Xeon Gold 5515+ vs M2 Max
Xeon Gold 5515+
M2 Max
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 Xeon Gold 5515+
Performance Per Dollar M2 Max
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon Gold 5515+ | M2 Max |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Emerald Rapids (2023) / 10 nm) | ✨ Modern (Legacy / 5 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon Gold 5515+ | M2 Max |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Xeon Gold 5515+ and M2 Max
Xeon Gold 5515+
The Xeon Gold 5515+ is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 14 December 2023 (1 year ago). It is based on the Emerald Rapids (2023) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 3.2 GHz, with boost up to 4.1 GHz. L3 cache: 22.5 MB (total). L2 cache: 2 MB (per core). Built on 10 nm process technology. Socket: LGA4677. Thermal design power (TDP): 165 Watt. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 26,359 points. Launch price was $1,099.
M2 Max
The M2 Max is manufactured by Apple. It was released in 17 January 2023 (2 years ago). It features 12 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 2.424 GHz, with boost up to 3.7 GHz. L3 cache: 48 MB. L2 cache: 36 MB. Built on 5 nm process technology. Socket: none. Thermal design power (TDP): 36 MB + 48 MB. Memory support: LPDDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 26,824 points. Launch price was $299.
Processing Power
The Xeon Gold 5515+ packs 8 cores / 16 threads, while the M2 Max offers 12 cores / 12 threads — the M2 Max has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.1 GHz on the Xeon Gold 5515+ versus 3.7 GHz on the M2 Max — a 10.3% clock advantage for the Xeon Gold 5515+ (base: 3.2 GHz vs 2.424 GHz). The Xeon Gold 5515+ is built on the Emerald Rapids (2023) architecture. In PassMark, the Xeon Gold 5515+ scores 26,359 against the M2 Max's 26,824 — a 1.7% lead for the M2 Max. L3 cache: 22.5 MB (total) on the Xeon Gold 5515+ vs 48 MB on the M2 Max.
| Feature | Xeon Gold 5515+ | M2 Max |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 8 / 16 | 12 / 12+50% |
| Boost Clock | 4.1 GHz+11% | 3.7 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.2 GHz+32% | 2.424 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 22.5 MB (total) | 48 MB+113% |
| L2 Cache | 2 MB (per core) | 36 MB+1700% |
| Process | 10 nm | 5 nm-50% |
| Architecture | Emerald Rapids (2023) | — |
| PassMark | 26,359 | 26,824+2% |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon Gold 5515+ uses the LGA4677 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the M2 Max uses none (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Xeon Gold 5515+ | M2 Max |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA4677 | none |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 4.0 | PCIe 4.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | — | LPDDR5-6400 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 96 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 4 |
| ECC Support | — | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 0 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Xeon Gold 5515+) / Virtualization (M2 Max). The M2 Max includes integrated graphics (Apple M2 Max GPU), while the Xeon Gold 5515+ requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: M2 Max targets Mobile.
| Feature | Xeon Gold 5515+ | M2 Max |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | Apple M2 Max GPU |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | Virtualization |
| Target Use | — | Mobile |
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