M2 Pro vs Xeon Silver 4310
M2 Pro
Xeon Silver 4310
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 Xeon Silver 4310
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | M2 Pro | Xeon Silver 4310 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Legacy / 5 nm) | ✨ Modern (Ice Lake-SP (2021) / 10 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | M2 Pro | Xeon Silver 4310 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
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 Xeon Silver 4310
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.
Xeon Silver 4310
The Xeon Silver 4310 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2015-01-01. It is based on the Ice Lake-SP (2021) architecture. It features 12 cores and 24 threads. Base frequency is 2.1 GHz, with boost up to 3.3 GHz. L3 cache: 18 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 10 nm process technology. Socket: LGA4189. Thermal design power (TDP): 120 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2667. Passmark benchmark score: 21,903 points. Launch price was $800.
Processing Power
The M2 Pro packs 12 cores / 12 threads, matching the Xeon Silver 4310's 12 cores. Boost clocks reach 3.5 GHz on the M2 Pro versus 3.3 GHz on the Xeon Silver 4310 — a 5.9% clock advantage for the M2 Pro (base: 2.42 GHz vs 2.1 GHz). The Xeon Silver 4310 is built on the Ice Lake-SP (2021) architecture. In PassMark, the M2 Pro scores 21,939 against the Xeon Silver 4310's 21,903 — a 0.2% lead for the M2 Pro. L3 cache: 24 MB on the M2 Pro vs 18 MB (total) on the Xeon Silver 4310.
| Feature | M2 Pro | Xeon Silver 4310 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 12 / 12 | 12 / 24 |
| Boost Clock | 3.5 GHz+6% | 3.3 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.42 GHz+15% | 2.1 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 24 MB+33% | 18 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 36 MB+3500% | 1 MB (per core) |
| Process | 5 nm-50% | 10 nm |
| Architecture | — | Ice Lake-SP (2021) |
| PassMark | 21,939 | 21,903 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 2,650 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 14,450 | — |
Memory & Platform
The M2 Pro uses the none socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Xeon Silver 4310 uses LGA4189 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches LPDDR5-6400 on the M2 Pro versus 2667 on the Xeon Silver 4310 — the Xeon Silver 4310 supports 199.3% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Xeon Silver 4310 supports up to 6144 of RAM compared to 32 GB — 197.9% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 2 (M2 Pro) vs 8 (Xeon Silver 4310). PCIe lanes: 0 (M2 Pro) vs 64 (Xeon Silver 4310) — the Xeon Silver 4310 offers 64 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: Apple Silicon (M2 Pro) and LGA4189 (Xeon Silver 4310).
| Feature | M2 Pro | Xeon Silver 4310 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | none | LGA4189 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 4.0 | PCIe 4.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | LPDDR5-6400 | 2667+53240% |
| Max RAM Capacity | 32 GB+546033% | 6144 |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 8+300% |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | 0 | 64 |
Advanced Features
Neither processor supports overclocking. Only the Xeon Silver 4310 supports AVX-512 instructions — important for machine learning and scientific applications. Virtualization support: ARM Virtualization (M2 Pro) vs VT-x, VT-d (Xeon Silver 4310). The M2 Pro includes integrated graphics (Apple M2 Pro GPU), while the Xeon Silver 4310 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: M2 Pro targets Professional Laptop.
| Feature | M2 Pro | Xeon Silver 4310 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | No |
| IGPU Model | Apple M2 Pro GPU | None |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | No | Yes |
| Virtualization | ARM Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d |
| Target Use | Professional Laptop | — |
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