M1 Pro 8-Core vs Ryzen 7 PRO 2700X

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 7 PRO 2700X 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 7 PRO 2700X: 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

✅+1.5% higher PassMark.
✅Draws 28W instead of 105W, a 77W reduction.
✅Newer platform on none with DDR5 support instead of AM4 and DDR4.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Apple M1 Pro GPU (14-core), while Ryzen 7 PRO 2700X needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 7 PRO 2700X across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Ryzen 7 PRO 2700X.

Ryzen 7 PRO 2700X

2018

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +18.9% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (20 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Wraith Prism), unlike M1 Pro 8-Core.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (16,959 vs 17,218).
❌Launch MSRP is still $329 MSRP, while M1 Pro 8-Core mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌275% higher power demand at 105W vs 28W.
❌Older platform position on AM4 with DDR4, while M1 Pro 8-Core moves to none and DDR5.
❌No integrated graphics, while M1 Pro 8-Core can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Quick Answers

So, is M1 Pro 8-Core better than Ryzen 7 PRO 2700X?

It depends on what you want from the system. For gaming, Ryzen 7 PRO 2700X is ahead with a 18.9% 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 1.5% 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 1.5% better PassMark, backed by 8 cores and 8 threads.

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

M1 Pro 8-Core is still the faster CPU overall, but Ryzen 7 PRO 2700X is easier to justify if budget matters more than peak performance. M1 Pro 8-Core comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus $329 MSRP, and it still gives you 1.5% better PassMark. The compromise is that Ryzen 7 PRO 2700X is still the better pure gaming CPU with a 18.9% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Ryzen 7 PRO 2700X is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (51.5 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), which is why it can still make sense for tighter-budget builds on paper. That said, if you already own a compatible AM4 + DDR4 setup, Ryzen 7 PRO 2700X 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 8-Core makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2021 vs 2018), a healthier platform with none and DDR5 instead of AM4, and more multi-core headroom with 8 cores / 8 threads instead of 8/16. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

M1 Pro 8-Core vs Ryzen 7 PRO 2700X 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 7 PRO 2700X

The Ryzen 7 PRO 2700X is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 19 September 2018 (7 years ago). It is based on the Zen+ (2018−2019) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 4.1 GHz. L3 cache: 16 MB (total). L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 12 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 105 Watt. Memory support: DDR4 Dual-channel. Passmark benchmark score: 16,959 points. Launch price was $299.

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Processing Power

The M1 Pro 8-Core packs 8 cores / 8 threads, matching the Ryzen 7 PRO 2700X's 8 cores. Boost clocks reach 3.22 GHz on the M1 Pro 8-Core versus 4.1 GHz on the Ryzen 7 PRO 2700X — a 24% clock advantage for the Ryzen 7 PRO 2700X (base: 2.06 GHz vs 3.6 GHz). The Ryzen 7 PRO 2700X is built on the Zen+ (2018−2019) architecture. In PassMark, the M1 Pro 8-Core scores 17,218 against the Ryzen 7 PRO 2700X's 16,959 — a 1.5% lead for the M1 Pro 8-Core. L3 cache: 16 MB on the M1 Pro 8-Core vs 16 MB (total) on the Ryzen 7 PRO 2700X.

Feature	M1 Pro 8-Core	Ryzen 7 PRO 2700X
Cores / Threads	8 / 8	8 / 16
Boost Clock	3.22 GHz	4.1 GHz+27%
Base Clock	2.06 GHz	3.6 GHz+75%
L3 Cache	16 MB	16 MB (total)
L2 Cache	28 MB	512K (per core)+1729%
Process	5 nm-58%	12 nm
Architecture	—	Zen+ (2018−2019)
PassMark	17,218+2%	16,959
Cinebench R23 Multi	—	9,500
Geekbench 6 Single	—	1,255
Geekbench 6 Multi	—	6,243

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Memory & Platform

The M1 Pro 8-Core uses the none socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Ryzen 7 PRO 2700X uses AM4 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches LPDDR5-6400 on the M1 Pro 8-Core versus DDR4-2933 on the Ryzen 7 PRO 2700X — the M1 Pro 8-Core supports 118.2% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Ryzen 7 PRO 2700X supports up to 128 GB of RAM compared to 32 GB — 300% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 4 (M1 Pro 8-Core) vs 2 (Ryzen 7 PRO 2700X). PCIe lanes: 0 (M1 Pro 8-Core) vs 20 (Ryzen 7 PRO 2700X) — the Ryzen 7 PRO 2700X offers 20 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives.

Feature	M1 Pro 8-Core	Ryzen 7 PRO 2700X
Socket	none	AM4
PCIe Generation	PCIe 4.0+33%	PCIe 3.0
Max RAM Speed	LPDDR5-6400+118%	DDR4-2933
Max RAM Capacity	32 GB	128 GB+300%
RAM Channels	4+100%	2
ECC Support	No	Yes
PCIe Lanes	0	20

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Advanced Features

Only the Ryzen 7 PRO 2700X has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Virtualization support: Virtualization (M1 Pro 8-Core) vs AMD-V (Ryzen 7 PRO 2700X). The M1 Pro 8-Core includes integrated graphics (Apple M1 Pro GPU (14-core)), while the Ryzen 7 PRO 2700X requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: M1 Pro 8-Core targets Mobile, Ryzen 7 PRO 2700X targets Workstation.