Apple M2 Max vs Apple M1 Max

Processor comparisons 22-10-2022

   For example you are thinking about choosing a CPU, you will be able to make a choice after reading the comprehensive tests Apple M2 Max vs Apple M1 Max and decide which is better for games or simple use for video editing, streaming, rendering, programming, machine learning. Here is useful information from real streaming and video editing tests or many benchmarks. A thorough review of all the technical characteristics, so that it can be easier to understand, is summarized in the table.
   From the video comparison, you can get the results of parallel examination in special test applications like Gears 5, 7zip, Handbrake, PCMark 10, Dolphin Emulator, 3DMark, DaVinci Resolve Studio, World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, WPrime, UserBenchmark, Prime95, Blender, SuperPi, GeekBench 6, 5.2, Blender, Cinebench 23 (20, 15), PassMark, VeraCrypt, MATLAB, RealBench, Furmark, AIDA64.
   Gaming performance of CPUs in:

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

After reading the results of all benchmarks and videos, you already be able to figure out which CPU is better to buy for gaming Apple M1 Max or Apple M2 Max.

Summary benchmark results

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

M2 Max

62%

M1 Max

60%

This shows the performance of the processors in single-threaded and multi-threaded mode. In this comparison, M2 Max is 3% better than M1 Max. The data source is several popular tests. Detailed information can be found below.

Gaming performance
Summary result of all game benchmarks.

M2 Max

60%

M1 Max

57%

The maximum result in this parameter is 100 percent, which is the performance of the most powerful processor at the moment. And of course, this is a server processor, on which no one will play games. Because the cost of this processor reaches 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 final table below.
List of less popular games in which processors were compared: Microsoft Flight Simulator, Monster Hunter World, Horizon Zero Dawn, Ghostrunner, Forza Horizon 4, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, NBA 2K20, Control, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS GO), Metro Exodus, Battlefield V, PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG), Resident Evil 7 Biohazard, DOTA 2A, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Half-Life: Alyx, Hitman 3, League of Legends (LOL).

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	106.0	101.3
Valorant	120.4	115.1
Cyberpunk 2077	67.4	64.5
Apex Legends	113.2	108.2
Call of Duty Warzone	90.3	86.3
Overwatch	97.5	93.2
Red Dead Redemption 2	83.1	79.4
DOOM Eternal	60.2	57.6
Warzone	93.9	89.8
Assassin's Creed	101.2	96.7
Valheim	99.9	95.5

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 participating in the comparing not only were the equipped with different amounts of RAM and different video cards. But users also tested them at different screen resolutions: 4K, 2K or FullHD. 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

M2 Max

465%

M1 Max

332%

To make a finishing resolution 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 M2 Max is more energy efficient than the M1 Max as it consumes less power: 15W vs. 18W. Power consumption is particularly important for laptops. Also, when choosing a processor cooling system, it will be useful to know its TDP. You need to buy a cooler that has the TDP data specified in the specification was 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 programming, streaming, video rendering or video editing, machine learning, then the main parameter for you is its performance in multi-threaded mode. In this mode, to achieve maximum efficiency, the processor uses 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 check whether the software you are going to use on your computer supports multi-threaded mode. Since there are still many programs that use only one core to run, and all the benefit of multi-core mode turns out to be unnecessary.

Cinebench 23, 20 an 15
The results of this benchmark show Single-threaded and Multi-threaded CPU performance

	Apple M2 Max	Apple M1 Max
Cinbench 15 Single-core	389	313
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	2220	1811
Cinbench 20 Single-core	761	617
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	3801	3106
Cinbench 23 Single-core	2204	2360
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	17142	12204

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

	Apple M2 Max	Apple M1 Max
Single-Core	6536	5344
Multi-Core	42246	34572

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

	Apple M2 Max	Apple M1 Max
Single-Core	2096	1793
Multi-Core	17617	13028

Comparison of specifications

In the specification comparison table, the most useful will be the the possibility of overclocking it and release date of the processor. The later the processor is released, the longer it will last you. And the easier it will be to upgrade the system in the future. The same can be said about overclocking. When the processor can be overclocked, thereby increasing its performance, then it will continue to maintain maximum FPS even in the newest games. The economy are obvious! Accordingly, you do not need to buy a new CPU to enjoy the games any longer.

	Apple M2 Max	Apple M1 Max
Announcement date	October 20, 2022	October 07, 2021
Type	Desktop;Laptop	Laptop;Desktop
Socket	M2	M1
Core name	8x Avalanche and 4x Blizzard	8x Firestorm and 2x Icestorm
Architecture	hybrid (big.LITTLE)	hybrid (big.LITTLE)
Generation	2	1
Turbo Frequency
Frequency	3.49 MHz	3.2 MHz
Cores	12	10
Threads	12	10
Bus rate
Bit	64	64
Lithography	4 nm	5 nm
Transistors count	68000 millions	57000 millions
Power consumption (TDP)	15 W	18 W
Memory type	LPDDR5 - Up to 6400MHz	LPDDR5 - Up to 6400MHz
Max. Memory	64 Gb	64 Gb
Memory Frequency	6400	6400
Memory bandwidth	412 GByte/s	409 GByte/s
L1 cache	4MB	4MB
L2 cache	24MB	24MB
L3 cache	48MB	48MB
Overclocking	No	No
Supports ECC	No	No
Part number		APL1105

In this comparison block, you should pay attention to the differences in clock speed and the number of cores. Here M2 Max is 8% better than M1 Max in terms of CPU frequency. Another difference is that M2 Max has 2 more core than M1 Max. 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 M2 Max is better: 29
The number of parameters for which Apple M1 Max is better: 1
Although it should be realized that the summary data in the table above do not mean that you should be guided entirely by them and trust a simple comparison of these numbers. Be sure to watch benchmarks video and read the opinion of real owners of Apple M2 Max and Apple M1 Max before making a selection which of the CPUs to buy for gaming.

Apple M2 Max - all data

• Cinebench r15 score
• Cinebench r20 score
• Cinebench r23 score
• GeekBench 6, 5.2 score

• Apple M2 Max specs and review.

Apple M1 Max - all data

• Cinebench r15 score
• Cinebench r20 score
• Cinebench r23 score
• GeekBench 6, 5.2 score

• Apple M1 Max specs and review.