The CPU market has long been a two-horse race between Intel and AMD, but the introduction of Apple Silicon in 2020 has shaken up the industry in a big way. Apple‘s custom ARM-based chips, starting with the M1 and now the M2, have proven to be formidable competitors to the x86 incumbents, offering a compelling blend of performance and efficiency.
As a digital technology expert with a passion for the latest and greatest in computing hardware, I‘ve been closely following the rise of Apple Silicon and how it stacks up against the best that AMD and Intel have to offer. In this article, I‘ll be putting Apple‘s M2 chip head-to-head against AMD‘s Ryzen processors to see which platform comes out on top.
The Contenders
In the red corner, we have the Apple M2. Fabricated on TSMC‘s advanced 5nm process node, the M2 boasts an 8-core CPU (4 performance cores and 4 efficiency cores), up to a 10-core GPU, and a 16-core Neural Engine for machine learning workloads. It supports up to 24GB of unified LPDDR5 memory and integrates various system components like I/O controllers into a single system-on-a-chip (SoC) package.
And in the blue corner, we have AMD Ryzen. Built on the company‘s Zen 3 and Zen 4 architectures and manufactured on TSMC‘s 7nm and 5nm nodes, Ryzen processors power the majority of Windows PCs and are popular among gamers and content creators thanks to their strong multi-core performance and support for the latest technologies like PCIe 5.0 and DDR5 memory.
Performance Face-Off
To see how the M2 and Ryzen stack up in terms of raw performance, let‘s take a look at some benchmark results. In Geekbench 5, which measures overall CPU performance, the M2 scores around 1,900 in single-core and 8,500 in multi-core. For comparison, AMD‘s top desktop CPU, the 16-core Ryzen 9 7950X3D, achieves scores of 2,200 and 24,000 respectively.
| CPU | Geekbench 5 (Single-Core) | Geekbench 5 (Multi-Core) |
|---|---|---|
| Apple M2 | 1,900 | 8,500 |
| Ryzen 9 7950X3D | 2,200 | 24,000 |
| Ryzen 7 7700X | 2,100 | 15,500 |
| Ryzen 5 7600 | 1,900 | 11,500 |
As you can see, the Ryzen 9 7950X3D handily outperforms the M2 in multi-core performance thanks to its significant core count advantage, while also maintaining a slight lead in single-core. However, it‘s important to note that the 7950X3D is a desktop chip with a much higher power budget (~170W) compared to the M2‘s modest 25W TDP.
If we look at AMD‘s mobile offerings, the comparison becomes more favorable for the M2. The Ryzen 7 6800U found in many high-end ultraportable laptops scores around 1,500 and 7,500 in Geekbench single and multi-core respectively, putting it slightly behind the M2.
In terms of graphics performance, the M2‘s integrated GPU with up to 10 cores is roughly on par with the integrated Radeon 680M found in AMD‘s top mobile Ryzen 6000 series chips. Both are capable of light gaming and accelerating creative workloads, but still fall well short of even mid-range discrete GPUs.
Architectural Advantages
While benchmarks are one way to compare performance, it‘s also important to consider the architectural differences between the M2 and Ryzen that impact their performance characteristics and suitability for different workloads.
One of the key advantages of the M2 is its unified memory architecture, which allows the CPU and GPU to share a single pool of fast LPDDR5 memory. This tight integration reduces latency and improves bandwidth, which can significantly boost performance in tasks like video editing and machine learning.
The M2 also benefits from Apple‘s in-house design and vertical integration. By controlling the entire stack from silicon to software, Apple is able to optimize performance and efficiency in a way that AMD and Intel cannot. The M2‘s 16-core Neural Engine, for example, is highly tuned for the machine learning accelerated functions in macOS and applications like Final Cut Pro.
On the flip side, AMD Ryzen processors offer several advantages over the M2. Supporting industry standard interfaces like DDR5 memory and PCIe 5.0, Ryzen systems can be easily upgraded with more memory, storage, and faster GPUs as needs grow and new generations of components become available.
Ryzen‘s chiplet-based design and use of advanced packaging technologies like 3D V-Cache also give it an edge in terms of scalability. AMD can easily create higher core count CPUs for desktops and servers by packaging multiple chiplets together, something that would be more difficult with Apple‘s monolithic SoC approach.
Future Roadmap
Both Apple and AMD have ambitious plans for the future of their respective platforms. On Apple‘s side, the company has already announced the M2 Pro and M2 Max chips that will power the next generation of high-end MacBook Pros. Rumor has it that the M3 is also in development, which will likely be fabricated on TSMC‘s 3nm process node and offer significant performance and efficiency gains over the M2.
Looking further ahead, Apple is expected to continue scaling up its silicon with even higher core counts and more powerful GPUs to address an ever-wider range of use cases. We may even see Apple Silicon make its way into the Mac Pro and higher-end iMacs in the coming years. Apple has proven its ability to deliver industry-leading performance-per-watt and it will be exciting to see how far they can push their ARM-based chips.
As for AMD, the company has a robust roadmap for both its desktop and mobile Ryzen processors. Zen 4 chips based on the 5nm node are already shipping, and Zen 5 is on track for a 2024 debut with a jump to the 4nm node. AMD is also investing heavily in AI and machine learning with its Xilinx acquisition, which could help it close the gap with Apple‘s Neural Engine in future products.
Industry Impact
The rise of Apple Silicon has had a profound impact on the broader PC industry. For years, Intel and AMD enjoyed a cozy duopoly in the x86 CPU space, with little incentive to innovate or push the envelope in terms of performance and efficiency. Apple‘s decision to transition Macs to its own custom ARM chips sent shockwaves through the industry and lit a fire under its competitors.
Intel, in particular, has been forced to step up its game with more aggressive process node cadences, new architectures like Alder Lake‘s hybrid design, and a renewed focus on mobile chips. AMD, too, has accelerated its roadmap and is now more competitive than ever with Intel in the desktop and server markets.
The success of the M1 and M2 has also sparked interest in ARM-based PCs from other vendors. Qualcomm has introduced its Snapdragon 8cx Gen 3 SoC for Windows laptops, and Microsoft is rumored to be working on its own ARM-based chips for Surface devices. While ARM PCs have struggled to gain traction in the past, the performance and efficiency of Apple Silicon have shown that the future of computing may well be ARM-based.
Conclusion
So where does this leave us in the battle between Apple‘s M2 and AMD‘s Ryzen processors? Ultimately, both platforms have their strengths and weaknesses, and the "best" choice will depend on your specific needs and preferences.
If you value performance above all else and don‘t mind a higher power draw, AMD‘s Ryzen 9 and Ryzen 7 desktop CPUs are hard to beat for productivity and gaming. For laptops, the Ryzen 6000 and 7000 series offer an excellent balance of performance and efficiency, though they still trail the M2 in certain scenarios.
On the other hand, if you prioritize efficiency, portability, and tight integration between hardware and software, the Apple M2 is a compelling option. Its unified memory architecture and powerful media engines make it particularly well-suited for creative workflows, and the performance-per-watt it delivers is simply unmatched by any x86 laptop chip.
As for the question of value, it‘s a bit of a wash. Apple‘s entry-level M2 MacBook Air starts at a fairly steep $1,199, though you could argue that its sleek design, stellar build quality, and included software add significant value. A similarly specced Windows ultrabook with a Ryzen 7 6800U might cost a couple hundred dollars less, but lacks the M2‘s bespoke silicon and integrated GPU.
Personally, as someone who splits my time between macOS and Windows, I see the appeal of both platforms. For on-the-go productivity and creative work, I lean towards the M2 MacBook Air for its stellar battery life and snappy performance. But for gaming and more intensive tasks, my desktop Ryzen 9 7950X3D system is my go-to workhorse.
Regardless of which side you land on, there‘s no denying that Apple‘s entrance into the silicon space with the M1 and M2 has been a net positive for the industry. It‘s pushed AMD and Intel to up their game, and sparked a new wave of innovation and competition that will ultimately benefit consumers with faster, more efficient, and more capable PCs. I for one can‘t wait to see what the future holds.
