Ryzen Z2 Extreme vs M3 Pro 12-Core
Ryzen Z2 Extreme
M3 Pro 12-Core
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
Performance Per Dollar M3 Pro 12-Core
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Ryzen Z2 Extreme | M3 Pro 12-Core |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Strix Point (Zen 5) (2025) / 4 nm) | ✨ Modern (Legacy / 3 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Ryzen Z2 Extreme | M3 Pro 12-Core |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Ryzen Z2 Extreme and M3 Pro 12-Core
Ryzen Z2 Extreme
The Ryzen Z2 Extreme is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 6 January 2025 (less than a year ago). It is based on the Strix Point (Zen 5) (2025) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 2 GHz, with boost up to 5 GHz. L3 cache: 16 MB. L2 cache: 8 MB. Built on 4 nm process technology. Socket: FP8. Thermal design power (TDP): 8 MB + 16 MB. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 24,177 points. Launch price was $299.
M3 Pro 12-Core
The M3 Pro 12-Core is manufactured by Apple. It was released in 30 October 2023 (2 years ago). It features 12 cores and 12 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. Passmark benchmark score: 24,170 points. Launch price was $299.
Processing Power
The Ryzen Z2 Extreme packs 8 cores / 16 threads, while the M3 Pro 12-Core offers 12 cores / 12 threads — the M3 Pro 12-Core has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 5 GHz on the Ryzen Z2 Extreme versus 4.06 GHz on the M3 Pro 12-Core — a 20.8% clock advantage for the Ryzen Z2 Extreme (base: 2 GHz vs 2.748 GHz). The Ryzen Z2 Extreme is built on the Strix Point (Zen 5) (2025) architecture. In PassMark, the Ryzen Z2 Extreme scores 24,177 against the M3 Pro 12-Core's 24,170 — a 0% lead for the Ryzen Z2 Extreme.
| Feature | Ryzen Z2 Extreme | M3 Pro 12-Core |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 8 / 16 | 12 / 12+50% |
| Boost Clock | 5 GHz+23% | 4.06 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2 GHz | 2.748 GHz+37% |
| L3 Cache | 16 MB | — |
| L2 Cache | 8 MB | — |
| Process | 4 nm | 3 nm-25% |
| Architecture | Strix Point (Zen 5) (2025) | — |
| PassMark | 24,177 | 24,170 |
Memory & Platform
The Ryzen Z2 Extreme uses the FP8 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the M3 Pro 12-Core uses none (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Ryzen Z2 Extreme | M3 Pro 12-Core |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FP8 | none |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 4.0 | PCIe 4.0 |
Top Performing CPUs
The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
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