M2 Pro vs Core i9-11900F
M2 Pro
Core i9-11900F
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 M2 Pro
Performance Per Dollar Core i9-11900F
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | M2 Pro | Core i9-11900F |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($358.87) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Legacy / 5 nm) | ✨ Modern (Rocket Lake (2021) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | M2 Pro | Core i9-11900F |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($358.87) |
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 M2 Pro and Core i9-11900F
M2 Pro
The M2 Pro is manufactured by Apple. It was released in 17 January 2023 (2 years ago). It features 12 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 2.42 GHz, with boost up to 3.5 GHz. L3 cache: 24 MB. L2 cache: 36 MB. Built on 5 nm process technology. Socket: none. Thermal design power (TDP): 36 MB + 24 MB. Memory support: LPDDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 21,939 points. Launch price was $299.
Core i9-11900F
The Core i9-11900F is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 16 March 2021 (4 years ago). It is based on the Rocket Lake (2021) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 2.5 GHz, with boost up to 5.1 GHz. L3 cache: 16 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1200. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-3200. Passmark benchmark score: 22,052 points. Launch price was $299.
Processing Power
The M2 Pro packs 12 cores / 12 threads, while the Core i9-11900F offers 8 cores / 16 threads — the M2 Pro has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.5 GHz on the M2 Pro versus 5.1 GHz on the Core i9-11900F — a 37.2% clock advantage for the Core i9-11900F (base: 2.42 GHz vs 2.5 GHz). The Core i9-11900F is built on the Rocket Lake (2021) architecture. In PassMark, the M2 Pro scores 21,939 against the Core i9-11900F's 22,052 — a 0.5% lead for the Core i9-11900F. L3 cache: 24 MB on the M2 Pro vs 16 MB (total) on the Core i9-11900F.
| Feature | M2 Pro | Core i9-11900F |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 12 / 12+50% | 8 / 16 |
| Boost Clock | 3.5 GHz | 5.1 GHz+46% |
| Base Clock | 2.42 GHz | 2.5 GHz+3% |
| L3 Cache | 24 MB+50% | 16 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 36 MB+14300% | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 5 nm-64% | 14 nm |
| Architecture | — | Rocket Lake (2021) |
| PassMark | 21,939 | 22,052 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 2,650 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 14,450 | — |
Memory & Platform
The M2 Pro uses the none socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Core i9-11900F uses LGA1200 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | M2 Pro | Core i9-11900F |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | none | LGA1200 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 4.0 | PCIe 4.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | LPDDR5-6400 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 32 GB | — |
| RAM Channels | 2 | — |
| ECC Support | ❌ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 0 | — |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: ARM Virtualization (M2 Pro) / not specified (Core i9-11900F). The M2 Pro includes integrated graphics (Apple M2 Pro GPU), while the Core i9-11900F requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: M2 Pro targets Professional Laptop.
| Feature | M2 Pro | Core i9-11900F |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | — |
| IGPU Model | Apple M2 Pro GPU | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | ARM Virtualization | — |
| Target Use | Professional Laptop | — |
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