
M2 vs Xeon Gold 5115

M2

Xeon Gold 5115
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
Performance Per Dollar Xeon Gold 5115
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | M2 | Xeon Gold 5115 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Legacy / 5 nm) | ✨ Modern (Skylake (server) (2017−2018) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | M2 | Xeon Gold 5115 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 and Xeon Gold 5115
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.

Xeon Gold 5115
The Xeon Gold 5115 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 11 July 2017 (8 years ago). It is based on the Skylake (server) (2017−2018) architecture. It features 10 cores and 20 threads. Base frequency is 2.4 GHz, with boost up to 3.2 GHz. L3 cache: 13.75 MB. L2 cache: 10 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA3647. Thermal design power (TDP): 85 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2400. Passmark benchmark score: 15,017 points. Launch price was $1,221.
Processing Power
The M2 packs 8 cores / 8 threads, while the Xeon Gold 5115 offers 10 cores / 20 threads — the Xeon Gold 5115 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.48 GHz on the M2 versus 3.2 GHz on the Xeon Gold 5115 — a 8.4% clock advantage for the M2 (base: 2.424 GHz vs 2.4 GHz). The Xeon Gold 5115 is built on the Skylake (server) (2017−2018) architecture. In PassMark, the M2 scores 14,933 against the Xeon Gold 5115's 15,017 — a 0.6% lead for the Xeon Gold 5115.
| Feature | M2 | Xeon Gold 5115 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 8 / 8 | 10 / 20+25% |
| Boost Clock | 3.48 GHz+9% | 3.2 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.424 GHz+1% | 2.4 GHz |
| L3 Cache | — | 13.75 MB |
| L2 Cache | 20 MB+100% | 10 MB |
| Process | 5 nm-64% | 14 nm |
| Architecture | — | Skylake (server) (2017−2018) |
| PassMark | 14,933 | 15,017 |
Memory & Platform
The M2 uses the none socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Xeon Gold 5115 uses LGA3647 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | M2 | Xeon Gold 5115 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | none | LGA3647 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 4.0+33% | PCIe 3.0 |
Top Performing CPUs
The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.












