Apple M2 Max vs AMD Ryzen 5 6600U

Processor comparisons   22-10-2022
   Perhaps you can't decide which CPU to buy, you can make a decision after reading the comprehensive tests Apple M2 Max vs AMD Ryzen 5 6600U and decide which is better for games or simple use for programming, machine learning, rendering, streaming, video editing. Here you can find all information from various benchmarks or real streaming and video editing tests. A careful review of all the specifications, to make it easier to read, is made by the table.
   From the video comparison, you can get the results of parallel examination in synthetic type tests such as GeekBench 6, 5.2, AIDA64, VeraCrypt, SuperPi, WPrime, Gears 5, PCMark 10, Blender, World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, Furmark, Prime95, Handbrake, RealBench, PassMark, 3DMark, Dolphin Emulator, UserBenchmark, MATLAB, DaVinci Resolve Studio, Cinebench 23 (20, 15), Blender, 7zip.
   Gaming performance of processors in:

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

After looking at the data of parallel benchmarks and videos, you already be able to understand which processor is better to buy for gaming AMD Ryzen 5 6600U or Apple M2 Max.

Summary benchmark results

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

M2 Max

62%

Ryzen 5 6600U

57%

This value shows the performance of the processors in single-threaded and multi-threaded mode. In this comparison, M2 Max is 8% better than Ryzen 5 6600U. The data source is several popular tests. Detailed information can be found below.

Gaming performance
Summary result of all game benchmarks.

M2 Max

60%

Ryzen 5 6600U

54%

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

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	106.0	96.0
Valorant	120.4	109.1
Cyberpunk 2077	67.4	61.1
Apex Legends	113.2	102.5
Call of Duty Warzone	90.3	81.8
Overwatch	97.5	88.3
Red Dead Redemption 2	83.1	75.3
DOOM Eternal	60.2	54.5
Warzone	93.9	85.1
Assassin's Creed	101.2	91.6
Valheim	99.9	90.5

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 tested computers not only did they have different amounts of RAM and different video cards. But users also tested them at different screen resolutions: FullHD, 2K or 4K. Therefore, 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 get acquainted with the benchmarks that are made with the same video card that is installed in your computer.

Power consumption

M2 Max

465%

Ryzen 5 6600U

313%

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 M2 Max is more energy efficient than the Ryzen 5 6600U as it consumes less power: 15W vs. 15W. Power consumption is particularly important for laptops. Also, when choosing a processor cooling system, it will be useful to know its TDP. It is necessary to count so that the TDP data specified in the cooler specification is 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 machine learning, video rendering or video editing, programming, streaming, then the main parameter for you is its performance in multi-threaded mode. In this mode, to reach maximum efficiency, the CPU 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 program you are going to use on your computer supports multi-threaded mode. Because there are still many programs that can use only one core to work, and all the advantages of multi-core mode are unused.
Cinebench 23, 20 an 15
The results of this benchmark show Single-threaded and Multi-threaded CPU performance

	Apple M2 Max	AMD Ryzen 5 6600U
Cinbench 15 Single-core	389	226
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	2220	2178
Cinbench 20 Single-core	761	525
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	3801	4771
Cinbench 23 Single-core	2204	1356
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	17142	12138

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

	Apple M2 Max	AMD Ryzen 5 6600U
Single-Core	6536	2902
Multi-Core	42246	23998

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

	Apple M2 Max	AMD Ryzen 5 6600U
Single-Core	2096	1412
Multi-Core	17617	7815

Comparison of specifications

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

	Apple M2 Max	AMD Ryzen 5 6600U
Announcement date	October 20, 2022	January 09, 2022
Type	Desktop;Laptop	Laptop
Socket	M2	FP7
Core name	8x Avalanche and 4x Blizzard	Rembrandt
Architecture	hybrid (big.LITTLE)	Zen 3+
Generation	2	6
Turbo Frequency		4.5 MHz
Frequency	3.49 MHz	2.9 MHz
Cores	12	6
Threads	12	12
Bus rate
Bit	64	64
Lithography	4 nm	6 nm
Transistors count	68000 millions	10200 millions
Power consumption (TDP)	15 W	15 W
Memory type	LPDDR5 - Up to 6400MHz	DDR5
Max. Memory	64 Gb
Memory Frequency	6400	3200
Memory bandwidth	412 GByte/s
L1 cache	4MB	384KB
L2 cache	24MB	3MB
L3 cache	48MB	16MB
Overclocking	No	No
Supports ECC	No	No
Part number		FP7:100-000000536 FP7r2:100-000000548

In this comparison block, you should pay attention to the differences in clock speed and the number of cores. Here M2 Max is 16% better than Ryzen 5 6600U in terms of CPU frequency. Another difference is that M2 Max has 6 more core than Ryzen 5 6600U. 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 M2 Max is better: 30
The number of parameters for which AMD Ryzen 5 6600U is better: 4
However, it should be realized that all the number that you have looked at here do not mean that taking them into account you should completely trust a simple comparison of these figures. Be sure to watch the video tests and read the reviews of real owners of Apple M2 Max and AMD Ryzen 5 6600U before making a selection which CPU to buy for gaming and which not.

Apple M2 Max - all data

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

• Apple M2 Max specs and review.

AMD Ryzen 5 6600U - all data

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

• AMD Ryzen 5 6600U specs and review.