Xeon Gold 6346 vs M4 Pro (14 cores)
Xeon Gold 6346
M4 Pro (14 cores)
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 6346
Performance Per Dollar M4 Pro (14 cores)
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon Gold 6346 | M4 Pro (14 cores) |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($2,195) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Ice Lake-SP (2021) / 10 nm) | ✨ Modern (Legacy / 3 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon Gold 6346 | M4 Pro (14 cores) |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($2,195) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
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 6346 and M4 Pro (14 cores)
Xeon Gold 6346
The Xeon Gold 6346 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2015-01-01. It is based on the Ice Lake-SP (2021) architecture. It features 16 cores and 32 threads. Base frequency is 3.1 GHz, with boost up to 3.6 GHz. L3 cache: 36 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 10 nm process technology. Socket: LGA4189. Thermal design power (TDP): 205 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-3200. Passmark benchmark score: 37,739 points. Launch price was $800.
M4 Pro (14 cores)
The M4 Pro (14 cores) is manufactured by Apple. It was released in 30 October 2024 (1 year ago). It features 14 cores and 14 threads. Base frequency is 2.59 GHz, with boost up to 4.5 GHz. Built on 3 nm process technology. Socket: none. Thermal design power (TDP): 4 MB. Memory support: LPDDR5X. Passmark benchmark score: 38,127 points. Launch price was $499.
Processing Power
The Xeon Gold 6346 packs 16 cores / 32 threads, while the M4 Pro (14 cores) offers 14 cores / 14 threads — the Xeon Gold 6346 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.6 GHz on the Xeon Gold 6346 versus 4.5 GHz on the M4 Pro (14 cores) — a 22.2% clock advantage for the M4 Pro (14 cores) (base: 3.1 GHz vs 2.59 GHz). The Xeon Gold 6346 is built on the Ice Lake-SP (2021) architecture. In PassMark, the Xeon Gold 6346 scores 37,739 against the M4 Pro (14 cores)'s 38,127 — a 1% lead for the M4 Pro (14 cores).
| Feature | Xeon Gold 6346 | M4 Pro (14 cores) |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 16 / 32+14% | 14 / 14 |
| Boost Clock | 3.6 GHz | 4.5 GHz+25% |
| Base Clock | 3.1 GHz+20% | 2.59 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 36 MB (total) | — |
| L2 Cache | 1 MB (per core) | — |
| Process | 10 nm | 3 nm-70% |
| Architecture | Ice Lake-SP (2021) | — |
| PassMark | 37,739 | 38,127+1% |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon Gold 6346 uses the LGA4189 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the M4 Pro (14 cores) uses none (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches 3200 on the Xeon Gold 6346 versus 8533 on the M4 Pro (14 cores) — the M4 Pro (14 cores) supports 90.9% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Xeon Gold 6346 supports up to 6144 of RAM compared to 64 — 195.9% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 8 (Xeon Gold 6346) vs 0 (M4 Pro (14 cores)). PCIe lanes: 64 (Xeon Gold 6346) vs 0 (M4 Pro (14 cores)) — the Xeon Gold 6346 offers 64 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: C621A (Xeon Gold 6346) and Apple M4 (M4 Pro (14 cores)).
| Feature | Xeon Gold 6346 | M4 Pro (14 cores) |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA4189 | none |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 4.0 | PCIe 4.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | 3200 | 8533+167% |
| Max RAM Capacity | 6144+9500% | 64 |
| RAM Channels | 8 | 0 |
| ECC Support | ✅ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 64 | 0 |
Advanced Features
Neither processor supports overclocking. Only the Xeon Gold 6346 supports AVX-512 instructions — important for machine learning and scientific applications. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d (Xeon Gold 6346) vs VT-x, VT-d (macOS) (M4 Pro (14 cores)). The M4 Pro (14 cores) includes integrated graphics (Apple M4 Pro GPU (20-core)), while the Xeon Gold 6346 requires a dedicated GPU. Direct competitor: Xeon Gold 6346 rivals EPYC 73F3; M4 Pro (14 cores) rivals Core Ultra 7 258V.
| Feature | Xeon Gold 6346 | M4 Pro (14 cores) |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | Yes |
| IGPU Model | None | Apple M4 Pro GPU (20-core) |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | Yes | No |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d | VT-x, VT-d (macOS) |
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