Core i5-11500 vs M1 Pro

PassMark CPU Mark evaluates processor speed through complex mathematical computations. It provides a reliable metric to compare multi-core performance, where higher scores indicate faster processing for multitasking, gaming, and heavy workloads.

Core i5-11500 vs M1 Pro FPS Benchmarks

Predicted gaming performance across popular games. Tested paired with GeForce RTX 5090 to isolate CPU performance.

Search any supported game below to compare 1080p FPS for both components.

Core i5-11500 vs M1 Pro: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

See where each CPU makes more sense in practice: gaming, heavier work, platform cost, power draw, and upgrade path.

Core i5-11500

2021

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +9.2% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (20 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with UHD 750, while M1 Pro needs a discrete GPU.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike M1 Pro.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (17,096 vs 17,218).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (12 MB vs 24 MB).
❌Launch MSRP is still $192 MSRP, while M1 Pro mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌132.1% higher power demand at 65W vs 28W.
❌Older platform position on LGA1200 with DDR4, while M1 Pro moves to none and DDR5.

M1 Pro

2021

Why buy it

✅+0.7% higher PassMark.
✅+100% larger total L3 cache (24 MB vs 12 MB).
✅Draws 28W instead of 65W, a 37W reduction.
✅Newer platform on none with DDR5 support instead of LGA1200 and DDR4.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i5-11500 across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i5-11500 can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i5-11500.

Quick Answers

So, is M1 Pro better than Core i5-11500?

It depends on what you want from the system. For gaming, Core i5-11500 is ahead with a 9.2% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, M1 Pro pulls ahead with 0.7% better PassMark. M1 Pro also has the bigger cache pool with 100% larger total L3 cache (24 MB vs 12 MB).

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, M1 Pro is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.7% better PassMark, backed by 10 cores and 10 threads. It also has the larger cache pool with 100% larger total L3 cache (24 MB vs 12 MB).

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?

M1 Pro is still the faster CPU overall, but Core i5-11500 is easier to justify if budget matters more than peak performance. M1 Pro comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus $192 MSRP, and it still gives you 0.7% better PassMark. The compromise is that Core i5-11500 is still the better pure gaming CPU with a 9.2% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Core i5-11500 is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (89.0 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), which is why it can still make sense for tighter-budget builds on paper. That said, if you already own a compatible LGA1200 + DDR4 setup, Core i5-11500 can still make sense as a platform-matched option because it avoids a motherboard and RAM swap, but on MSRP alone you would want to find it meaningfully cheaper in real-world listings before that path becomes easy to justify.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

M1 Pro makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a healthier platform with none and DDR5 instead of LGA1200, 100% larger total L3 cache (24 MB vs 12 MB), and more multi-core headroom with 10 cores / 10 threads instead of 6/12. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

Core i5-11500 vs M1 Pro Technical Specifications

Side-by-side specs, architecture details, clocks, memory, power, and platform differences.

Core i5-11500

The Core i5-11500 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 16 March 2021 (4 years ago). It is based on the Rocket Lake (2021) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 2.7 GHz, with boost up to 4.6 GHz. L3 cache: 12 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1200. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-3200. Passmark benchmark score: 17,096 points. Launch price was $299.

M1 Pro

The M1 Pro is manufactured by Apple. It was released in 18 October 2021 (4 years ago). It features 10 cores and 10 threads. Base frequency is 2.064 GHz, with boost up to 3.22 GHz. L3 cache: 24 MB. L2 cache: 28 MB. Built on 5 nm process technology. Socket: none. Thermal design power (TDP): 28 MB + 24 MB. Memory support: LPDDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 17,218 points. Launch price was $299.

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Processing Power

The Core i5-11500 packs 6 cores / 12 threads, while the M1 Pro offers 10 cores / 10 threads — the M1 Pro has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.6 GHz on the Core i5-11500 versus 3.22 GHz on the M1 Pro — a 35.3% clock advantage for the Core i5-11500 (base: 2.7 GHz vs 2.064 GHz). The Core i5-11500 is built on the Rocket Lake (2021) architecture. In PassMark, the Core i5-11500 scores 17,096 against the M1 Pro's 17,218 — a 0.7% lead for the M1 Pro. L3 cache: 12 MB (total) on the Core i5-11500 vs 24 MB on the M1 Pro.

Feature	Core i5-11500	M1 Pro
Cores / Threads	6 / 12	10 / 10+67%
Boost Clock	4.6 GHz+43%	3.22 GHz
Base Clock	2.7 GHz+31%	2.064 GHz
L3 Cache	12 MB (total)	24 MB+100%
L2 Cache	256K (per core)+814%	28 MB
Process	14 nm	5 nm-64%
Architecture	Rocket Lake (2021)	—
PassMark	17,096	17,218
Cinebench R23 Multi	9,883	—
Geekbench 6 Single	2,064	—
Geekbench 6 Multi	8,564	—

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Memory & Platform

The Core i5-11500 uses the LGA1200 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the M1 Pro uses none (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

Feature	Core i5-11500	M1 Pro
Socket	LGA1200	none
PCIe Generation	PCIe 4.0	PCIe 4.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR4-3200	—
Max RAM Capacity	128 GB	—
RAM Channels	2	—
ECC Support	No	—
PCIe Lanes	20	—

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Advanced Features

Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i5-11500) / not specified (M1 Pro). The Core i5-11500 includes integrated graphics (UHD 750), while the M1 Pro requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-11500 targets Gaming. Direct competitor: Core i5-11500 rivals Ryzen 5 5600X.