M4 Pro (12 cores) vs Xeon w3-2535
M4 Pro (12 cores)
Xeon w3-2535
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 M4 Pro (12 cores)
Performance Per Dollar Xeon w3-2535
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | M4 Pro (12 cores) | Xeon w3-2535 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($800) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Legacy / 3 nm) | ✨ Modern (Sapphire Rapids (2023−2024) / Intel 7 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | M4 Pro (12 cores) | Xeon w3-2535 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($800) |
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 M4 Pro (12 cores) and Xeon w3-2535
M4 Pro (12 cores)
The M4 Pro (12 cores) is manufactured by Apple. It was released in 30 October 2024 (1 year ago). It features 12 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 2.592 GHz, with boost up to 4.51 GHz. L2 cache: 4 MB. Built on 3 nm process technology. Socket: none. Thermal design power (TDP): 4 MB. Memory support: LPDDR5X. Passmark benchmark score: 32,853 points. Launch price was $499.
Xeon w3-2535
The Xeon w3-2535 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 24 August 2024 (1 year ago). It is based on the Sapphire Rapids (2023−2024) architecture. It features 10 cores and 20 threads. Base frequency is 3.5 GHz, with boost up to 4.6 GHz. L3 cache: 26.25 MB. L2 cache: 2 MB (per core). Built on Intel 7 nm process technology. Socket: LGA4677. Thermal design power (TDP): 185 Watt. Memory support: DDR5-4400. Passmark benchmark score: 33,367 points. Launch price was $739.
Processing Power
The M4 Pro (12 cores) packs 12 cores / 12 threads, while the Xeon w3-2535 offers 10 cores / 20 threads — the M4 Pro (12 cores) has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.51 GHz on the M4 Pro (12 cores) versus 4.6 GHz on the Xeon w3-2535 — a 2% clock advantage for the Xeon w3-2535 (base: 2.592 GHz vs 3.5 GHz). The Xeon w3-2535 is built on the Sapphire Rapids (2023−2024) architecture. In PassMark, the M4 Pro (12 cores) scores 32,853 against the Xeon w3-2535's 33,367 — a 1.6% lead for the Xeon w3-2535. Cinebench R23 multi-core: 18,904 vs 17,500 (7.7% advantage for the M4 Pro (12 cores)). Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 3,812 vs 2,254, a 51.4% lead for the M4 Pro (12 cores) that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 20,076 vs 12,400 (47.3% advantage for the M4 Pro (12 cores)).
| Feature | M4 Pro (12 cores) | Xeon w3-2535 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 12 / 12+20% | 10 / 20 |
| Boost Clock | 4.51 GHz | 4.6 GHz+2% |
| Base Clock | 2.592 GHz | 3.5 GHz+35% |
| L3 Cache | — | 26.25 MB |
| L2 Cache | 4 MB+100% | 2 MB (per core) |
| Process | 3 nm-57% | Intel 7 nm |
| Architecture | — | Sapphire Rapids (2023−2024) |
| PassMark | 32,853 | 33,367+2% |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | 18,904+8% | 17,500 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 3,812+69% | 2,254 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 20,076+62% | 12,400 |
Memory & Platform
The M4 Pro (12 cores) uses the none socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Xeon w3-2535 uses LGA4677 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to LPDDR5x-8000 memory speed. The Xeon w3-2535 supports up to 2048 GB of RAM compared to 64 GB — 187.9% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 1 (M4 Pro (12 cores)) vs 4 (Xeon w3-2535). PCIe lanes: 0 (M4 Pro (12 cores)) vs 64 (Xeon w3-2535) — the Xeon w3-2535 offers 64 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: Apple SoC (M4 Pro (12 cores)) and W790 (Xeon w3-2535).
| Feature | M4 Pro (12 cores) | Xeon w3-2535 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | none | LGA4677 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 4.0 | PCIe 5.0+25% |
| Max RAM Speed | LPDDR5x-8000 | DDR5-4400 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 64 GB | 2048 GB+3100% |
| RAM Channels | 1 | 4+300% |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | 0 | 64 |
Advanced Features
Neither processor supports overclocking. Only the Xeon w3-2535 supports AVX-512 instructions — important for machine learning and scientific applications. Virtualization support: Apple Virtualization (M4 Pro (12 cores)) vs VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Xeon w3-2535). The M4 Pro (12 cores) includes integrated graphics (M4 Pro 16-core GPU), while the Xeon w3-2535 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: M4 Pro (12 cores) targets High-end Content Creation, Xeon w3-2535 targets Workstation. Direct competitor: M4 Pro (12 cores) rivals Ryzen 9 8945HS; Xeon w3-2535 rivals EPYC 7313.
| Feature | M4 Pro (12 cores) | Xeon w3-2535 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | No |
| IGPU Model | M4 Pro 16-core GPU | — |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | No | Yes |
| Virtualization | Apple Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d, EPT |
| Target Use | High-end Content Creation | Workstation |
Top Performing CPUs
The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
You May Also Compare
Similar CPU comparisons based on M4 Pro (12 cores) and Xeon w3-2535
