Apple M1 Max vs AMD Ryzen 9 7900X

Processor comparisons 21-10-2022

   Let's say you can't decide which processor to buy, you can make a decision by looking at the Apple M1 Max vs AMD Ryzen 9 7900X tests and see which is better for games or simple use for machine learning, rendering, programming, streaming, video editing. Here is all information from real video editing and streaming tests or various benchmarks. A careful analysis of all the specifications, so that it can be easier to understand, is made by the table.
   From the comparison video, you can get the results of parallel examination in special test applications such as VeraCrypt, PassMark, World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, Handbrake, GeekBench 6, 5.2, MATLAB, Dolphin Emulator, AIDA64, Gears 5, Blender, 3DMark, Furmark, SuperPi, WPrime, DaVinci Resolve Studio, 7zip, Prime95, UserBenchmark, Blender, RealBench, PCMark 10, Cinebench 23 (20, 15).
   Gaming performance of processors in:

Cyberpunk 2077
Fortnite
Grand Theft Auto V
Last Man Standing
DOOM: Eternal
Apex Legends
Borderlands 3
Fallout 76
World of Warcraft: Shadowlands
Death Stranding
Overwatch
Halo Infinite
Valheim
Rainbow Six Siege
Assassin's Creed Valhalla
Red Dead Redemption 2
Watch Dogs Legion
Valorant
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare and Warzone

After looking at the data of joint benchmarks and videos, you can already make an briefed decision about which CPU is better to buy for gaming AMD Ryzen 9 7900X or Apple M1 Max.

Summary benchmark results

As a percentage of the maximum value based on a sample from the entire base of all processors
Processor Benchmark

M1 Max

60%

Ryzen 9 7900X

66%

This parameter shows the performance of the processors in single-threaded and multi-threaded mode. In this comparison, Ryzen 9 7900X is 9% better than M1 Max. The data source is several popular tests. Detailed information can be found below.

Gaming performance
Summary result of all game benchmarks.

M1 Max

57%

Ryzen 9 7900X

62%

For the maximum in this test, the results of the most powerful processor in the site database are taken. And it is clear that this is a server processor, on which no one will play games. Because this processor costs several tens of thousands of dollars. And if it seems to you that the selected CPU has a small game result, look at the FPS that it produces in real games in the final table below.
List of other games in which processors were compared: Metro Exodus, NBA 2K20, DOTA 2A, Hitman 3, Microsoft Flight Simulator, Battlefield V, Half-Life: Alyx, Forza Horizon 4, League of Legends (LOL), Monster Hunter World, Control, Ghostrunner, PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG), Shadow of the Tomb Raider, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Resident Evil 7 Biohazard, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS GO), Horizon Zero Dawn.

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	101.3	110.0
Valorant	115.1	125.1
Cyberpunk 2077	64.5	70.0
Apex Legends	108.2	117.5
Call of Duty Warzone	86.3	93.8
Overwatch	93.2	101.3
Red Dead Redemption 2	79.4	86.3
DOOM Eternal	57.6	62.5
Warzone	89.8	97.5
Assassin's Creed	96.7	105.0
Valheim	95.5	103.8

The numbers in this table indicate the maximum FPS that was received on the device with the corresponding processor. Depending on the configuration of the computer (RAM size and Video Card) and graphics quality settings (Ultra, Medium, Normal), the results may differ quite significantly. We recommend that you better study the results of the Cinebench, GeekBench and Passmark becnmarks.
The computers participating in the comparisons not only were the equipped with different amounts of RAM and different video cards. But users also tested them at different screen resolutions: 2K, FullHD or 4K. So the game benchmark data is approximate. But all video cards met the average system requirements of games. You will get more accurate information about how powerful the processor will be in games, if you compare it in one assembly with the video card that is installed in your computer.

Power consumption

M1 Max

332%

Ryzen 9 7900X

42%

To make a finishing resolution on which processor is better, you should also consider the generation of its core. It is clear that the newer the generation, the better the performance of the processor in games and benchmarks, as well as its energy efficiency. In this case the M1 Max is more energy efficient than the Ryzen 9 7900X as it consumes less power: 18W vs. 170W. Power consumption is especially important for laptops. Also, when choosing a processor cooling system, it will be useful to know its TDP. You need to buy a cooler that has the TDP data specified in the specification was greater than the TDP of the compared processor.

Software benchmarks

Let's say you plan to use the processor not only for gaming, but also for machine learning, programming, streaming, video editing or video rendering, then first of all you need to pay attention to the performance in multi-threaded mode. In this mode, to reach maximum performance, the processor includes all threads and cores that it has. You will learn this data from the benchmark tables below. Before using the data from these tests, be sure to check whether the software you are going to use on your computer supports multi-threaded mode. Since there are still many programs that can use only one core to run, and all the advantages of multi-core mode turns out to be unnecessary.

Cinebench 23, 20 an 15
The results of this benchmark show Single-threaded and Multi-threaded CPU performance

	Apple M1 Max	AMD Ryzen 9 7900X
Cinbench 15 Single-core	313	310
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	1811	5138
Cinbench 20 Single-core	617	749
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	3106	12290
Cinbench 23 Single-core	2360	1918
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	12204	33781

Passmark
This popular benchmark displays Multi-threaded and Single-threaded processor performance

	Apple M1 Max	AMD Ryzen 9 7900X
Single-Core	5344	4063
Multi-Core	34572	54482

GeekBench 6, 5.2
This benchmark shows Multi-threaded and Single-threaded processor performance

	Apple M1 Max	AMD Ryzen 9 7900X
Single-Core	1793	2172
Multi-Core	13028	21612

Comparison of specifications

In the specification comparison table, the most helpful will be the release date of the processor and the possibility of overclocking it. The newer the processor, the longer it will last in your computer. And the easier it will be to upgrade the system in the future. The same benefits from the presence of overclocking. If the processor can be overclocked, increasing its performance, then it will still be able to produce maximum FPS even in new games. The economy are obvious! Accordingly, you do not need to buy a new CPU to enjoy the games any longer.

	Apple M1 Max	AMD Ryzen 9 7900X
Announcement date	October 07, 2021	September 27, 2022
Type	Laptop;Desktop	Desktop
Socket	M1	AM5
Core name	8x Firestorm and 2x Icestorm	Raphael
Architecture	hybrid (big.LITTLE)	Zen 4
Generation	1	5
Turbo Frequency		5.6 MHz
Frequency	3.2 MHz	4.7 MHz
Cores	10	12
Threads	10	24
Bus rate
Bit	64	64
Lithography	5 nm	5 nm
Transistors count	57000 millions	12600 millions
Power consumption (TDP)	18 W	170 W
Memory type	LPDDR5 - Up to 6400MHz	DDR4
Max. Memory	64 Gb
Memory Frequency	6400	3200
Memory bandwidth	409 GByte/s
L1 cache	4MB	768KB
L2 cache	24MB	12MB
L3 cache	48MB	64MB
Overclocking	No	Yes
Supports ECC	No	No
Part number	APL1105	100-000000589

In this comparison block, you should pay attention to the differences in clock speed and the number of cores. Here Ryzen 9 7900X is 31% better than M1 Max in terms of CPU frequency. Another difference is that Ryzen 9 7900X has 2 more core than M1 Max. Also keep in mind that high CPU frequency affects battery life through power consumption (relevant for laptops).

Result:
The number of parameters for which Apple M1 Max is better: 9
The number of parameters for which AMD Ryzen 9 7900X is better: 27
Although it should be realized that the summary data in the table above do not mean that taking them into account you should entirely trust a simple comparison of these numbers. Be sure to watch the video tests and read the reviews of real owners of Apple M1 Max and AMD Ryzen 9 7900X before deciding which of the CPUs to buy for gaming.

Apple M1 Max - all data

• Cinebench r15 score
• Cinebench r20 score
• Cinebench r23 score
• GeekBench 6, 5.2 score

• Apple M1 Max specs and review.

AMD Ryzen 9 7900X - all data

• Cinebench r15 score
• Cinebench r20 score
• Cinebench r23 score
• GeekBench 6, 5.2 score

• AMD Ryzen 9 7900X specs and review.