CPU
GPU
M1 Max
Xeon W-1290P
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. 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 M1 Max
Performance Per Dollar Xeon W-1290P
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | M1 Max | Xeon W-1290P |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Legacy / 5 nm) | ✨ Modern (Comet Lake (2020−2025) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | M1 Max | Xeon W-1290P |
|---|---|---|
| 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 M1 Max and Xeon W-1290P
M1 Max
The M1 Max is manufactured by Apple. It was released in 18 October 2021 (4 years ago). It features 10 cores and 10 threads. Base frequency is 2.06 GHz, with boost up to 3.22 GHz. L3 cache: 48 MB. L2 cache: 28 MB. Built on 5 nm process technology. Socket: none. Thermal design power (TDP): 28 MB + 48 MB. Memory support: LPDDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 22,146 points. Launch price was $299.
Xeon W-1290P
The Xeon W-1290P is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2015-01-01. It is based on the Comet Lake (2020−2025) architecture. It features 10 cores and 20 threads. Base frequency is 3.7 GHz, with boost up to 5.2 GHz. L3 cache: 20 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1200. Thermal design power (TDP): 125 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2933. Passmark benchmark score: 22,373 points. Launch price was $800.
Processing Power
The M1 Max packs 10 cores / 10 threads, matching the Xeon W-1290P's 10 cores. Boost clocks reach 3.22 GHz on the M1 Max versus 5.2 GHz on the Xeon W-1290P — a 47% clock advantage for the Xeon W-1290P (base: 2.06 GHz vs 3.7 GHz). The Xeon W-1290P is built on the Comet Lake (2020−2025) architecture. In PassMark, the M1 Max scores 22,146 against the Xeon W-1290P's 22,373 — a 1% lead for the Xeon W-1290P. L3 cache: 48 MB on the M1 Max vs 20 MB (total) on the Xeon W-1290P.
| Feature | M1 Max | Xeon W-1290P |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 10 / 10 | 10 / 20 |
| Boost Clock | 3.22 GHz | 5.2 GHz+61% |
| Base Clock | 2.06 GHz | 3.7 GHz+80% |
| L3 Cache | 48 MB+140% | 20 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 28 MB+11100% | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 5 nm-64% | 14 nm |
| Architecture | — | Comet Lake (2020−2025) |
| PassMark | 22,146 | 22,373+1% |
Memory & Platform
The M1 Max uses the none socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Xeon W-1290P uses LGA1200 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | M1 Max | Xeon W-1290P |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | none | LGA1200 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 4.0+33% | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | LPDDR5-6400 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 64 GB | — |
| RAM Channels | 8 | — |
| ECC Support | ❌ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 0 | — |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: ARM-V (M1 Max) / not specified (Xeon W-1290P). The M1 Max includes integrated graphics (M1 Max GPU), while the Xeon W-1290P requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: M1 Max targets Mobile Workstation.
| Feature | M1 Max | Xeon W-1290P |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | — |
| IGPU Model | M1 Max GPU | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | ARM-V | — |
| Target Use | Mobile Workstation | — |
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