M3 Pro 11-Core
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Ryzen Z1 Extreme
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Performance Spectrum - CPU
About PassMark
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.
M3 Pro 11-Core
2023Why buy it
- ✅+0.8% higher PassMark.
Trade-offs
- ❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen Z1 Extreme across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
Ryzen Z1 Extreme
2023Why buy it
- ✅Better for gaming: +25.3% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
Trade-offs
- ❌Lower PassMark (24,668 vs 24,861).
M3 Pro 11-Core
2023Ryzen Z1 Extreme
2023Why buy it
- ✅+0.8% higher PassMark.
Why buy it
- ✅Better for gaming: +25.3% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
Trade-offs
- ❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen Z1 Extreme across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
Trade-offs
- ❌Lower PassMark (24,668 vs 24,861).
Quick Answers
So, is Ryzen Z1 Extreme better than M3 Pro 11-Core?
Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?
Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?
Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?
Games Benchmarks
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.
Path of Exile 2
| Preset | M3 Pro 11-Core | Ryzen Z1 Extreme |
|---|---|---|
| 1080p | ||
| low | 182 FPS | 256 FPS |
| medium | 146 FPS | 236 FPS |
| high | 119 FPS | 202 FPS |
| ultra | 94 FPS | 172 FPS |
| 1440p | ||
| low | 146 FPS | 225 FPS |
| medium | 115 FPS | 188 FPS |
| high | 92 FPS | 155 FPS |
| ultra | 72 FPS | 135 FPS |
| 4K | ||
| low | 67 FPS | 154 FPS |
| medium | 56 FPS | 129 FPS |
| high | 45 FPS | 100 FPS |
| ultra | 35 FPS | 87 FPS |
Counter-Strike 2
| Preset | M3 Pro 11-Core | Ryzen Z1 Extreme |
|---|---|---|
| 1080p | ||
| low | 399 FPS | 472 FPS |
| medium | 339 FPS | 396 FPS |
| high | 293 FPS | 345 FPS |
| ultra | 256 FPS | 308 FPS |
| 1440p | ||
| low | 352 FPS | 413 FPS |
| medium | 309 FPS | 365 FPS |
| high | 270 FPS | 318 FPS |
| ultra | 230 FPS | 272 FPS |
| 4K | ||
| low | 255 FPS | 274 FPS |
| medium | 229 FPS | 253 FPS |
| high | 210 FPS | 241 FPS |
| ultra | 184 FPS | 208 FPS |
League of Legends
| Preset | M3 Pro 11-Core | Ryzen Z1 Extreme |
|---|---|---|
| 1080p | ||
| low | 622 FPS | 617 FPS |
| medium | 622 FPS | 617 FPS |
| high | 622 FPS | 617 FPS |
| ultra | 593 FPS | 617 FPS |
| 1440p | ||
| low | 622 FPS | 617 FPS |
| medium | 515 FPS | 617 FPS |
| high | 458 FPS | 533 FPS |
| ultra | 400 FPS | 452 FPS |
| 4K | ||
| low | 452 FPS | 518 FPS |
| medium | 356 FPS | 448 FPS |
| high | 310 FPS | 398 FPS |
| ultra | 248 FPS | 336 FPS |
Valorant
| Preset | M3 Pro 11-Core | Ryzen Z1 Extreme |
|---|---|---|
| 1080p | ||
| low | 622 FPS | 617 FPS |
| medium | 622 FPS | 617 FPS |
| high | 622 FPS | 617 FPS |
| ultra | 621 FPS | 617 FPS |
| 1440p | ||
| low | 622 FPS | 617 FPS |
| medium | 622 FPS | 617 FPS |
| high | 540 FPS | 617 FPS |
| ultra | 469 FPS | 597 FPS |
| 4K | ||
| low | 494 FPS | 595 FPS |
| medium | 443 FPS | 535 FPS |
| high | 396 FPS | 480 FPS |
| ultra | 342 FPS | 418 FPS |
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of M3 Pro 11-Core and Ryzen Z1 Extreme
M3 Pro 11-Core
M3 Pro 11-Core
The M3 Pro 11-Core is manufactured by Apple. It was released in 30 October 2023 (2 years ago). It features 11 cores and 11 threads. Base frequency is 2.748 GHz, with boost up to 4.06 GHz. Built on 3 nm process technology. Socket: none. Memory support: LPDDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 24,861 points. Launch price was $299.
Ryzen Z1 Extreme
Ryzen Z1 Extreme
The Ryzen Z1 Extreme is manufactured by AMD. It was released in Maio 2023 (2 years ago). It is based on the Phoenix (Zen 4) (2023) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 3.3 GHz, with boost up to 5.1 GHz. L3 cache: 16 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 4 nm process technology. Socket: FP8. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 24,668 points. Launch price was $299.
Processing Power
The M3 Pro 11-Core packs 11 cores / 11 threads, while the Ryzen Z1 Extreme offers 8 cores / 16 threads — the M3 Pro 11-Core has 3 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.06 GHz on the M3 Pro 11-Core versus 5.1 GHz on the Ryzen Z1 Extreme — a 22.7% clock advantage for the Ryzen Z1 Extreme (base: 2.748 GHz vs 3.3 GHz). The Ryzen Z1 Extreme is built on the Phoenix (Zen 4) (2023) architecture. In PassMark, the M3 Pro 11-Core scores 24,861 against the Ryzen Z1 Extreme's 24,668 — a 0.8% lead for the M3 Pro 11-Core.
| Feature | M3 Pro 11-Core | Ryzen Z1 Extreme |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 11 / 11+38% | 8 / 16 |
| Boost Clock | 4.06 GHz | 5.1 GHz+26% |
| Base Clock | 2.748 GHz | 3.3 GHz+20% |
| L3 Cache | — | 16 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | — | 1 MB (per core) |
| Process | 3 nm-25% | 4 nm |
| Architecture | — | Phoenix (Zen 4) (2023) |
| PassMark | 24,861 | 24,668 |
Memory & Platform
The M3 Pro 11-Core uses the none socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Ryzen Z1 Extreme uses FP8 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | M3 Pro 11-Core | Ryzen Z1 Extreme |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | none | FP8 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 4.0 | PCIe 4.0 |
Top Performing CPUs
The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
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