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

✅Draws 20W instead of 105W, a 85W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 5 7600X across 39 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (14,933 vs 28,325).
❌No integrated graphics, while Ryzen 5 7600X can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Ryzen 5 7600X

2022

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +33.1% higher average FPS across 39 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (28 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with AMD Radeon Graphics (2-core), while M2 needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Launch MSRP is still $299 MSRP, while M2 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌425% higher power demand at 105W vs 20W.

M2

2022

Ryzen 5 7600X

2022

Why buy it

✅Draws 20W instead of 105W, a 85W reduction.

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +33.1% higher average FPS across 39 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (28 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with AMD Radeon Graphics (2-core), while M2 needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 5 7600X across 39 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (14,933 vs 28,325).
❌No integrated graphics, while Ryzen 5 7600X can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Launch MSRP is still $299 MSRP, while M2 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌425% higher power demand at 105W vs 20W.

Quick Answers

So, is Ryzen 5 7600X better than M2?

Yes. Ryzen 5 7600X is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 33.1% average FPS lead across 39 shared CPU game tests in our data, 89.7% better PassMark, and the stronger long-term platform, which makes it the stronger all-around choice.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Ryzen 5 7600X is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 33.1% more average FPS across 39 shared CPU game tests.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Ryzen 5 7600X is the better fit. You are getting 89.7% better PassMark, backed by 6 cores and 12 threads.

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

Ryzen 5 7600X is the smarter buy today. Ryzen 5 7600X is at an unclear MSRP at $299 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it gives you a 33.1% average FPS lead across 39 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (94.7 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), so the better CPU is not just faster, it is also the cleaner value play on paper. That said, if you already own a compatible none + DDR5 setup, M2 can still make sense as a platform-matched option because it avoids a motherboard and RAM swap.

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

Ryzen 5 7600X is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting more multi-core headroom with 6 cores / 12 threads instead of 8/8. 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 Benchmark Check

Ryzen 5 7600X Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	M2	Ryzen 5 7600X
1080p
low	175 FPS	266 FPS
medium	140 FPS	246 FPS
high	113 FPS	210 FPS
ultra	90 FPS	179 FPS
1440p
low	141 FPS	226 FPS
medium	111 FPS	189 FPS
high	88 FPS	154 FPS
ultra	69 FPS	134 FPS
4K
low	66 FPS	157 FPS
medium	55 FPS	131 FPS
high	44 FPS	101 FPS
ultra	35 FPS	87 FPS

Open M2 Open Ryzen 5 7600X

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	M2	Ryzen 5 7600X
1080p
low	288 FPS	649 FPS
medium	246 FPS	524 FPS
high	213 FPS	436 FPS
ultra	166 FPS	386 FPS
1440p
low	248 FPS	544 FPS
medium	220 FPS	455 FPS
high	193 FPS	388 FPS
ultra	150 FPS	329 FPS
4K
low	174 FPS	341 FPS
medium	159 FPS	290 FPS
high	136 FPS	271 FPS
ultra	106 FPS	232 FPS

Open M2 Open Ryzen 5 7600X

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	M2	Ryzen 5 7600X
1080p
low	373 FPS	708 FPS
medium	373 FPS	652 FPS
high	373 FPS	571 FPS
ultra	373 FPS	484 FPS
1440p
low	373 FPS	708 FPS
medium	373 FPS	554 FPS
high	373 FPS	479 FPS
ultra	363 FPS	409 FPS
4K
low	373 FPS	463 FPS
medium	314 FPS	392 FPS
high	277 FPS	341 FPS
ultra	221 FPS	281 FPS

Open M2 Open Ryzen 5 7600X

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	M2	Ryzen 5 7600X
1080p
low	373 FPS	708 FPS
medium	373 FPS	708 FPS
high	373 FPS	708 FPS
ultra	373 FPS	708 FPS
1440p
low	373 FPS	708 FPS
medium	373 FPS	708 FPS
high	373 FPS	658 FPS
ultra	373 FPS	571 FPS
4K
low	373 FPS	560 FPS
medium	373 FPS	502 FPS
high	373 FPS	452 FPS
ultra	328 FPS	391 FPS

Open M2 Open Ryzen 5 7600X

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of M2 and Ryzen 5 7600X

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.

Ryzen 5 7600X

The Ryzen 5 7600X is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 27 September 2022 (3 years ago). It is based on the Raphael (Zen4) (2022−2023) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 4.7 GHz, with boost up to 5.3 GHz. L3 cache: 32 MB (total). L2 cache: 6 MB. Built on 5 nm, 6 nm process technology. Socket: AM5. Thermal design power (TDP): 105 Watt. Memory support: DDR5-5200. Passmark benchmark score: 28,325 points. Launch price was $299.

⚡

Processing Power

The M2 packs 8 cores / 8 threads, while the Ryzen 5 7600X offers 6 cores / 12 threads — the M2 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.48 GHz on the M2 versus 5.3 GHz on the Ryzen 5 7600X — a 41.5% clock advantage for the Ryzen 5 7600X (base: 2.424 GHz vs 4.7 GHz). The Ryzen 5 7600X is built on the Raphael (Zen4) (2022−2023) architecture. In PassMark, the M2 scores 14,933 against the Ryzen 5 7600X's 28,325 — a 61.9% lead for the Ryzen 5 7600X.

Feature	M2	Ryzen 5 7600X
Cores / Threads	8 / 8+33%	6 / 12
Boost Clock	3.48 GHz	5.3 GHz+52%
Base Clock	2.424 GHz	4.7 GHz+94%
L3 Cache	—	32 MB (total)
L2 Cache	20 MB+233%	6 MB
Process	5 nm	5 nm, 6 nm
Architecture	—	Raphael (Zen4) (2022−2023)
PassMark	14,933	28,325+90%
Cinebench R23 Multi	—	15,300
Geekbench 6 Single	—	2,900
Geekbench 6 Multi	—	13,800

🧠

Memory & Platform

The M2 uses the none socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Ryzen 5 7600X uses AM5 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

Feature	M2	Ryzen 5 7600X
Socket	none	AM5
PCIe Generation	PCIe 4.0	PCIe 5.0+25%
Max RAM Speed	—	DDR5-5200
Max RAM Capacity	—	128 GB
RAM Channels	—	2
ECC Support	—	Yes
PCIe Lanes	—	28

🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization: not specified (M2) / AMD-V (Ryzen 5 7600X). The Ryzen 5 7600X includes integrated graphics (AMD Radeon Graphics (2-core)), while the M2 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Ryzen 5 7600X targets Gaming. Direct competitor: Ryzen 5 7600X rivals Intel Core i5-13600K.