Apple M1X vs AMD Ryzen 9 3950X

Processor comparisons 17-03-2021

   Let's say you can't decide which CPU to buy, you can make a decision after reading the detailed tests Apple M1X vs AMD Ryzen 9 3950X and decide which is better for games or normal use for rendering, machine learning, video editing, streaming, programming. Here is all information from different benchmarks or real streaming and video editing tests. A careful analysis of all the specifications, so that it can be easier to understand, is made by the table.
   From the video comparison, you can get the results of parallel examination in special test applications like Gears 5, MATLAB, Handbrake, Blender, RealBench, DaVinci Resolve Studio, PCMark 10, Blender, UserBenchmark, WPrime, VeraCrypt, Dolphin Emulator, SuperPi, Furmark, AIDA64, 3DMark, Prime95, GeekBench 6, 5.2, 7zip, World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, Cinebench 23 (20, 15), PassMark.
   Gaming performance of processors in:

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

After looking at the data of joint benchmarks and videos, you already be able to understand which CPU is better to buy for gaming AMD Ryzen 9 3950X or Apple M1X.

Summary benchmark results

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

M1X

58%

Ryzen 9 3950X

61%

This shows the performance of the processors in single-threaded and multi-threaded mode. In this comparison, Ryzen 9 3950X is 4% better than M1X. The data source is several popular tests. More detailed information of the benchmarks is below.

Gaming performance
Summary result of all game benchmarks.

M1X

55%

Ryzen 9 3950X

58%

The maximum result in this parameter is 100 percent, which is the performance of the most powerful processor at the moment. And it is clear that this is a server processor, on which no one will play games. Because the cost of this processor reaches several tens of thousands of dollars. And if it seems to you that the selected CPU has a small game result, just look at the FPS that it produces in real games in the final table below.
List of other games in which processors were compared: NBA 2K20, Forza Horizon 4, Control, League of Legends (LOL), Hitman 3, Horizon Zero Dawn, Battlefield V, DOTA 2A, Resident Evil 7 Biohazard, Metro Exodus, Ghostrunner, Half-Life: Alyx, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS GO), The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Microsoft Flight Simulator, Monster Hunter World, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG).

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	97.6	103.7
Valorant	110.9	117.9
Cyberpunk 2077	62.1	66.0
Apex Legends	104.2	110.8
Call of Duty Warzone	83.2	88.4
Overwatch	89.8	95.5
Red Dead Redemption 2	76.5	81.3
DOOM Eternal	55.4	58.9
Warzone	86.5	91.9
Assassin's Creed	93.1	99.0
Valheim	92.0	97.8

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: 4K, 2K or FullHD. Therefore, 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

M1X

161%

Ryzen 9 3950X

40%

To make a final decision 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 M1X is more energy efficient than the Ryzen 9 3950X since it has less power consumption: 35W vs. 105W. 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

If you plan to use the processor not only for gaming, but also for machine learning, streaming, video editing or video rendering, programming, then first of all you need to pay attention to the performance in multi-threaded mode. In this mode, to reach maximum performance, the CPU includes all cores and threads that it has. You will learn this data from the benchmark tables below. Before using 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. Because 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 M1X	AMD Ryzen 9 3950X
Cinbench 15 Single-core	270	217
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	2615	3897
Cinbench 20 Single-core	629	531
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	5732	9148
Cinbench 23 Single-core	1628	1371
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	14587	24050

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

	Apple M1X	AMD Ryzen 9 3950X
Single-Core	3485	2718
Multi-Core	28843	39170

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

	Apple M1X	AMD Ryzen 9 3950X
Single-Core	1695	1286
Multi-Core	9389	15407

Comparison of specifications

In the specification comparison table, the processor release date and overclocking capability will be the most helpful. The newer the processor, the longer it will last you. And the easier it will be to upgrade the system in the future. The same can be said about overclocking. If the processor can be overclocked, increasing its performance, then it will continue to maintain maximum FPS in the newest games. The economy are obvious! It turns out that you do not need to buy a new CPU to enjoy the games any longer.

	Apple M1X	AMD Ryzen 9 3950X
Announcement date	February 12, 2021	October 01, 2019
Type	Laptop;Desktop	Desktop
Socket	M1X	AM4
Core name	8x Firestorm;4x Icestorm	Matisse
Architecture	hybrid (big.LITTLE)	Zen 2
Generation	1	3
Turbo Frequency		4.7 MHz
Frequency	3.2 MHz	3.5 MHz
Cores	12	16
Threads	12	32
Bus rate
Bit	64	64
Lithography	5 nm	7 nm
Transistors count	24000 millions	7800 millions
Power consumption (TDP)	35 W	105 W
Memory type	LPDDR4 - Up to 4266MHz	DDR4
Max. Memory
Memory Frequency	4266	3200
Memory bandwidth
L1 cache	12MB	1MB
L2 cache	28MB	8MB
L3 cache	64MB	64MB
Overclocking	No	Yes
Supports ECC	No	No
Part number		100-000000051 100-100000051WOF

In this comparison block, you should pay attention to the differences in clock speed and the number of cores. Here Ryzen 9 3950X is 8% better than M1X in terms of CPU frequency. Another difference is that Ryzen 9 3950X has 4 more core than M1X. 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 M1X is better: 10
The number of parameters for which AMD Ryzen 9 3950X is better: 24
However, it should be realized that all the number in the table above do not mean that you should be guided entirely by them and trust a simple comparison of these figures. Better to watch the video tests and read the opinion of real owners of Apple M1X and AMD Ryzen 9 3950X before deciding which of the processors to buy for gaming.

• Apple M1X specs and review.

• AMD Ryzen 9 3950X specs and review.