Apple M2 vs AMD Ryzen 9 3950X

Processor comparisons   20-10-2022
   For example you can't decide which processor to buy, you can make a decision after reading the detailed tests Apple M2 vs AMD Ryzen 9 3950X and understand which is better for games or normal use for video editing, streaming, rendering, programming, machine learning. Here is all information from real video editing and streaming tests or many benchmarks. A step-by-step analysis of all the technical characteristics, to make it easier to understand, is presented in the form of the table.
   From the comparison video, you can get the results of parallel examination in software tests like Cinebench 23 (20, 15), DaVinci Resolve Studio, PCMark 10, Gears 5, Dolphin Emulator, GeekBench 6, 5.2, AIDA64, Furmark, Blender, SuperPi, Blender, MATLAB, 7zip, 3DMark, WPrime, VeraCrypt, UserBenchmark, Handbrake, PassMark, World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, Prime95, RealBench.
   Gaming performance of processors in:

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

After reading the results these benchmarks and videos, you already be able to figure out which CPU is better to buy for gaming AMD Ryzen 9 3950X or Apple M2.

Summary benchmark results

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

59%

Ryzen 9 3950X

61%

This value shows the performance of the processors in single-threaded and multi-threaded mode. In this comparison, Ryzen 9 3950X is 3% better than M2. The data source is several popular tests. Detailed information can be found below.

Gaming performance
Summary result of all game benchmarks.

55%

Ryzen 9 3950X

58%

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

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	97.4	103.7
Valorant	110.7	117.9
Cyberpunk 2077	62.0	66.0
Apex Legends	104.1	110.8
Call of Duty Warzone	83.0	88.4
Overwatch	89.7	95.5
Red Dead Redemption 2	76.4	81.3
DOOM Eternal	55.4	58.9
Warzone	86.4	91.9
Assassin's Creed	93.0	99.0
Valheim	91.9	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 that were in the comparisons not only did they have different video cards and different amounts of RAM. But users also tested them at different screen resolutions: 4K, 2K or FullHD. 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

535%

Ryzen 9 3950X

40%

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 is more energy efficient than the Ryzen 9 3950X as it consumes less power: 12W 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 programming, streaming, machine learning, video rendering or video editing, then the main parameter for you is its performance in multi-threaded mode. In this mode, the processor uses all cores and threads that it has to the maximum to achieve maximum performance. 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 run, 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 M2	AMD Ryzen 9 3950X
Cinbench 15 Single-core	298	217
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	1586	3897
Cinbench 20 Single-core	558	531
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	2699	9148
Cinbench 23 Single-core	2057	1371
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	10520	24050

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

	Apple M2	AMD Ryzen 9 3950X
Single-Core	4095	2718
Multi-Core	29665	39170

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

	Apple M2	AMD Ryzen 9 3950X
Single-Core	1929	1286
Multi-Core	9243	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 M2	AMD Ryzen 9 3950X
Announcement date	October 18, 2022	October 01, 2019
Type	Laptop	Desktop
Socket	M2	AM4
Core name	4 x Avalanche and 4 x Blizzard	Matisse
Architecture	hybrid (big.LITTLE)	Zen 2
Generation	2	3
Turbo Frequency		4.7 MHz
Frequency	3.49 MHz	3.5 MHz
Cores	8	16
Threads	8	32
Bus rate
Bit	64	64
Lithography	5 nm	7 nm
Transistors count	20000 millions	7800 millions
Power consumption (TDP)	12 W	105 W
Memory type	LPDDR5 - Up to 6400MHz	DDR4
Max. Memory
Memory Frequency	2400	3200
Memory bandwidth
L1 cache	2MB	1MB
L2 cache	12MB	8MB
L3 cache	16MB	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 0% better than M2 in terms of CPU frequency. Another difference is that Ryzen 9 3950X has 8 more core than M2. 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 is better: 10
The number of parameters for which AMD Ryzen 9 3950X is better: 25
However, it should be realized that all the number 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 benchmarks video and read the opinion of of people who bought Apple M2 and AMD Ryzen 9 3950X before making a decision which of the processors to buy for gaming.

Apple M2 - all data

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

• Apple M2 specs and review.

• AMD Ryzen 9 3950X specs and review.