Apple M2 vs Apple M1X

Processor comparisons   20-10-2022
   Let's say you are thinking about choosing a processor, you will be able to make a choice after reading the detailed tests Apple M2 vs Apple M1X and understand which is better for games or simple use for rendering, streaming, video editing, programming, machine learning. Here you can find all information from many benchmarks or real video editing and streaming tests. A careful analysis of all the specifications, so that it can be easier to understand, is presented in the form of the table.
   From the comparison video, you can get the results of parallel examination in software tests such as 3DMark, PassMark, Prime95, Handbrake, PCMark 10, MATLAB, Gears 5, VeraCrypt, Cinebench 23 (20, 15), Dolphin Emulator, SuperPi, AIDA64, Furmark, 7zip, Blender, RealBench, GeekBench 6, 5.2, DaVinci Resolve Studio, WPrime, UserBenchmark, World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, Blender.
   Gaming performance of CPUs in:

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

After reading the results of all benchmarks and videos, you can already make an informed decision about which CPU is better to buy for gaming Apple M1X or Apple M2.

Summary benchmark results

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

59%

M1X

58%

This value shows the performance of the processors in single-threaded and multi-threaded mode. In this comparison, M2 is 1% better than M1X. The data source is several popular tests. More detailed information of the benchmarks is below.

Gaming performance
Summary result of all game benchmarks.

55%

M1X

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

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	97.4	97.6
Valorant	110.7	110.9
Cyberpunk 2077	62.0	62.1
Apex Legends	104.1	104.2
Call of Duty Warzone	83.0	83.2
Overwatch	89.7	89.8
Red Dead Redemption 2	76.4	76.5
DOOM Eternal	55.4	55.4
Warzone	86.4	86.5
Assassin's Creed	93.0	93.1
Valheim	91.9	92.0

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 comparisons 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. 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

535%

M1X

161%

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 M1X since it has less power consumption: 12W vs. 35W. 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 plan to use the processor not only for gaming, but also for machine learning, video editing or video rendering, programming, streaming, then first of all you need to pay attention to the performance in multi-threaded mode. In this mode, to reach maximum efficiency, the processor includes all cores and threads that it has. You will learn this data from the benchmark tables below. Before you take into account the data from these tests, be sure to make sure that the software that you are going to use on your computer can work in multi-threaded mode. Because there are still many programs that can use only one core to work, 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 M2	Apple M1X
Cinbench 15 Single-core	298	270
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	1586	2615
Cinbench 20 Single-core	558	629
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	2699	5732
Cinbench 23 Single-core	2057	1628
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	10520	14587

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

	Apple M2	Apple M1X
Single-Core	4095	3485
Multi-Core	29665	28843

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

	Apple M2	Apple M1X
Single-Core	1929	1695
Multi-Core	9243	9389

Comparison of specifications

In the specification comparison table, the processor release date and overclocking capability will be the most useful. The newer the processor, the longer it will last you. And the easier it will be to upgrade the system later. The same can be said about overclocking. If the processor can be overclocked, increasing its performance, then it will continue to maintain maximum FPS in new games. Accordingly, there is no longer a need to buy a new CPU to enjoy the games any longer. The savings are obvious!

	Apple M2	Apple M1X
Announcement date	October 18, 2022	February 12, 2021
Type	Laptop	Laptop;Desktop
Socket	M2	M1X
Core name	4 x Avalanche and 4 x Blizzard	8x Firestorm;4x Icestorm
Architecture	hybrid (big.LITTLE)	hybrid (big.LITTLE)
Generation	2	1
Turbo Frequency
Frequency	3.49 MHz	3.2 MHz
Cores	8	12
Threads	8	12
Bus rate
Bit	64	64
Lithography	5 nm	5 nm
Transistors count	20000 millions	24000 millions
Power consumption (TDP)	12 W	35 W
Memory type	LPDDR5 - Up to 6400MHz	LPDDR4 - Up to 4266MHz
Max. Memory
Memory Frequency	2400	4266
Memory bandwidth
L1 cache	2MB	12MB
L2 cache	12MB	28MB
L3 cache	16MB	64MB
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. Here M2 is 8% better than M1X in terms of CPU frequency. Another difference is that M1X 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 is better: 10
The number of parameters for which Apple M1X is better: 21
Although it should be understood that all the number in the article above do not mean that taking them into account you should completely trust a simple comparison of these numbers. Be sure to watch benchmarks video and read the reviews of of people who bought Apple M2 and Apple M1X before making a choice which of the processors to buy for gaming.

Apple M2 - all data

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

• Apple M2 specs and review.

• Apple M1X specs and review.