Apple M1 vs AMD Ryzen 5 2600X

Processor comparisons   17-03-2021
   For example you have difficulties with the choice of a processor, you will solve them by reading the full tests Apple M1 vs AMD Ryzen 5 2600X and understand which is better for games or normal use for streaming, machine learning, video editing, programming, rendering. Here you can find all information from different benchmarks or real streaming and video editing tests. A careful review of all the specifications, to make it easier to read, is summarized in the table.
   From the comparison video, you can get the results of parallel examination in synthetic type tests like VeraCrypt, RealBench, Blender, Blender, PCMark 10, WPrime, AIDA64, SuperPi, Dolphin Emulator, GeekBench 6, 5.2, Gears 5, Prime95, Furmark, Handbrake, MATLAB, PassMark, 7zip, Cinebench 23 (20, 15), 3DMark, UserBenchmark, World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, DaVinci Resolve Studio.
   Gaming performance of CPUs in:

Overwatch
Assassin's Creed Valhalla
Borderlands 3
Apex Legends
World of Warcraft: Shadowlands
Death Stranding
Valheim
Valorant
Fallout 76
DOOM: Eternal
Call of Duty: Warzone and Modern Warfare
Red Dead Redemption 2
Watch Dogs Legion
Last Man Standing
Halo Infinite
Rainbow Six Siege
Fortnite
Grand Theft Auto V
Cyberpunk 2077

After reading the results of all benchmarks and videos, you can already make an briefed decision about which CPU is better to buy for gaming AMD Ryzen 5 2600X or Apple M1.

Summary benchmark results

As a percentage of the maximum value based on a sample from the entire base of all processors
Processor Benchmark

56%

Ryzen 5 2600X

54%

The number of this parameter shows the performance of the processors in single-threaded and multi-threaded mode. In this comparison, M1 is 3% better than Ryzen 5 2600X. The data source is several popular tests. More detailed information of the benchmarks is below.

Gaming performance
Summary result of all game benchmarks.

54%

Ryzen 5 2600X

53%

For the maximum in this test, the results of the most powerful processor in the site database are taken. And it is clear that this is a server processor, on which no one will play games. Because this processor costs several tens of thousands of dollars. Therefore, if you think that the selected CPU has a low game result, just look at the FPS that it produces in real games in the summary table below.
List of less popular games in which processors were compared: Shadow of the Tomb Raider, NBA 2K20, League of Legends (LOL), Forza Horizon 4, Monster Hunter World, Resident Evil 7 Biohazard, Half-Life: Alyx, Control, Horizon Zero Dawn, PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG), Metro Exodus, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS GO), Hitman 3, Microsoft Flight Simulator, DOTA 2A, Battlefield V, Ghostrunner, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt.

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	95.8	94.6
Valorant	108.9	107.5
Cyberpunk 2077	61.0	60.2
Apex Legends	102.4	101.1
Call of Duty Warzone	81.7	80.6
Overwatch	88.2	87.1
Red Dead Redemption 2	75.1	74.2
DOOM Eternal	54.5	53.8
Warzone	84.9	83.9
Assassin's Creed	91.5	90.3
Valheim	90.4	89.3

The numbers in this table indicate the maximum FPS that was received on the device with the corresponding processor. Depending on the configuration of the computer (RAM size and Video Card) and graphics quality settings (Ultra, Medium, Normal), the results may differ quite significantly. We recommend that you better study the results of the Cinebench, GeekBench and Passmark becnmarks.
The computers that were in the comparisons not only did they have different amounts of RAM and different video cards. But users also tested them at different screen resolutions: FullHD, 2K or 4K. So the game benchmark data is approximate. But all video cards met the average system requirements of games. To be sure exactly how much performance the processor will be in games, if you get acquainted with the benchmarks that are made with the same video card that is installed in your computer.

Power consumption

388%

Ryzen 5 2600X

39%

To make a final decision on which processor is better, you should also consider the generation of its core. The newer the processor generation, the better its performance in games and benchmarks, as well as its energy efficiency. In this case the M1 is more energy efficient than the Ryzen 5 2600X as it consumes less power: 15W vs. 95W. Power consumption is especially important for laptops. And TDP should be taken into account when choosing a processor cooling system. It is necessary to calculate so that the TDP data specified in the cooler specification is greater than the TDP of the compared processor.

Software benchmarks

For example you want to use the processor not only for gaming, but also for streaming, video editing or video rendering, machine learning, programming, then first of all you need to pay attention to the performance in multi-threaded mode. In this mode, to reach maximum performance, the CPU includes all threads and cores that it has. You will find out this data from the benchmark tables below. Before you take into account the data from these tests, be sure to find out whether the program that you are going to use on your computer can work in multi-threaded mode. Because there are still many programs that use only one core to run, and all the advantages of multi-core mode are unused.
Cinebench 23, 20 an 15
The results of this benchmark show Single-threaded and Multi-threaded CPU performance

	Apple M1	AMD Ryzen 5 2600X
Cinbench 15 Single-core	209	176
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	1163	1380
Cinbench 20 Single-core	402	421
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	1987	3048
Cinbench 23 Single-core	1512	1074
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	7782	7514

Passmark
This popular benchmark displays Multi-threaded and Single-threaded processor performance

	Apple M1	AMD Ryzen 5 2600X
Single-Core	3413	2438
Multi-Core	22028	14033

GeekBench 6, 5.2
This benchmark shows Multi-threaded and Single-threaded processor performance

	Apple M1	AMD Ryzen 5 2600X
Single-Core	1746	1127
Multi-Core	7683	6497

Comparison of specifications

In the specification comparison table, the most helpful will be the release date of the processor and the possibility of overclocking it. The later the processor is released, the longer it will last you. And the easier it will be to upgrade the system later. The same benefits from the presence of overclocking. If the processor can be overclocked, increasing its performance, then it will continue to maintain maximum FPS even in new games. The savings are obvious! It turns out that you do not need to buy a new CPU to enjoy the games any longer.

	Apple M1	AMD Ryzen 5 2600X
Announcement date	October 01, 2020	April 19, 2018
Type	Laptop	Desktop
Socket	M1	AM4
Core name	4x Firestorm;4x Icestorm	Pinnacle Ridge
Architecture	hybrid (big.LITTLE)	Zen
Generation	1	2
Turbo Frequency		4.2 MHz
Frequency	3.2 MHz	3.6 MHz
Cores	8	6
Threads	16	12
Bus rate
Bit	64	64
Lithography	5 nm	12 nm
Transistors count	16000 millions	3600 millions
Power consumption (TDP)	15 W	95 W
Memory type	LPDDR4 - Up to 4266MHz	DDR4
Max. Memory
Memory Frequency	4266	2933
Memory bandwidth
L1 cache	2MB	576KB
L2 cache	16MB	3MB
L3 cache		16MB
Overclocking	No	Yes
Supports ECC	No	No
Part number	APL1102	YD260XBCM6IAF YD260XBCAFBOX YD260XBCAFMPK

In this comparison block, you should pay attention to the differences in clock speed and the number of cores. Here Ryzen 5 2600X is 11% better than M1 in terms of CPU frequency. Another difference is that M1 has 2 more core than Ryzen 5 2600X. Also keep in mind that high CPU frequency affects battery life through power consumption (relevant for laptops).

Result:
The number of parameters for which Apple M1 is better: 25
The number of parameters for which AMD Ryzen 5 2600X is better: 10
However, it should be realized that the summary data in the text above do not mean that taking them into account you should undividedly trust a simple comparison of these figures. Be sure to watch the testing video and read the reviews of of people who bought Apple M1 and AMD Ryzen 5 2600X before making a decision which of the CPUs to buy for gaming.

• Apple M1 specs and review.

• AMD Ryzen 5 2600X specs and review.