Apple M2 Max vs AMD Ryzen 9 7950X

Processor comparisons 22-10-2022

   Perhaps you can't decide which CPU to buy, you can make a decision after reading the detailed tests Apple M2 Max vs AMD Ryzen 9 7950X and understand which is better for games or simple use for rendering, video editing, machine learning, programming, streaming. Here you can find all information from real streaming and video editing tests or different benchmarks. A step-by-step analysis of all the specifications, to make it easier to read, is made by the table.
   From the comparison video, you can get the results of joint testing in special testing software like Dolphin Emulator, Prime95, Blender, PCMark 10, VeraCrypt, AIDA64, 7zip, 3DMark, Furmark, RealBench, Cinebench 23 (20, 15), DaVinci Resolve Studio, UserBenchmark, World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, Blender, SuperPi, PassMark, Handbrake, WPrime, GeekBench 6, 5.2, MATLAB, Gears 5.
   And how good the processors are in games:

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

After reading the results of joint benchmarks and videos, you already be able to understand which CPU is better to buy for gaming AMD Ryzen 9 7950X 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 7950X

69%

The number of this parameter shows the performance of the processors in single-threaded and multi-threaded mode. In this comparison, Ryzen 9 7950X is 10% better than M2 Max. 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 7950X

65%

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 little game result, just look at the FPS that it produces in real games in the summary table below.
List of other games in which CPU comparisons were performed: DOTA 2A, Metro Exodus, Horizon Zero Dawn, PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG), Hitman 3, Ghostrunner, Half-Life: Alyx, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS GO), Control, Battlefield V, Resident Evil 7 Biohazard, League of Legends (LOL), Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Forza Horizon 4, NBA 2K20, Microsoft Flight Simulator, Monster Hunter World, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt.

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	106.0	114.7
Valorant	120.4	130.3
Cyberpunk 2077	67.4	73.0
Apex Legends	113.2	122.5
Call of Duty Warzone	90.3	97.8
Overwatch	97.5	105.6
Red Dead Redemption 2	83.1	89.9
DOOM Eternal	60.2	65.2
Warzone	93.9	101.7
Assassin's Creed	101.2	109.5
Valheim	99.9	108.2

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 video cards and different amounts of RAM. 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 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 9 7950X

45%

To make a final 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 9 7950X since it has less power consumption: 15W vs. 170W. 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

If you plan to use the processor not only for gaming, but also for machine learning, video editing or video rendering, programming, streaming, then first of all you need to pay attention to the performance in multi-threaded mode. In this mode, to reach maximum efficiency, the processor includes 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 make sure that the software that you are going to use on your computer can work in 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 9 7950X
Cinbench 15 Single-core	389	373
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	2220	6089
Cinbench 20 Single-core	761	895
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	3801	14547
Cinbench 23 Single-core	2204	2277
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	17142	39973

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

	Apple M2 Max	AMD Ryzen 9 7950X
Single-Core	6536	4815
Multi-Core	42246	64460

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

	Apple M2 Max	AMD Ryzen 9 7950X
Single-Core	2096	2324
Multi-Core	17617	26184

Comparison of specifications

In the specification comparison table, the most useful will be the the possibility of overclocking it and release date of the processor. 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 new games. The economy are obvious! Accordingly, you do not need to buy a new CPU to enjoy the games any longer.

	Apple M2 Max	AMD Ryzen 9 7950X
Announcement date	October 20, 2022	September 27, 2022
Type	Desktop;Laptop	Desktop
Socket	M2	AM5
Core name	8x Avalanche and 4x Blizzard	Raphael
Architecture	hybrid (big.LITTLE)	Zen 4
Generation	2	5
Turbo Frequency		5.7 MHz
Frequency	3.49 MHz	4.5 MHz
Cores	12	16
Threads	12	32
Bus rate
Bit	64	64
Lithography	4 nm	5 nm
Transistors count	68000 millions	12600 millions
Power consumption (TDP)	15 W	170 W
Memory type	LPDDR5 - Up to 6400MHz	DDR4
Max. Memory	64 Gb
Memory Frequency	6400	3200
Memory bandwidth	412 GByte/s
L1 cache	4MB	1MB
L2 cache	24MB	16MB
L3 cache	48MB	64MB
Overclocking	No	Yes
Supports ECC	No	No
Part number		100-000000514 100-100000514WOF

In this comparison block, you should pay attention to the differences in clock speed and the number of cores. Here Ryzen 9 7950X is 22% better than M2 Max in terms of CPU frequency. Another difference is that Ryzen 9 7950X has 4 more core than M2 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 M2 Max is better: 11
The number of parameters for which AMD Ryzen 9 7950X is better: 26
Although it should be realized that all the 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 numbers. Be sure to watch the video tests and read the opinion of real owners of Apple M2 Max and AMD Ryzen 9 7950X before making a choice 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 9 7950X - all data

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

• AMD Ryzen 9 7950X specs and review.