M3 Max 16-Core vs Xeon 6515P

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.

MSRP is the manufacturer's suggested retail price.•
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.

Performance Per Dollar M3 Max 16-Core

#210

M3 Max 16-Core

MSRP: N/A|Avg: N/A

100%

Based on actual market prices and performance synthetic scores.

Performance Per Dollar Xeon 6515P

#182

EPYC Embedded 8224P

MSRP: $855|Avg: $1048

104%

#187

Xeon Gold 5520+

MSRP: $1083|Avg: $764

103%

#188

EPYC 8124P

MSRP: $639|Avg: $639

103%

#196

Xeon 6515P

MSRP: $740|Avg: $886

100%

#201

Xeon Gold 6248R

MSRP: $2700|Avg: N/A

99%

#210

EPYC 8224P

MSRP: $855|Avg: $1048

97%

Based on actual market prices and performance synthetic scores.

Performance Comparison

About PassMark

🏆 Chipversus Verdict

🚀 Performance Leadership

Use Case Distinction: This is a comparison between a Professional Workstation processor ($886) and a Consumer Desktop CPU. The Xeon 6515P is engineered for massive parallel workloads (rendering, scientific simulations), offering significantly higher core counts.

Insight	M3 Max 16-Core	Xeon 6515P
Gaming	✅ Superior gaming performance	❌ Lower gaming performance
Workstation	✅ Better multi-core power	❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks
Price	✅ More affordable ($0)	⚠️ Higher cost ($886)
Longevity	✨ Modern (Legacy / 3 nm)	✨ Modern (Granite Rapids (2024−2025) / Intel 3 nm)

💎 Value Proposition

The M3 Max 16-Core ($0), however, is optimized for mixed workloads and gaming. For most users, it offers superior single-thread performance and responsiveness at a fraction of the cost ($886 less, 100% cheaper), making it the better choice for daily use and gaming.

Insight	M3 Max 16-Core	Xeon 6515P
Cost Efficiency	❌ Lower cost efficiency	❌ Lower cost efficiency
Upfront Cost	✅ More affordable ($0)	⚠️ Higher cost ($886)

Performance Check

Paired with RTX 4090

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.

M3 Max 16-Core Benchmark Check

Xeon 6515P Benchmark Check

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of M3 Max 16-Core and Xeon 6515P

M3 Max 16-Core

The M3 Max 16-Core is manufactured by Apple. It was released in 30 October 2023 (2 years ago). It features 16 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 2.748 GHz, with boost up to 4.06 GHz. Built on 3 nm process technology. Socket: none. Memory support: LPDDR5, LPDDR5X. Passmark benchmark score: 41,257 points. Launch price was $499.

Xeon 6515P

The Xeon 6515P is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 24 February 2025 (less than a year ago). It is based on the Granite Rapids (2024−2025) architecture. It features 16 cores and 32 threads. Base frequency is 2.3 GHz, with boost up to 3.8 GHz. L3 cache: 72 MB (total). L2 cache: 2 MB (per core). Built on Intel 3 nm process technology. Socket: LGA4710. Thermal design power (TDP): 150 Watt. Memory support: DDR5(6400MT/s). Passmark benchmark score: 40,720 points. Launch price was $740.

⚡

Processing Power

The M3 Max 16-Core packs 16 cores / 16 threads, matching the Xeon 6515P's 16 cores. Boost clocks reach 4.06 GHz on the M3 Max 16-Core versus 3.8 GHz on the Xeon 6515P — a 6.6% clock advantage for the M3 Max 16-Core (base: 2.748 GHz vs 2.3 GHz). The Xeon 6515P is built on the Granite Rapids (2024−2025) architecture. In PassMark, the M3 Max 16-Core scores 41,257 against the Xeon 6515P's 40,720 — a 1.3% lead for the M3 Max 16-Core.

Feature	M3 Max 16-Core	Xeon 6515P
Cores / Threads	16 / 16	16 / 32
Boost Clock	4.06 GHz+7%	3.8 GHz
Base Clock	2.748 GHz+19%	2.3 GHz
L3 Cache	—	72 MB (total)
L2 Cache	—	2 MB (per core)
Process	3 nm	Intel 3 nm
Architecture	—	Granite Rapids (2024−2025)
PassMark	41,257+1%	40,720

🧠

Memory & Platform

The M3 Max 16-Core uses the none socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Xeon 6515P uses LGA4710 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to 6400 memory speed. The Xeon 6515P supports up to 4096 of RAM compared to 128 — 187.9% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 4 (M3 Max 16-Core) vs 8 (Xeon 6515P). PCIe lanes: 0 (M3 Max 16-Core) vs 88 (Xeon 6515P) — the Xeon 6515P offers 88 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: Apple M3 (M3 Max 16-Core) and LGA4710 (Xeon 6515P).

Feature	M3 Max 16-Core	Xeon 6515P
Socket	none	LGA4710
PCIe Generation	PCIe 4.0	PCIe 5.0+25%
Max RAM Speed	6400	6400
Max RAM Capacity	128	4096+3100%
RAM Channels	4	8+100%
ECC Support	❌	✅
PCIe Lanes	0	88

🔧

Advanced Features

Neither processor supports overclocking. Only the Xeon 6515P supports AVX-512 instructions — important for machine learning and scientific applications. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d (macOS) (M3 Max 16-Core) vs VT-x, VT-d (Xeon 6515P). The M3 Max 16-Core includes integrated graphics (Apple M3 Max GPU (40-core)), while the Xeon 6515P requires a dedicated GPU. Direct competitor: M3 Max 16-Core rivals Core i9-13950HX; Xeon 6515P rivals EPYC 9534.