Apple M2 Pro vs Apple M2

Processor comparisons   22-10-2022
   For example you can't decide which CPU to buy, you can make a decision by looking at the Apple M2 Pro vs Apple M2 tests and understand which is better for games or normal use for machine learning, streaming, programming, video editing, rendering. Here you can find all information from many benchmarks or real streaming and video editing tests. A step-by-step analysis of all the technical characteristics, so that it can be easier to read, is made by the table.
   From the video comparison, you can get the results of parallel examination in software tests like MATLAB, Prime95, Blender, AIDA64, Gears 5, 3DMark, Blender, Dolphin Emulator, VeraCrypt, Furmark, PCMark 10, RealBench, WPrime, UserBenchmark, World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, 7zip, GeekBench 6, 5.2, PassMark, SuperPi, Handbrake, DaVinci Resolve Studio, Cinebench 23 (20, 15).
   And how good the CPUs are in games:

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

After reading the results these benchmarks and videos, you already be able to know which processor is better to buy for gaming Apple M2 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%

59%

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

Gaming performance
Summary result of all game benchmarks.

M2 Pro

59%

55%

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 the cost of this processor reaches several tens of thousands of dollars. Therefore, if you think 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 other games in which CPU comparisons were performed: NBA 2K20, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS GO), Microsoft Flight Simulator, DOTA 2A, PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG), The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, League of Legends (LOL), Horizon Zero Dawn, Control, Half-Life: Alyx, Ghostrunner, Monster Hunter World, Battlefield V, Resident Evil 7 Biohazard, Metro Exodus, Forza Horizon 4, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Hitman 3.

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	104.8	97.4
Valorant	119.1	110.7
Cyberpunk 2077	66.7	62.0
Apex Legends	111.9	104.1
Call of Duty Warzone	89.3	83.0
Overwatch	96.5	89.7
Red Dead Redemption 2	82.2	76.4
DOOM Eternal	59.5	55.4
Warzone	92.9	86.4
Assassin's Creed	100.0	93.0
Valheim	98.8	91.9

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 video cards and different amounts of RAM. But users also tested them at different screen resolutions: 4K, 2K or FullHD. So 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%

535%

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 is more energy efficient than the M2 Pro since it has less power consumption: 14W vs. 12W. 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

If you plan to use the processor not only for gaming, but also for video rendering or video editing, programming, machine learning, streaming, then the main parameter for you is its performance in multi-threaded mode. In this mode, to achieve maximum performance, the processor uses all cores and threads 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. Because there are still many programs that can use only one core to work, 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 Pro	Apple M2
Cinbench 15 Single-core	366	298
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	2078	1586
Cinbench 20 Single-core	714	558
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	3555	2699
Cinbench 23 Single-core	2063	2057
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	16023	10520

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

	Apple M2 Pro	Apple M2
Single-Core	6111	4095
Multi-Core	39485	29665

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

	Apple M2 Pro	Apple M2
Single-Core	2085	1929
Multi-Core	16467	9243

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 in your computer. And the easier it will be to upgrade the system in the future. The same benefits from the presence of overclocking. If the processor can be overclocked, increasing its performance, then it will still be able to produce maximum FPS even in new games. The economy are obvious! Accordingly, you do not need to buy a new CPU to enjoy the games any longer.

	Apple M2 Pro	Apple M2
Announcement date	October 20, 2022	October 18, 2022
Type	Desktop;Laptop	Laptop
Socket	M2	M2
Core name	8x Avalanche and 4x Blizzard	4 x Avalanche and 4 x Blizzard
Architecture	hybrid (big.LITTLE)	hybrid (big.LITTLE)
Generation	2	2
Turbo Frequency
Frequency	3.49 MHz	3.49 MHz
Cores	12	8
Threads	12	8
Bus rate
Bit	64	64
Lithography	4 nm	5 nm
Transistors count	42000 millions	20000 millions
Power consumption (TDP)	14 W	12 W
Memory type	LPDDR5 - Up to 6400MHz	LPDDR5 - Up to 6400MHz
Max. Memory	32 Gb
Memory Frequency	6400	2400
Memory bandwidth	208 GByte/s
L1 cache	4MB	2MB
L2 cache	24MB	12MB
L3 cache	36MB	16MB
Overclocking	No	No
Supports ECC	No	No
Part number

In this comparison block, you should pay attention to the differences in clock speed and the number of cores. Another difference is that M2 Pro has 4 more core than M2. 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: 32
The number of parameters for which Apple M2 is better: 1
Although it should be realized 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. Be sure to watch the video tests and read the opinion of of people who bought Apple M2 Pro and Apple M2 before making a selection which of the processors to buy for gaming.

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.

Apple M2 - all data

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

• Apple M2 specs and review.