Apple M1X vs AMD Ryzen 5 2600X

Processor comparisons 17-03-2021

   Let's say you can't decide which CPU to buy, you can make a choice after reading the detailed tests Apple M1X vs AMD Ryzen 5 2600X and see which is better for games or normal use for programming, machine learning, rendering, video editing, streaming. Here is useful information from several benchmarks or real streaming and video editing tests. A careful review of all the technical characteristics, so that it can be easier to read, is summarized in the table.
   From the video comparison, you can get the results of joint testing in synthetic type tests like AIDA64, PCMark 10, WPrime, Gears 5, MATLAB, 7zip, Blender, RealBench, Dolphin Emulator, Prime95, SuperPi, VeraCrypt, Blender, DaVinci Resolve Studio, Furmark, World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, UserBenchmark, Cinebench 23 (20, 15), GeekBench 6, 5.2, Handbrake, PassMark, 3DMark.
   Gaming performance of CPUs in:

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

After reading the results these benchmarks and videos, you already be able to understand which CPU is better to buy for gaming AMD Ryzen 5 2600X or Apple M1X.

Summary benchmark results

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

M1X

58%

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, M1X is 6% 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.

M1X

55%

Ryzen 5 2600X

53%

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

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	97.6	94.6
Valorant	110.9	107.5
Cyberpunk 2077	62.1	60.2
Apex Legends	104.2	101.1
Call of Duty Warzone	83.2	80.6
Overwatch	89.8	87.1
Red Dead Redemption 2	76.5	74.2
DOOM Eternal	55.4	53.8
Warzone	86.5	83.9
Assassin's Creed	93.1	90.3
Valheim	92.0	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 tested computers 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. Therefore, the game benchmark data is approximate. But all video cards met the average system requirements of games. You will get more accurate information about how powerful 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

M1X

161%

Ryzen 5 2600X

39%

To make a final decision on which processor is better, you should also consider the generation of its core. It is clear that the newer the generation, the better the performance of the processor in games and benchmarks, as well as its energy efficiency. In this case the M1X is more energy efficient than the Ryzen 5 2600X since it has less power consumption: 35W vs. 95W. Power consumption is especially important for laptops. Also, when choosing a processor cooling system, you need to know its TDP. It is necessary to count 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 machine learning, streaming, video editing or video rendering, programming, then the main parameter for you is its performance in multi-threaded mode. In this mode, the processor turns on all cores and threads that it has to the maximum to reach maximum performance. You will learn this data from the benchmark tables below. Before using the data from these tests, be sure to check whether the software you are going to use on your computer supports multi-threaded mode. Since there are still many programs that can 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 M1X	AMD Ryzen 5 2600X
Cinbench 15 Single-core	270	176
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	2615	1380
Cinbench 20 Single-core	629	421
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	5732	3048
Cinbench 23 Single-core	1628	1074
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	14587	7514

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

	Apple M1X	AMD Ryzen 5 2600X
Single-Core	3485	2438
Multi-Core	28843	14033

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

	Apple M1X	AMD Ryzen 5 2600X
Single-Core	1695	1127
Multi-Core	9389	6497

Comparison of specifications

In the specification comparison table, the most useful 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 in your computer. And the easier it will be to upgrade the system later. The same can be said about overclocking. If the processor can be overclocked, thereby increasing its performance, then it will continue to maintain maximum FPS even in new games. It turns out that you do not need to buy a new CPU to enjoy the games any longer. The economy are obvious!

	Apple M1X	AMD Ryzen 5 2600X
Announcement date	February 12, 2021	April 19, 2018
Type	Laptop;Desktop	Desktop
Socket	M1X	AM4
Core name	8x 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	12	6
Threads	12	12
Bus rate
Bit	64	64
Lithography	5 nm	12 nm
Transistors count	24000 millions	3600 millions
Power consumption (TDP)	35 W	95 W
Memory type	LPDDR4 - Up to 4266MHz	DDR4
Max. Memory
Memory Frequency	4266	2933
Memory bandwidth
L1 cache	12MB	576KB
L2 cache	28MB	3MB
L3 cache	64MB	16MB
Overclocking	No	Yes
Supports ECC	No	No
Part number		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 M1X in terms of CPU frequency. Another difference is that M1X has 6 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 M1X is better: 28
The number of parameters for which AMD Ryzen 5 2600X is better: 6
However, it should be realized that the summary data in the table above do not mean that taking them into account you should fully trust a simple quantitative comparison. Better to watch the video tests and read the opinion of of people who bought Apple M1X and AMD Ryzen 5 2600X before making a decision which of the processors to buy for gaming.

• Apple M1X specs and review.

• AMD Ryzen 5 2600X specs and review.