Apple M1 Max vs Intel Core i9-13900KS

Processor comparisons 21-10-2022

   If you are thinking about choosing a processor, you will be able to make a choice after reading the detailed tests Apple M1 Max vs Intel Core i9-13900KS and see which is better for games or simple use for video editing, programming, machine learning, rendering, streaming. Here is useful information from real streaming and video editing tests or different benchmarks. A careful review of all the specifications, so that it can be easier to read, is presented in the form of the table.
   From the comparison video, you can get the results of joint testing in special test applications like UserBenchmark, Blender, DaVinci Resolve Studio, PCMark 10, MATLAB, WPrime, GeekBench 6, 5.2, 7zip, Cinebench 23 (20, 15), Furmark, 3DMark, Gears 5, SuperPi, World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, Prime95, Blender, Dolphin Emulator, RealBench, PassMark, VeraCrypt, AIDA64, Handbrake.
   Gaming performance of processors in:

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

After looking at the data of joint benchmarks and videos, you already be able to know which processor is better to buy for gaming Intel Core i9-13900KS 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%

Core i9-13900KS

73%

This shows the performance of the processors in single-threaded and multi-threaded mode. In this comparison, Core i9-13900KS is 17% better than M1 Max. The data source is several popular tests. More detailed information of the benchmarks is below.

Gaming performance
Summary result of all game benchmarks.

M1 Max

57%

Core i9-13900KS

66%

The maximum result in this parameter is 100 percent, which is the performance of the most powerful processor currently available. And of course, 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 little game result, look at the FPS that it produces in real games in the summary table below.
List of less popular games in which processors were compared: Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS GO), Monster Hunter World, Metro Exodus, NBA 2K20, Ghostrunner, Resident Evil 7 Biohazard, Battlefield V, Control, DOTA 2A, Forza Horizon 4, Microsoft Flight Simulator, Horizon Zero Dawn, PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG), The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, League of Legends (LOL), Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Half-Life: Alyx, Hitman 3.

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	101.3	117.3
Valorant	115.1	133.2
Cyberpunk 2077	64.5	74.6
Apex Legends	108.2	125.2
Call of Duty Warzone	86.3	99.9
Overwatch	93.2	107.9
Red Dead Redemption 2	79.4	91.9
DOOM Eternal	57.6	66.6
Warzone	89.8	103.9
Assassin's Creed	96.7	111.9
Valheim	95.5	110.6

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 comparing 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. To be sure exactly how much performance the processor will be in games, if you get acquainted with the benchmarks that are made with the same video card that is installed in your computer.

Power consumption

M1 Max

332%

Core i9-13900KS

71%

To make a final decision on which processor is better, you should also consider the generation of its core. The newer the processor generation, the better its performance in games and benchmarks, as well as its energy efficiency. In this case the M1 Max is more energy efficient than the Core i9-13900KS since it has less power consumption: 18W vs. 125W. Power consumption is especially important for laptops. And TDP should be taken into account when choosing a processor cooling system. 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 want to use the processor not only for gaming, but also for programming, streaming, video rendering or video editing, machine learning, then the main parameter for you is its performance in multi-threaded mode. In this mode, to reach maximum performance, the CPU turns on all cores and threads that it has. You will learn this data from the benchmark tables below. Before you take into account the data from these tests, be sure to find out whether the program that you are going to use on your computer can work in multi-threaded mode. Since there are still many programs that use only one core to work, and all the benefit 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	Intel Core i9-13900KS
Cinbench 15 Single-core	313	631
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	1811	6774
Cinbench 20 Single-core	617	1056
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	3106	15135
Cinbench 23 Single-core	2360	3757
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	12204	43688

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

	Apple M1 Max	Intel Core i9-13900KS
Single-Core	5344	3134
Multi-Core	34572	76304

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

	Apple M1 Max	Intel Core i9-13900KS
Single-Core	1793	2675
Multi-Core	13028	28679

Comparison of specifications

In the specification comparison table, the processor release date and overclocking capability will be the most helpful. The later the processor is released, the longer it will last in your computer. And the easier it will be to upgrade the system later. The same benefits from the presence of overclocking. If the processor can be overclocked, increasing its performance, then it will continue to maintain maximum FPS in the newest games. Accordingly, there is no longer a need to buy a new CPU to enjoy the games any longer. The savings are obvious!

	Apple M1 Max	Intel Core i9-13900KS
Announcement date	October 07, 2021	October 12, 2022
Type	Laptop;Desktop	Desktop
Socket	M1	FCLGA1700
Core name	8x Firestorm and 2x Icestorm	Raptor Lake
Architecture	hybrid (big.LITTLE)	x86
Generation	1	13
Turbo Frequency		5.9 MHz
Frequency	3.2 MHz	4.5 MHz
Cores	10	24
Threads	10	32
Bus rate		16 GT/s
Bit	64	64
Lithography	5 nm	7 nm
Transistors count	57000 millions	14200 millions
Power consumption (TDP)	18 W	125 W
Memory type	LPDDR5 - Up to 6400MHz	Up to DDR5 5600 MT/s Up to DDR4 3200 MT/s
Max. Memory	64 Gb	128 Gb
Memory Frequency	6400	6500
Memory bandwidth	409 GByte/s	89.6 GB/s
L1 cache	4MB	2 MB
L2 cache	24MB	8 MB
L3 cache	48MB	36 MB
Overclocking	No	Yes
Supports ECC	No	Yes
Part number	APL1105	Expansion Options

In this comparison block, you should pay attention to the differences in clock speed and the number of cores. Here Core i9-13900KS is 28% better than M1 Max in terms of CPU frequency. Another difference is that Core i9-13900KS has 14 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: 6
The number of parameters for which Intel Core i9-13900KS is better: 33
Although it should be realized that all the data in the table above do not mean that you should be guided entirely by them and trust a simple quantitative comparison. Better to watch benchmarks video and read the opinion of of people who bought Apple M1 Max and Intel Core i9-13900KS before making a selection which of the processors 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.

Intel Core i9-13900KS - all data

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

• Intel Core i9-13900KS specs and review.