Apple M2 Pro vs AMD Ryzen 5 3600X

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 Pro vs AMD Ryzen 5 3600X and understand which is better for games or simple use for streaming, rendering, machine learning, video editing, programming. Here is all information from real video editing and streaming tests or different benchmarks. A thorough analysis of all the technical characteristics, so that it can be easier to understand, is made by the table.
   From the video comparison, you can get the results of parallel examination in special testing software like PCMark 10, 7zip, Prime95, Handbrake, UserBenchmark, PassMark, Blender, WPrime, World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, SuperPi, RealBench, Cinebench 23 (20, 15), 3DMark, VeraCrypt, Furmark, Blender, GeekBench 6, 5.2, MATLAB, AIDA64, DaVinci Resolve Studio, Dolphin Emulator, Gears 5.
   Gaming performance of processors in:

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

After looking at the data of joint benchmarks and videos, you can already make an briefed decision about which processor is better to buy for gaming AMD Ryzen 5 3600X or Apple M2 Pro.

Summary benchmark results

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

M2 Pro

61%

Ryzen 5 3600X

55%

This shows the performance of the processors in single-threaded and multi-threaded mode. In this comparison, M2 Pro is 9% better than Ryzen 5 3600X. The data source is several popular tests. Detailed information can be found below.

Gaming performance
Summary result of all game benchmarks.

M2 Pro

59%

Ryzen 5 3600X

54%

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. And if it seems to you that the selected CPU has a small game result, 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: Ghostrunner, NBA 2K20, Hitman 3, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS GO), DOTA 2A, Metro Exodus, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Control, Half-Life: Alyx, League of Legends (LOL), Resident Evil 7 Biohazard, Microsoft Flight Simulator, Horizon Zero Dawn, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Forza Horizon 4, Monster Hunter World, Battlefield V, PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG).

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	104.8	96.0
Valorant	119.1	109.1
Cyberpunk 2077	66.7	61.1
Apex Legends	111.9	102.6
Call of Duty Warzone	89.3	81.9
Overwatch	96.5	88.4
Red Dead Redemption 2	82.2	75.3
DOOM Eternal	59.5	54.6
Warzone	92.9	85.1
Assassin's Creed	100.0	91.7
Valheim	98.8	90.6

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: 2K, 4K 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 compare it in one assembly with the video card that is installed in your computer.

Power consumption

M2 Pro

496%

Ryzen 5 3600X

47%

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 M2 Pro is more energy efficient than the Ryzen 5 3600X since it has less power consumption: 14W vs. 95W. Power consumption is especially 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

If you want to use the processor not only for gaming, but also for video rendering or video editing, streaming, machine learning, programming, then the main parameter for you is its performance in multi-threaded mode. In this mode, to reach maximum performance, the processor uses all cores and threads that it has. You will learn this data from the benchmark tables below. Before using the data from these tests, be sure to check whether the program 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 benefit 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 M2 Pro	AMD Ryzen 5 3600X
Cinbench 15 Single-core	366	204
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	2078	1647
Cinbench 20 Single-core	714	501
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	3555	3751
Cinbench 23 Single-core	2063	1286
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	16023	9588

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

	Apple M2 Pro	AMD Ryzen 5 3600X
Single-Core	6111	2651
Multi-Core	39485	18377

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

	Apple M2 Pro	AMD Ryzen 5 3600X
Single-Core	2085	1341
Multi-Core	16467	7891

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 newer the processor, the longer it will last you. And the easier it will be to upgrade the system in the future. The same benefits from the presence of overclocking. When the processor can be overclocked, thereby increasing its performance, then it will continue to maintain maximum FPS in the newest games. It turns out that there is no longer a need to buy a new CPU to enjoy the games any longer. The savings are obvious!

	Apple M2 Pro	AMD Ryzen 5 3600X
Announcement date	October 20, 2022	July 07, 2019
Type	Desktop;Laptop	Desktop
Socket	M2	AM4
Core name	8x Avalanche and 4x Blizzard	Matisse
Architecture	hybrid (big.LITTLE)	Zen 2
Generation	2	3
Turbo Frequency		4.4 MHz
Frequency	3.49 MHz	3.8 MHz
Cores	12	6
Threads	12	12
Bus rate
Bit	64	64
Lithography	4 nm	7 nm
Transistors count	42000 millions	4200 millions
Power consumption (TDP)	14 W	95 W
Memory type	LPDDR5 - Up to 6400MHz	DDR4
Max. Memory	32 Gb
Memory Frequency	6400	3200
Memory bandwidth	208 GByte/s
L1 cache	4MB	384KB
L2 cache	24MB	3MB
L3 cache	36MB	32MB
Overclocking	No	Yes
Supports ECC	No	No
Part number		100-000000022 100-100000022BOX 100-100000022MPK

In this comparison block, you should pay attention to the differences in clock speed and the number of cores. Here Ryzen 5 3600X is 8% better than M2 Pro in terms of CPU frequency. Another difference is that M2 Pro has 6 more core than Ryzen 5 3600X. 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 Pro is better: 30
The number of parameters for which AMD Ryzen 5 3600X is better: 6
However, it should be understood that all the number in the article above do not mean that taking them into account you should fully trust a simple comparison of these numbers. Better to watch the video tests and read the opinion of of people who bought Apple M2 Pro and AMD Ryzen 5 3600X before making a choice which processor to buy for gaming and which not.

Apple M2 Pro - all data

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

• Apple M2 Pro specs and review.

• AMD Ryzen 5 3600X specs and review.