M1 Pro 8-Core vs Ryzen 5 6600U

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.

M1 Pro 8-Core vs Ryzen 5 6600U 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.

M1 Pro 8-Core vs Ryzen 5 6600U: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

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

M1 Pro 8-Core

2021

Why buy it

✅+1.3% higher PassMark.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Apple M1 Pro GPU (14-core), while Ryzen 5 6600U needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌86.7% higher power demand at 28W vs 15W.

Ryzen 5 6600U

2022

Why buy it

✅Draws 15W instead of 28W, a 13W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (16,992 vs 17,218).
❌No integrated graphics, while M1 Pro 8-Core can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Quick Answers

So, is Ryzen 5 6600U better than M1 Pro 8-Core?

It depends on what you want from the system. For gaming, Ryzen 5 6600U is ahead with a 1.9% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, M1 Pro 8-Core pulls ahead with 1.3% better PassMark.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, M1 Pro 8-Core is the stronger fit. You are getting 1.3% better PassMark, backed by 8 cores and 8 threads.

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

Ryzen 5 6600U still makes the most sense overall. Ryzen 5 6600U comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you a 1.9% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data.

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

Ryzen 5 6600U makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2022 vs 2021). That gives you a healthier platform runway for motherboard, RAM, and later CPU upgrades.

M1 Pro 8-Core vs Ryzen 5 6600U Technical Specifications

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

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.

Ryzen 5 6600U

The Ryzen 5 6600U is manufactured by AMD. It was released in Janeiro 2022 (3 years ago). It is based on the Rembrandt-U (Zen 3+) (2022) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 2.9 GHz, with boost up to 4.5 GHz. L3 cache: 16 MB (total). L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 6 nm process technology. Socket: FP7. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 16,992 points. Launch price was $299.

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Processing Power

The M1 Pro 8-Core packs 8 cores / 8 threads, while the Ryzen 5 6600U offers 6 cores / 12 threads — the M1 Pro 8-Core has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.22 GHz on the M1 Pro 8-Core versus 4.5 GHz on the Ryzen 5 6600U — a 33.2% clock advantage for the Ryzen 5 6600U (base: 2.06 GHz vs 2.9 GHz). The Ryzen 5 6600U is built on the Rembrandt-U (Zen 3+) (2022) architecture. In PassMark, the M1 Pro 8-Core scores 17,218 against the Ryzen 5 6600U's 16,992 — a 1.3% lead for the M1 Pro 8-Core. L3 cache: 16 MB on the M1 Pro 8-Core vs 16 MB (total) on the Ryzen 5 6600U.

Feature	M1 Pro 8-Core	Ryzen 5 6600U
Cores / Threads	8 / 8+33%	6 / 12
Boost Clock	3.22 GHz	4.5 GHz+40%
Base Clock	2.06 GHz	2.9 GHz+41%
L3 Cache	16 MB	16 MB (total)
L2 Cache	28 MB	512K (per core)+1729%
Process	5 nm-17%	6 nm
Architecture	—	Rembrandt-U (Zen 3+) (2022)
PassMark	17,218+1%	16,992

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Memory & Platform

The M1 Pro 8-Core uses the none socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Ryzen 5 6600U uses FP7 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

Feature	M1 Pro 8-Core	Ryzen 5 6600U
Socket	none	FP7
PCIe Generation	PCIe 4.0	PCIe 4.0
Max RAM Speed	LPDDR5-6400	—
Max RAM Capacity	32 GB	—
RAM Channels	4	—
ECC Support	No	—
PCIe Lanes	0	—

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Advanced Features

Virtualization: Virtualization (M1 Pro 8-Core) / not specified (Ryzen 5 6600U). The M1 Pro 8-Core includes integrated graphics (Apple M1 Pro GPU (14-core)), while the Ryzen 5 6600U requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: M1 Pro 8-Core targets Mobile.