
medium	314 FPS	322 FPS
high	277 FPS	274 FPS
ultra	221 FPS	220 FPS

Open M2 Open Xeon D-1733NT

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	M2	Xeon D-1733NT
1080p
low	373 FPS	371 FPS
medium	373 FPS	371 FPS
high	373 FPS	371 FPS
ultra	373 FPS	371 FPS
1440p
low	373 FPS	371 FPS
medium	373 FPS	371 FPS
high	373 FPS	371 FPS
ultra	373 FPS	371 FPS
4K
low	373 FPS	371 FPS
medium	373 FPS	371 FPS
high	373 FPS	358 FPS
ultra	328 FPS	309 FPS

Open M2 Open Xeon D-1733NT

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of M2 and Xeon D-1733NT

M2

The M2 is manufactured by Apple. It was released in 10 June 2022 (3 years ago). It features 8 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 2.424 GHz, with boost up to 3.48 GHz. L2 cache: 20 MB. Built on 5 nm process technology. Socket: none. Thermal design power (TDP): 20 Watt. Memory support: LPDDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 14,933 points. Launch price was $149.

Xeon D-1733NT

The Xeon D-1733NT is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2015-01-01. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 2 GHz, with boost up to 3.1 GHz. L3 cache: 15 MB. Built on 10 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA2227. Thermal design power (TDP): 53 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 14,849 points. Launch price was $800.

⚡

Processing Power

The M2 packs 8 cores / 8 threads, matching the Xeon D-1733NT's 8 cores. Boost clocks reach 3.48 GHz on the M2 versus 3.1 GHz on the Xeon D-1733NT — a 11.6% clock advantage for the M2 (base: 2.424 GHz vs 2 GHz). In PassMark, the M2 scores 14,933 against the Xeon D-1733NT's 14,849 — a 0.6% lead for the M2.

Feature	M2	Xeon D-1733NT
Cores / Threads	8 / 8	8 / 16
Boost Clock	3.48 GHz+12%	3.1 GHz
Base Clock	2.424 GHz+21%	2 GHz
L3 Cache	—	15 MB
L2 Cache	20 MB	—
Process	5 nm-50%	10 nm
PassMark	14,933	14,849