Apple M2 Max vs AMD Ryzen 9 4900H

Processor comparisons 22-10-2022

   Let's say you can't decide which CPU to buy, you can make a choice after reading the detailed tests Apple M2 Max vs AMD Ryzen 9 4900H and understand which is better for games or simple use for streaming, rendering, machine learning, programming, video editing. Here is useful information from real video editing and streaming tests or several benchmarks. 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 special test applications like 3DMark, Blender, PCMark 10, Cinebench 23 (20, 15), MATLAB, SuperPi, AIDA64, Prime95, DaVinci Resolve Studio, Dolphin Emulator, Handbrake, UserBenchmark, GeekBench 6, 5.2, 7zip, Gears 5, Blender, PassMark, World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, Furmark, VeraCrypt, RealBench, WPrime.
   Gaming performance of processors in:

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

After reading the results of parallel benchmarks and videos, you can already make an informed decision about which CPU is better to buy for gaming AMD Ryzen 9 4900H 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 9 4900H

55%

This parameter shows the performance of the processors in single-threaded and multi-threaded mode. In this comparison, M2 Max is 11% better than Ryzen 9 4900H. 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 9 4900H

54%

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 the cost of this processor reaches several tens of thousands of dollars. Therefore, if you think 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 less popular games in which CPU comparisons were performed: League of Legends (LOL), Metro Exodus, Control, NBA 2K20, Horizon Zero Dawn, Monster Hunter World, Battlefield V, DOTA 2A, Ghostrunner, Microsoft Flight Simulator, Hitman 3, Resident Evil 7 Biohazard, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Forza Horizon 4, PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG), The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS GO), Half-Life: Alyx.

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	106.0	95.8
Valorant	120.4	108.9
Cyberpunk 2077	67.4	61.0
Apex Legends	113.2	102.4
Call of Duty Warzone	90.3	81.7
Overwatch	97.5	88.2
Red Dead Redemption 2	83.1	75.1
DOOM Eternal	60.2	54.4
Warzone	93.9	84.9
Assassin's Creed	101.2	91.5
Valheim	99.9	90.4

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

M2 Max

465%

Ryzen 9 4900H

87%

To make a finishing choice 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 M2 Max is more energy efficient than the Ryzen 9 4900H since it has less power consumption: 15W vs. 45W. Power consumption is especially important for laptops. And TDP should be taken into account when choosing a processor cooling system. It is necessary to calculate 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 streaming, machine learning, programming, video editing or video rendering, then the main parameter for you is its performance in multi-threaded mode. In this mode, to reach maximum performance, the processor uses all threads and cores that it has. You will find out this data from the benchmark tables below. Before you take into account the data from these tests, be sure to find out whether the software that you are going to use on your computer can work in multi-threaded mode. Since there are still many programs that can use only one core to work, and all the benefit 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 9 4900H
Cinbench 15 Single-core	389	204
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	2220	1937
Cinbench 20 Single-core	761	501
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	3801	4332
Cinbench 23 Single-core	2204	1284
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	17142	11061

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

	Apple M2 Max	AMD Ryzen 9 4900H
Single-Core	6536	2756
Multi-Core	42246	19148

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

	Apple M2 Max	AMD Ryzen 9 4900H
Single-Core	2096	1183
Multi-Core	17617	7670

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 M2 Max	AMD Ryzen 9 4900H
Announcement date	October 20, 2022	April 01, 2020
Type	Desktop;Laptop	Laptop
Socket	M2	FP6
Core name	8x Avalanche and 4x Blizzard	Renoir
Architecture	hybrid (big.LITTLE)	Zen 2
Generation	2	2
Turbo Frequency		4.4 MHz
Frequency	3.49 MHz	3.3 MHz
Cores	12	8
Threads	12	16
Bus rate
Bit	64	64
Lithography	4 nm
Transistors count	68000 millions	8600 millions
Power consumption (TDP)	15 W	45 W
Memory type	LPDDR5 - Up to 6400MHz
Max. Memory	64 Gb
Memory Frequency	6400
Memory bandwidth	412 GByte/s
L1 cache	4MB
L2 cache	24MB
L3 cache	48MB
Overclocking	No	No
Supports ECC	No	No
Part number

In this comparison block, you should pay attention to the differences in clock speed and the number of cores. Here M2 Max is 5% better than Ryzen 9 4900H in terms of CPU frequency. Another difference is that M2 Max has 4 more core than Ryzen 9 4900H. 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: 31
The number of parameters for which AMD Ryzen 9 4900H is better: 4
However, it should be understood that the summary data that you have looked at here do not mean that you should be guided entirely by them and trust a simple comparison of these figures. Better to watch benchmarks video and read the opinion of real owners of Apple M2 Max and AMD Ryzen 9 4900H before deciding which of the processors to buy for gaming.

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 9 4900H - all data

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

• AMD Ryzen 9 4900H specs and review.