CPU Comparison
Apple M2 Ultra vs Intel Xeon w7-2575X
A side-by-side comparison of specs, performance and value. The Apple M2 Ultra is a system-on-a-chip (SoC) designed by Apple, representing the pinnacle of the M2 family. Built using TSMC's 5nm process, it combines two M2 Max dies using Apple's custom UltraFusion architecture to deliver unprecedented processing power for professional workflows.
The Bottom Line
Overview & Launch
Specifications Compared
Performance Compared
Productivity
Gaming
Virtualization
Efficiency
Specialized Performance
AI / ML
- The 32-core Neural Engine provides massive throughput for on-device ML.
- Ideal for training large Core ML models locally.
- PyTorch and TensorFlow are well-optimized for this architecture via MPS.
- Intel AMX provides dedicated matrix acceleration for deep learning workloads.
- Suitable for small to medium models and inference tasks; large-scale training still typically uses GPUs or specialized accelerators.
- No integrated GPU or dedicated AI accelerator beyond CPU-based AMX/DL Boost.
Content Creation
Gaming
- While the GPU is powerful, macOS gaming library is limited.
- Lack of dedicated ray tracing hardware compared to modern NVIDIA/AMD GPUs.
- Excellent performance for Apple Arcade and optimized titles.
- Not designed for high-refresh-rate competitive gaming.
- Single-thread performance is strong thanks to 4.8 GHz turbo.
- Most games cannot leverage 22 cores; GPU and platform matter more.
- Not a gaming-focused SKU; high cost and power are hard to justify for pure gaming builds.
Industry Impact
Best CPU by Use Case
Target Audience
Strengths & Weaknesses
Pros
- Massive unified memory capacity (up to 192GB)
- Incredible power efficiency relative to performance
- Industry-leading media engine for video professionals
- Silent operation in Mac Studio chassis
- Seamless integration with macOS ecosystem
Cons
- Cannot upgrade RAM or storage after purchase
- High cost of entry for professional configurations
- Software compatibility issues with some legacy x86 plugins
- Gaming performance trails dedicated high-end PCs
- Repairability is extremely limited
Pros
- 22 high-performance cores and 44 threads for parallel workloads
- 64 PCIe 5.0 lanes for multi-GPU and fast storage configurations
- Quad-channel DDR5-4800 with ECC up to 2 TB
- Intel AMX and DL Boost for AI acceleration
- Unlocked multiplier for overclocking on W790 platforms
- Mature platform with W790 chipset and robust RAS features
Cons
- High 250W base and 300W max turbo power draw
- Requires expensive W790 motherboard and robust cooling
- Overkill and costly for gaming or light productivity
- No integrated graphics; discrete GPU required
- Newer platforms may offer better efficiency per dollar
Competitors & Alternatives
Apple M2 Ultra
- AMD Ryzen Threadripper Pro 7995WXRival
Workstation
- Intel Xeon w9-3495XRival
Workstation
- NVIDIA RTX 6000 Ada GenerationRival
GPU Compute
- AMD Ryzen 9 7950XRival
High-End Desktop
- Compare head-to-headApple M3 MaxRival
Mobile Workstation
- Custom PC (Threadripper + RTX 4090)Alt
Better for users who need Windows-specific software, maximum upgradeability, or raw gaming FPS.
- Alt
Significantly cheaper while still offering excellent performance for most creative tasks.
Compare head-to-head - Mac Studio M1 UltraAlt
Viable used option for those who need raw power but have a tighter budget.
- Intel Core i9-14900K BuildAlt
Higher peak clock speeds for specific gaming and lightly-threaded workloads.
Intel Xeon w7-2575X
- AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7955WXRival
Workstation
- AMD Ryzen 9 7950XRival
High-End Desktop
- Compare head-to-headIntel Xeon w5-2565XRival
Workstation
- Compare head-to-headIntel Xeon w9-3595XRival
Workstation
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i9-14900KRival
High-End Desktop
Our Verdict on Each
The M2 Ultra is a technological marvel that effectively renders high-end Intel Xeon and AMD Threadripper workstations obsolete for the vast majority of creative professionals by offering massive memory bandwidth and core counts in a relatively power-efficient package.
Best for: Professional video editing, 3D animation, or developers requiring massive memory datasets.
Read the full reviewA very capable single-socket workstation CPU with high core count, strong I/O, and AMX-based AI acceleration, but its high power and cost make sense only for professionals who can fully utilize its parallelism and PCIe bandwidth.
Best for: Professional workstations for 3D rendering, CAD/CAE, video editing and AI development where you need many cores, lots of PCIe 5.0 lanes, and ECC memory in a single-socket platform.
Read the full reviewFrequently Asked Questions
Which is better, Apple M2 Ultra or Intel Xeon w7-2575X?
Based on our editorial ratings, the Apple M2 Ultra comes out ahead with a score of 9.5/10. That said, the best choice depends on your workload — check the spec and performance breakdown above for gaming, productivity and efficiency differences.
Which is faster for gaming, Apple M2 Ultra or Intel Xeon w7-2575X?
For gaming, the Intel Xeon w7-2575X leads with a gaming performance score of 70/100 among Apple M2 Ultra and Intel Xeon w7-2575X.
Which uses less power?
The Intel Xeon w7-2575X has the lowest rated TDP. Power draw across these chips: Intel Xeon w7-2575X (250 W).
Do Apple M2 Ultra and Intel Xeon w7-2575X use the same socket?
No. They use different sockets (Apple M2 Ultra: BGA (Integrated), Intel Xeon w7-2575X: FCLGA4677), so each needs a compatible motherboard.
Which has more cores?
The Apple M2 Ultra has the most cores. Core counts: Apple M2 Ultra (24 cores), Intel Xeon w7-2575X (22 cores).
Which is faster in multi-core benchmarks?
The Intel Xeon w7-2575X posts the highest multi-core benchmark score. Multi-core results: Apple M2 Ultra (0), Intel Xeon w7-2575X (52,091). Benchmark figures are approximate and workload-dependent.