M2 vs Ryzen 5 5600U

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.

M2 vs Ryzen 5 5600U 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.

M2 vs Ryzen 5 5600U: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

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

M2

2022

Why buy it

✅Newer platform on none with DDR5 support instead of FP6 and DDR4.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (14,933 vs 15,088).
❌33.3% higher power demand at 20W vs 15W.

Ryzen 5 5600U

2021

Why buy it

✅Draws 15W instead of 20W, a 5W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Older platform position on FP6 with DDR4, while M2 moves to none and DDR5.

Quick Answers

So, is Ryzen 5 5600U better than M2?

Yes. Ryzen 5 5600U is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 1.8% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data and 1% better PassMark, which is enough to make it the stronger overall pick.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Ryzen 5 5600U is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 1.8% 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 5 5600U is the stronger fit. You are getting 1% better PassMark, backed by 6 cores and 12 threads.

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

Ryzen 5 5600U still makes the most sense overall. Ryzen 5 5600U comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you a 1.8% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

M2 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2022 vs 2021) and a healthier platform with none and DDR5 instead of FP6. That gives you a healthier platform runway for motherboard, RAM, and later CPU upgrades.

M2 vs Ryzen 5 5600U Technical Specifications

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

M2

The M2 is manufactured by Apple. It was released in 10 June 2022 (3 years ago). It features 8 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 2.424 GHz, with boost up to 3.48 GHz. L2 cache: 20 MB. Built on 5 nm process technology. Socket: none. Thermal design power (TDP): 20 Watt. Memory support: LPDDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 14,933 points. Launch price was $149.

Ryzen 5 5600U

The Ryzen 5 5600U is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 12 January 2021 (4 years ago). It is based on the Cezanne-U (Zen 3) (2021) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 2.3 GHz, with boost up to 4.2 GHz. L3 cache: 16 MB (total). L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 7 nm process technology. Socket: FP6. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 15,088 points. Launch price was $299.

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Processing Power

The M2 packs 8 cores / 8 threads, while the Ryzen 5 5600U offers 6 cores / 12 threads — the M2 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.48 GHz on the M2 versus 4.2 GHz on the Ryzen 5 5600U — a 18.8% clock advantage for the Ryzen 5 5600U (base: 2.424 GHz vs 2.3 GHz). The Ryzen 5 5600U is built on the Cezanne-U (Zen 3) (2021) architecture. In PassMark, the M2 scores 14,933 against the Ryzen 5 5600U's 15,088 — a 1% lead for the Ryzen 5 5600U.

Feature	M2	Ryzen 5 5600U
Cores / Threads	8 / 8+33%	6 / 12
Boost Clock	3.48 GHz	4.2 GHz+21%
Base Clock	2.424 GHz+5%	2.3 GHz
L3 Cache	—	16 MB (total)
L2 Cache	20 MB	512K (per core)+2460%
Process	5 nm-29%	7 nm
Architecture	—	Cezanne-U (Zen 3) (2021)
PassMark	14,933	15,088+1%