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 Pro

2023

Why buy it

✅+0.4% higher PassMark.
✅Draws 36W instead of 65W, a 29W reduction.
✅Newer platform on none with DDR5 support instead of AM4 and DDR4.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Apple M2 Pro GPU, while Ryzen 5 5600X needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 5 5600X across 49 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Smaller total L3 cache (24 MB vs 32 MB).

Ryzen 5 5600X

2020

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +8.3% higher average FPS across 49 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+33.3% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 24 MB).
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (24 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (21,845 vs 21,939).
❌Launch MSRP is still $299 MSRP, while M2 Pro mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌80.6% higher power demand at 65W vs 36W.
❌Older platform position on AM4 with DDR4, while M2 Pro moves to none and DDR5.
❌No integrated graphics, while M2 Pro can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

M2 Pro

2023

Ryzen 5 5600X

2020

Why buy it

✅+0.4% higher PassMark.
✅Draws 36W instead of 65W, a 29W reduction.
✅Newer platform on none with DDR5 support instead of AM4 and DDR4.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Apple M2 Pro GPU, while Ryzen 5 5600X needs a discrete GPU.

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +8.3% higher average FPS across 49 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+33.3% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 24 MB).
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (24 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 5 5600X across 49 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Smaller total L3 cache (24 MB vs 32 MB).

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (21,845 vs 21,939).
❌Launch MSRP is still $299 MSRP, while M2 Pro mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌80.6% higher power demand at 65W vs 36W.
❌Older platform position on AM4 with DDR4, while M2 Pro moves to none and DDR5.
❌No integrated graphics, while M2 Pro can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Quick Answers

So, is M2 Pro better than Ryzen 5 5600X?

It depends on what matters more to you. For gaming, Ryzen 5 5600X is ahead with a 8.3% average FPS lead across 49 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, M2 Pro pulls ahead with 0.4% better PassMark. Ryzen 5 5600X also has the bigger cache pool with 33.3% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 24 MB).

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, M2 Pro is the better fit. You are getting 0.4% better PassMark, backed by 12 cores and 12 threads.

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

M2 Pro is still the faster CPU overall, but Ryzen 5 5600X makes more sense if price matters more than absolute performance. M2 Pro is at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus $299 MSRP, and it gives you 0.4% better PassMark. The trade-off is that Ryzen 5 5600X is still the better pure gaming CPU with a 8.3% average FPS lead across 49 shared CPU game tests in our data. Ryzen 5 5600X is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (73.1 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), which is why it is easier to justify for price-conscious builds on paper. That said, if you already own a compatible AM4 + DDR4 setup, Ryzen 5 5600X can still make sense as a platform-matched option because it avoids a motherboard and RAM swap, but on MSRP alone you would want to find it meaningfully cheaper in real-world listings before that path becomes easy to justify.

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

M2 Pro is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2023 vs 2020), a healthier platform with none and DDR5 instead of AM4, and more multi-core headroom with 12 cores / 12 threads instead of 6/12. That should give you a better long-term upgrade path for motherboard, RAM, and future CPU swaps.

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 Pro Benchmark Check

Ryzen 5 5600X Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	M2 Pro	Ryzen 5 5600X
1080p
low	176 FPS	203 FPS
medium	142 FPS	174 FPS
high	115 FPS	140 FPS
ultra	91 FPS	107 FPS
1440p
low	141 FPS	169 FPS
medium	111 FPS	141 FPS
high	88 FPS	113 FPS
ultra	70 FPS	86 FPS
4K
low	66 FPS	85 FPS
medium	56 FPS	76 FPS
high	44 FPS	60 FPS
ultra	35 FPS	47 FPS

Open M2 Pro Open Ryzen 5 5600X

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	M2 Pro	Ryzen 5 5600X
1080p
low	380 FPS	464 FPS
medium	327 FPS	387 FPS
high	269 FPS	324 FPS
ultra	216 FPS	291 FPS
1440p
low	324 FPS	397 FPS
medium	289 FPS	334 FPS
high	243 FPS	290 FPS
ultra	192 FPS	253 FPS
4K
low	208 FPS	263 FPS
medium	188 FPS	226 FPS
high	161 FPS	205 FPS
ultra	128 FPS	171 FPS

Open M2 Pro Open Ryzen 5 5600X

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	M2 Pro	Ryzen 5 5600X
1080p
low	548 FPS	546 FPS
medium	548 FPS	473 FPS
high	548 FPS	432 FPS
ultra	545 FPS	358 FPS
1440p
low	548 FPS	508 FPS
medium	478 FPS	413 FPS
high	439 FPS	375 FPS
ultra	382 FPS	312 FPS
4K
low	420 FPS	348 FPS
medium	326 FPS	292 FPS
high	289 FPS	255 FPS
ultra	231 FPS	199 FPS

Open M2 Pro Open Ryzen 5 5600X

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	M2 Pro	Ryzen 5 5600X
1080p
low	548 FPS	546 FPS
medium	548 FPS	546 FPS
high	548 FPS	546 FPS
ultra	548 FPS	546 FPS
1440p
low	548 FPS	546 FPS
medium	548 FPS	546 FPS
high	525 FPS	546 FPS
ultra	451 FPS	524 FPS
4K
low	476 FPS	529 FPS
medium	426 FPS	484 FPS
high	380 FPS	435 FPS
ultra	332 FPS	379 FPS

Open M2 Pro Open Ryzen 5 5600X

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of M2 Pro and Ryzen 5 5600X

M2 Pro

The M2 Pro is manufactured by Apple. It was released in 17 January 2023 (2 years ago). It features 12 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 2.42 GHz, with boost up to 3.5 GHz. L3 cache: 24 MB. L2 cache: 36 MB. Built on 5 nm process technology. Socket: none. Thermal design power (TDP): 36 MB + 24 MB. Memory support: LPDDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 21,939 points. Launch price was $299.

Ryzen 5 5600X

The Ryzen 5 5600X is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 5 November 2020 (5 years ago). It is based on the Vermeer (Zen 3) (2020−2022) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 3.7 GHz, with boost up to 4.6 GHz. L3 cache: 32 MB. L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 7 nm, 12 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 21,845 points. Launch price was $299.

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Processing Power

The M2 Pro packs 12 cores / 12 threads, while the Ryzen 5 5600X offers 6 cores / 12 threads — the M2 Pro has 6 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.5 GHz on the M2 Pro versus 4.6 GHz on the Ryzen 5 5600X — a 27.2% clock advantage for the Ryzen 5 5600X (base: 2.42 GHz vs 3.7 GHz). The Ryzen 5 5600X is built on the Vermeer (Zen 3) (2020−2022) architecture. In PassMark, the M2 Pro scores 21,939 against the Ryzen 5 5600X's 21,845 — a 0.4% lead for the M2 Pro. L3 cache: 24 MB on the M2 Pro vs 32 MB on the Ryzen 5 5600X.

Feature	M2 Pro	Ryzen 5 5600X
Cores / Threads	12 / 12+100%	6 / 12
Boost Clock	3.5 GHz	4.6 GHz+31%
Base Clock	2.42 GHz	3.7 GHz+53%
L3 Cache	24 MB	32 MB+33%
L2 Cache	36 MB+7100%	512K (per core)
Process	5 nm-29%	7 nm, 12 nm
Architecture	—	Vermeer (Zen 3) (2020−2022)
PassMark	21,939	21,845
Geekbench 6 Single	2,650	—
Geekbench 6 Multi	14,450	—

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Memory & Platform

The M2 Pro uses the none socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Ryzen 5 5600X uses AM4 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches LPDDR5-6400 on the M2 Pro versus DDR4-3200 on the Ryzen 5 5600X — the M2 Pro supports 22.2% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Ryzen 5 5600X supports up to 128 GB of RAM compared to 32 GB — 120% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 0 (M2 Pro) vs 24 (Ryzen 5 5600X) — the Ryzen 5 5600X offers 24 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: Apple Silicon (M2 Pro) and AMD 500 series,AMD 400 series,AMD 300 series (Ryzen 5 5600X).

Feature	M2 Pro	Ryzen 5 5600X
Socket	none	AM4
PCIe Generation	PCIe 4.0	PCIe 4.0
Max RAM Speed	LPDDR5-6400+25%	DDR4-3200
Max RAM Capacity	32 GB	128 GB+300%
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	Yes
PCIe Lanes	0	24

🔧

Advanced Features

Only the Ryzen 5 5600X has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Virtualization support: ARM Virtualization (M2 Pro) vs AMD-V (Ryzen 5 5600X). The M2 Pro includes integrated graphics (Apple M2 Pro GPU), while the Ryzen 5 5600X requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: M2 Pro targets Professional Laptop, Ryzen 5 5600X targets Desktop.