FirePro A320 vs M1 Pro 8-Core
FirePro A320
M1 Pro 8-Core
Performance Spectrum - CPU
About PassMark
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.
Value Upgrade Path
This is the official ChipVERSUS Value Rating, comparing raw performance (PassMark) per dollar. The FirePro A320 is positioned at rank #478 in our cost-efficiency ranking, representing a Lower cost-benefit for your build. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar FirePro A320
Performance Per Dollar M1 Pro 8-Core
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | FirePro A320 | M1 Pro 8-Core |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Trinity (2012−2013) / 32 nm) | ✨ Modern (Legacy / 5 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | FirePro A320 | M1 Pro 8-Core |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
Performance Check
To accurately isolate CPU performance, all benchmarks below use an NVIDIA RTX 4090 as the reference GPU. This eliminates GPU-side bottlenecks and highlights pure processing throughput differences between the CPUs.
Note: Real-world results may vary based on your actual GPU. CPU performance impact is more visible in processing-intensive titles and high-refresh-rate gaming scenarios.
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of FirePro A320 and M1 Pro 8-Core
FirePro A320
The FirePro A320 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2015-01-01. It is based on the Trinity (2012−2013) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.8 GHz, with boost up to 4.2 GHz. L2 cache: 4 MB (total). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: FM2. Thermal design power (TDP): 100 Watt. Memory support: DDR3-1866. Passmark benchmark score: 2,153 points. Launch price was $800.
M1 Pro 8-Core
The M1 Pro 8-Core is manufactured by Apple. It was released in 18 October 2021 (4 years ago). It features 8 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 2.06 GHz, with boost up to 3.22 GHz. L3 cache: 16 MB. L2 cache: 28 MB. Built on 5 nm process technology. Socket: none. Thermal design power (TDP): 28 MB + 16 MB. Memory support: LPDDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 17,218 points. Launch price was $299.
Processing Power
The FirePro A320 packs 4 cores / 4 threads, while the M1 Pro 8-Core offers 8 cores / 8 threads — the M1 Pro 8-Core has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.2 GHz on the FirePro A320 versus 3.22 GHz on the M1 Pro 8-Core — a 26.4% clock advantage for the FirePro A320 (base: 3.8 GHz vs 2.06 GHz). The FirePro A320 is built on the Trinity (2012−2013) architecture. In PassMark, the FirePro A320 scores 2,153 against the M1 Pro 8-Core's 17,218 — a 155.5% lead for the M1 Pro 8-Core.
| Feature | FirePro A320 | M1 Pro 8-Core |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4 | 8 / 8+100% |
| Boost Clock | 4.2 GHz+30% | 3.22 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.8 GHz+84% | 2.06 GHz |
| L3 Cache | — | 16 MB |
| L2 Cache | 4 MB (total) | 28 MB+600% |
| Process | 32 nm | 5 nm-84% |
| Architecture | Trinity (2012−2013) | — |
| PassMark | 2,153 | 17,218+700% |
Memory & Platform
The FirePro A320 uses the FM2 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the M1 Pro 8-Core uses none (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | FirePro A320 | M1 Pro 8-Core |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FM2 | none |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 4.0+100% |
| Max RAM Speed | — | LPDDR5-6400 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 32 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 4 |
| ECC Support | — | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 0 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (FirePro A320) / Virtualization (M1 Pro 8-Core). The M1 Pro 8-Core includes integrated graphics (Apple M1 Pro GPU (14-core)), while the FirePro A320 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: M1 Pro 8-Core targets Mobile.
| Feature | FirePro A320 | M1 Pro 8-Core |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | Apple M1 Pro GPU (14-core) |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | Virtualization |
| Target Use | — | Mobile |
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The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
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