Page Index

M1 vs Xeon E3-1275 v5

CPUCPUGPUGPU

M1

8 Cores8 Thrd−WMax: 3.2 GHz2020

Popular choices:

•••••••••
VS
Intel

Xeon E3-1275 v5

4 Cores8 Thrd80 WWMax: 4 GHz2015

Popular choices:

•••••••••

Performance Spectrum - CPU

M1
8 / 8
8,207
0.0%
Xeon E3-1275 v5
4 / 8
8,291
+1.0%
brand logoCore i7-2600S
brand logoCore i7-6822EQ
brand logoXeon W3670
brand logoCore i5-8300H
brand logoCore Ultra 5 225T
brand logoCore i9-13900
brand logoXeon w9-3475X
brand logoXeon w9-3575X

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.

Head-to-Head Verdict, Benchmarks, Value & Long-Term Outlook

This comparison brings together gaming FPS, productivity performance, platform differences, power efficiency, pricing context, and upgrade path so you can see which CPU actually makes more sense.

M1

2020

Why buy it

  • ✅+100% larger total L3 cache (16 MB vs 8 MB).

Trade-offs

  • ❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Xeon E3-1275 v5 across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
  • ❌Lower PassMark (8,207 vs 8,291).

Xeon E3-1275 v5

2015

Why buy it

  • ✅Better for gaming: +6.2% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.

Trade-offs

  • ❌Smaller total L3 cache (8 MB vs 16 MB).

Quick Answers

So, is Xeon E3-1275 v5 better than M1?
Not in a simple one-size-fits-all way. Xeon E3-1275 v5 makes more sense for workstation-style multi-core throughput, while M1 is the better mainstream desktop choice for gaming, platform cost, and day-to-day practicality.
Which one is better for gaming?
If gaming is the priority, Xeon E3-1275 v5 is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 6.2% more average FPS across 4 shared CPU game tests.
Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?
For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Xeon E3-1275 v5 is the better fit. You are getting 1% better PassMark, backed by 4 cores and 8 threads.
Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?
Xeon E3-1275 v5 still looks like the safer overall buy. Xeon E3-1275 v5 is at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it gives you a 6.2% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data.
Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?
M1 is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2020 vs 2015) and 100% larger total L3 cache (16 MB vs 8 MB). That makes it the safer long-term pick.

Games Benchmarks

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.

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

PresetM1Xeon E3-1275 v5
1080p
low173 FPS207 FPS
medium137 FPS164 FPS
high111 FPS131 FPS
ultra88 FPS92 FPS
1440p
low140 FPS179 FPS
medium109 FPS140 FPS
high86 FPS110 FPS
ultra68 FPS77 FPS
4K
low65 FPS71 FPS
medium55 FPS60 FPS
high43 FPS47 FPS
ultra34 FPS37 FPS
Open M1Open Xeon E3-1275 v5
Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

PresetM1Xeon E3-1275 v5
1080p
low163 FPS207 FPS
medium143 FPS186 FPS
high126 FPS166 FPS
ultra99 FPS128 FPS
1440p
low140 FPS189 FPS
medium127 FPS162 FPS
high114 FPS144 FPS
ultra89 FPS116 FPS
4K
low99 FPS149 FPS
medium93 FPS132 FPS
high82 FPS109 FPS
ultra64 FPS81 FPS
Open M1Open Xeon E3-1275 v5
League of Legends

League of Legends

PresetM1Xeon E3-1275 v5
1080p
low205 FPS207 FPS
medium205 FPS207 FPS
high205 FPS207 FPS
ultra205 FPS207 FPS
1440p
low205 FPS207 FPS
medium205 FPS207 FPS
high205 FPS207 FPS
ultra205 FPS207 FPS
4K
low205 FPS207 FPS
medium205 FPS207 FPS
high205 FPS207 FPS
ultra205 FPS207 FPS
Open M1Open Xeon E3-1275 v5
Valorant

Valorant

PresetM1Xeon E3-1275 v5
1080p
low205 FPS207 FPS
medium205 FPS207 FPS
high205 FPS207 FPS
ultra205 FPS207 FPS
1440p
low205 FPS207 FPS
medium205 FPS207 FPS
high205 FPS207 FPS
ultra205 FPS207 FPS
4K
low205 FPS207 FPS
medium205 FPS207 FPS
high205 FPS207 FPS
ultra205 FPS207 FPS
Open M1Open Xeon E3-1275 v5
Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of M1 and Xeon E3-1275 v5

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.

Intel

Xeon E3-1275 v5

The Xeon E3-1275 v5 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 19 October 2015 (10 years ago). It is based on the Skylake-DT (2015) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 4 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1151. Thermal design power (TDP): 80 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-1866/2133, DDR3L-1333/1600. Passmark benchmark score: 8,291 points. Launch price was $350.

⚡

Processing Power

The M1 packs 8 cores / 8 threads, while the Xeon E3-1275 v5 offers 4 cores / 8 threads — the M1 has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.2 GHz on the M1 versus 4 GHz on the Xeon E3-1275 v5 — a 22.2% clock advantage for the Xeon E3-1275 v5 (base: 2.064 GHz vs 3.6 GHz). The Xeon E3-1275 v5 is built on the Skylake-DT (2015) architecture. In PassMark, the M1 scores 8,207 against the Xeon E3-1275 v5's 8,291 — a 1% lead for the Xeon E3-1275 v5. L3 cache: 16 MB on the M1 vs 8 MB (total) on the Xeon E3-1275 v5.

FeatureM1Xeon E3-1275 v5
Cores / Threads
8 / 8+100%
4 / 8
Boost Clock
3.2 GHz
4 GHz+25%
Base Clock
2.064 GHz
3.6 GHz+74%
L3 Cache
16 MB+100%
8 MB (total)
L2 Cache
16 MB+6300%
256 kB (per core)
Process
5 nm-64%
14 nm
Architecture
—
Skylake-DT (2015)
PassMark
8,207
8,291+1%