M1 Pro 8-Core vs FirePro A320

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. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money.

MSRP is the manufacturer's suggested retail price.•
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.

Performance Per Dollar M1 Pro 8-Core

#208

M1 Pro 8-Core

MSRP: N/A|Avg: N/A

100%

Based on actual market prices and performance synthetic scores.

Performance Per Dollar FirePro A320

#1

Ryzen 9 7950X

MSRP: $194|Avg: $20

7239%

#2

Core i9-10900T

MSRP: $120|Avg: $5

6840%

#3

Ryzen 3 PRO 4355GE

MSRP: $423|Avg: $5

4967%

#4

Ryzen Threadripper 3960X

MSRP: $1399|Avg: $85

1496%

#5

Ryzen 9 9950X

MSRP: $649|Avg: $129

1185%

#6

Ryzen 5 8400F

MSRP: $303|Avg: $55

1037%

#7

Ryzen 7 PRO 2700

MSRP: $299|Avg: $60

594%

#8

Ryzen 5 2600X

MSRP: $229|Avg: $55

586%

#9

Ryzen 3 PRO 5350G

MSRP: $150|Avg: $60

534%

#10

Core Ultra 5 245KF

MSRP: $294|Avg: $189

534%

#11

Ryzen 5 5500

MSRP: $159|Avg: $85

528%

#12

Ryzen 5 3600

MSRP: $199|Avg: $80

513%

#13

Core i3-9100E

MSRP: $202|Avg: $30

506%

#14

Core Ultra 5 245K

MSRP: $319|Avg: $200

504%

#15

Core i3-8300T

MSRP: $138|Avg: $25

500%

#367

Core i9-10900E

MSRP: $488|Avg: $450

100%

#368

Core i7-9700KF

MSRP: $374|Avg: $333

99%

#369

Core i5-8400T

MSRP: $182|Avg: $179

96%

#370

Athlon 240GE

MSRP: $75|Avg: $110

96%

#478

FirePro A320

MSRP: N/A|Avg: N/A

100%

#480

Athlon X4 860K

MSRP: $80|Avg: $20

99%

#483

Core i7-8700

MSRP: $303|Avg: $110

98%

#487

Pentium Dual-Core E2220

MSRP: $32|Avg: $32

97%

#491

Pentium G4600T

MSRP: $75|Avg: $35

95%

#493

Core i5-6500T

MSRP: $117|Avg: $35

95%

Based on actual market prices and performance synthetic scores.

Performance Comparison

About PassMark

🏆 Chipversus Verdict

🚀 Performance Leadership

Generational Difference: This comparison involves processors from different technological eras. The M1 Pro 8-Core (2021) utilizes 5 nm technology and LPDDR5, providing a fundamental performance advantage.

Insight	M1 Pro 8-Core	FirePro A320
Gaming	❌ Lower gaming performance	✅ Superior gaming performance
Workstation	✅ Better multi-core power	❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks
Price	Equivalent pricing	Equivalent pricing
Longevity	✨ Modern (Legacy / 5 nm)	🛑 Legacy (Trinity (2012−2013) / 32 nm)

💎 Value Proposition

The FirePro A320 (2012) relies on 32 nm technology and DDR3-1866, placing it in a different performance category relative to modern standards.

Insight	M1 Pro 8-Core	FirePro A320
Cost Efficiency	❌ Lower cost efficiency	❌ Lower cost efficiency
Upfront Cost	Equivalent pricing	Equivalent pricing

Performance Check

Paired with RTX 4090

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.

M1 Pro 8-Core Benchmark Check

FirePro A320 Benchmark Check

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of M1 Pro 8-Core and FirePro A320

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.

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.

⚡

Processing Power

The M1 Pro 8-Core packs 8 cores / 8 threads, while the FirePro A320 offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the M1 Pro 8-Core has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.22 GHz on the M1 Pro 8-Core versus 4.2 GHz on the FirePro A320 — a 26.4% clock advantage for the FirePro A320 (base: 2.06 GHz vs 3.8 GHz). The FirePro A320 is built on the Trinity (2012−2013) architecture. In PassMark, the M1 Pro 8-Core scores 17,218 against the FirePro A320's 2,153 — a 155.5% lead for the M1 Pro 8-Core.

Feature	M1 Pro 8-Core	FirePro A320
Cores / Threads	8 / 8+100%	4 / 4
Boost Clock	3.22 GHz	4.2 GHz+30%
Base Clock	2.06 GHz	3.8 GHz+84%
L3 Cache	16 MB	—
L2 Cache	28 MB+600%	4 MB (total)
Process	5 nm-84%	32 nm
Architecture	—	Trinity (2012−2013)
PassMark	17,218+700%	2,153

🧠

Memory & Platform

The M1 Pro 8-Core uses the none socket (PCIe 4.0), while the FirePro A320 uses FM2 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

Feature	M1 Pro 8-Core	FirePro A320
Socket	none	FM2
PCIe Generation	PCIe 4.0+100%	PCIe 2.0
Max RAM Speed	LPDDR5-6400	—
Max RAM Capacity	32 GB	—
RAM Channels	4	—
ECC Support	❌	—
PCIe Lanes	0	—

🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization: Virtualization (M1 Pro 8-Core) / not specified (FirePro A320). 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.