M1 vs Ryzen 7 5800X

M1

8 Cores8 Thrdβˆ’WMax: 3.2 GHz2020
VS
AMD

Ryzen 7 5800X

8 Cores16 Thrd105 WWMax: 4.7 GHz2020

M1 vs Ryzen 7 5800X Performance Spectrum

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.

M1 vs Ryzen 7 5800X 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 vs Ryzen 7 5800X: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

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

M1

2020

Why buy it

    Trade-offs

    • ❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 7 5800X across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
    • ❌Lower PassMark (8,207 vs 27,712).
    • ❌Smaller total L3 cache (16 MB vs 32 MB).

    Ryzen 7 5800X

    2020

    Why buy it

    • βœ…Better for gaming: +66.7% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
    • βœ…+100% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 16 MB).
    • βœ…100+% more PCIe lanes (24 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

    Trade-offs

    • ❌Launch MSRP is still $449 MSRP, while M1 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.

    Quick Answers

    So, is Ryzen 7 5800X better than M1?
    Yes. Ryzen 7 5800X is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 66.7% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data, 237.7% better PassMark, and the stronger long-term platform, which is enough to make it the stronger overall pick.
    Which one is better for gaming?
    If gaming is the priority, Ryzen 7 5800X is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 66.7% more average FPS across 50 shared CPU game tests.
    Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?
    For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Ryzen 7 5800X is the stronger fit. You are getting 237.7% better PassMark, backed by 8 cores and 16 threads. It also has the larger cache pool with 100% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 16 MB).
    Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?
    Ryzen 7 5800X is the better buy right now. Ryzen 7 5800X comes in at an unclear MSRP at $449 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you a 66.7% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (61.7 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), so you are getting the faster CPU without taking a value hit on paper.
    Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?
    Ryzen 7 5800X makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting 100% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 16 MB) and more multi-core headroom with 8 cores / 16 threads instead of 8/8. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

    M1 vs Ryzen 7 5800X Technical Specifications

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

    M1

    The M1 is manufactured by Apple. It was released in 10 November 2020 (5 years ago). It features 8 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 2.064 GHz, with boost up to 3.2 GHz. L3 cache: 16 MB. L2 cache: 16 MB. Built on 5 nm process technology. Passmark benchmark score: 8,207 points. Launch price was $149.

    AMD

    Ryzen 7 5800X

    The Ryzen 7 5800X is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 5 November 2020 (5 years ago). It is based on the Vermeer (Zen 3) (2020βˆ’2022) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 3.8 GHz, with boost up to 4.7 GHz. L3 cache: 32 MB. L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 7 nm, 12 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 105 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 27,712 points. Launch price was $449.

    ⚑

    Processing Power

    The M1 packs 8 cores / 8 threads, matching the Ryzen 7 5800X's 8 cores. Boost clocks reach 3.2 GHz on the M1 versus 4.7 GHz on the Ryzen 7 5800X β€” a 38% clock advantage for the Ryzen 7 5800X (base: 2.064 GHz vs 3.8 GHz). The Ryzen 7 5800X is built on the Vermeer (Zen 3) (2020βˆ’2022) architecture. In PassMark, the M1 scores 8,207 against the Ryzen 7 5800X's 27,712 β€” a 108.6% lead for the Ryzen 7 5800X. L3 cache: 16 MB on the M1 vs 32 MB on the Ryzen 7 5800X.

    FeatureM1Ryzen 7 5800X
    Cores / Threads
    8 / 8
    8 / 16
    Boost Clock
    3.2 GHz
    4.7 GHz+47%
    Base Clock
    2.064 GHz
    3.8 GHz+84%
    L3 Cache
    16 MB
    32 MB+100%
    L2 Cache
    16 MB
    512K (per core)+3100%
    Process
    5 nm-29%
    7 nm, 12 nm
    Architecture
    β€”
    Vermeer (Zen 3) (2020βˆ’2022)
    PassMark
    8,207
    27,712+238%
    πŸ”§

    Advanced Features

    Virtualization: not specified (M1) / AMD-V (Ryzen 7 5800X). Primary use case: Ryzen 7 5800X targets Desktop.

    FeatureM1Ryzen 7 5800X
    Integrated GPU
    β€”
    No
    Unlocked
    β€”
    Yes
    AVX-512
    β€”
    No
    Virtualization
    β€”
    AMD-V
    Target Use
    β€”
    Desktop