M2 vs Ryzen 7 1700

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 7 1700 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 7 1700: 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

✅+1.1% higher PassMark.
✅Draws 20W instead of 65W, a 45W reduction.
✅Newer platform on none with DDR5 support instead of AM4 and DDR4.

Trade-offs

❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Ryzen 7 1700.

Ryzen 7 1700

2017

Why buy it

✅100+% more PCIe lanes (24 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike M2.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (14,772 vs 14,933).
❌Launch MSRP is still $140 MSRP, while M2 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌225% higher power demand at 65W vs 20W.
❌Older platform position on AM4 with DDR4, while M2 moves to none and DDR5.

Quick Answers

So, is M2 better than Ryzen 7 1700?

It depends on what you want from the system. For gaming, Ryzen 7 1700 is ahead with a 1.5% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, M2 pulls ahead with 1.1% better PassMark.

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, M2 is the stronger fit. You are getting 1.1% better PassMark, backed by 8 cores and 8 threads.

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

M2 is still the faster CPU overall, but Ryzen 7 1700 is easier to justify if budget matters more than peak performance. M2 comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus $140 MSRP, and it still gives you 1.1% better PassMark. The compromise is that Ryzen 7 1700 is still the better pure gaming CPU with a 1.5% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Ryzen 7 1700 is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (105.5 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), which is why it can still make sense for tighter-budget builds on paper. That said, if you already own a compatible AM4 + DDR4 setup, Ryzen 7 1700 can still make sense as a platform-matched option because it avoids a motherboard and RAM swap, but on MSRP alone you would want to find it meaningfully cheaper in real-world listings before that path becomes easy to justify.

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 2017), a healthier platform with none and DDR5 instead of AM4, and more multi-core headroom with 8 cores / 8 threads instead of 8/16. That gives you a healthier platform runway for motherboard, RAM, and later CPU upgrades.

M2 vs Ryzen 7 1700 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 7 1700

The Ryzen 7 1700 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2 March 2017 (8 years ago). It is based on the Zen (2017−2020) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 3 GHz, with boost up to 3.7 GHz. L3 cache: 16384 kB. L2 cache: 4096 kB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 14,772 points. Launch price was $329.

⚡

Processing Power

The M2 packs 8 cores / 8 threads, matching the Ryzen 7 1700's 8 cores. Boost clocks reach 3.48 GHz on the M2 versus 3.7 GHz on the Ryzen 7 1700 — a 6.1% clock advantage for the Ryzen 7 1700 (base: 2.424 GHz vs 3 GHz). The Ryzen 7 1700 is built on the Zen (2017−2020) architecture. In PassMark, the M2 scores 14,933 against the Ryzen 7 1700's 14,772 — a 1.1% lead for the M2.

Feature	M2	Ryzen 7 1700
Cores / Threads	8 / 8	8 / 16
Boost Clock	3.48 GHz	3.7 GHz+6%
Base Clock	2.424 GHz	3 GHz+24%
L3 Cache	—	16384 kB
L2 Cache	20 MB+400%	4096 kB
Process	5 nm-64%	14 nm
Architecture	—	Zen (2017−2020)
PassMark	14,933+1%	14,772
Cinebench R23 Multi	—	8,065
Geekbench 6 Single	—	1,000
Geekbench 6 Multi	—	5,000

🧠

Memory & Platform

The M2 uses the none socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Ryzen 7 1700 uses AM4 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

Feature	M2	Ryzen 7 1700
Socket	none	AM4
PCIe Generation	PCIe 4.0+33%	PCIe 3.0
Max RAM Speed	—	DDR4-2666
Max RAM Capacity	—	128 GB
RAM Channels	—	2
ECC Support	—	Yes
PCIe Lanes	—	24

🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization: not specified (M2) / AMD-V (Ryzen 7 1700). Primary use case: Ryzen 7 1700 targets Workstation. Direct competitor: Ryzen 7 1700 rivals Core i7-7700K.