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Apple - M3 Max vs AMD - Ryzen 9 9900X3D

Last updated · How Mars Score works
M3 MaxAPPLERENDER
Probe A
Apple
M3 Max
50.0/ 100D
Cores46· 40%
Benchmarks54· 40%
Platform—· 20%
Ryzen 9 9900X3DAMDRENDER
Probe B
AMD
Ryzen 9 9900X3D
58.1/ 100C
Cores57· 40%
Benchmarks59· 40%
Platform—· 20%
Quick verdict

Between the M3 Max and Ryzen 9 9900X3D, the M3 Max comes out ahead in tdp and cores, while the Ryzen 9 9900X3D wins on l3 cache and boost clock. Overall, the M3 Max scores 50 and the Ryzen 9 9900X3D scores 58.1 on our Mars Score.

Buying advice

Which should you buy?

The Ryzen 9 9900X3D is the clear pick on raw spec strength, leading by 8.1 points on the Mars Score. The margin is wide enough that the underdog only makes sense if its individual strengths line up with what you specifically need.

Pick the M3 Max if you care most about tdp and cores. The biggest gaps in its favor are tdp, cores.

Pick the Ryzen 9 9900X3D if you push the hardware — gaming, on-device AI, heavy multitasking — and the extra compute headroom is worth the trade-offs. Its strongest claims are l3 cache, boost clock, cinebench r23 (multi).

There are no meaningful ties on the headline specs — every popular-comparison metric has a winner.

Bottom line: the Ryzen 9 9900X3D is the safer default. The other model is the right choice only when its specific advantages line up with your priorities.

Why Apple - M3 Max wins

  • ▲TDP — 60.00 W less. 60 vs 120.
  • ▲Cores — 33.33% more. 16 vs 12.

Why AMD - Ryzen 9 9900X3D wins

  • ▲L3 cache — 300.00% more. 128 MB vs 32 MB.
  • ▲Boost clock — 35.80% more. 5.5 GHz vs 4.05 GHz.
  • ▲Cinebench R23 (multi) — 25.00% more. 33500 vs 26800.
Full readout

Spec comparison

Cores

SpecApple - M3 MaxAMD - Ryzen 9 9900X3D
Coresⓘ16lead12
Threadsⓘ1624lead
Base clockⓘ0 GHz4.4 GHzlead
Boost clockⓘ4.05 GHz5.5 GHzlead
L3 cacheⓘ32 MB128 MBlead

Platform

SpecApple - M3 MaxAMD - Ryzen 9 9900X3D
SocketⓘSolderedAM5
TDPⓘ60 Wlead120 W
Integrated graphicsⓘtruetrue
DDR5ⓘtruetrue

Benchmarks

SpecApple - M3 MaxAMD - Ryzen 9 9900X3D
Cinebench R23 (multi)ⓘ2680033500lead
Cinebench R23 (single)ⓘ21002240lead
Reader questions

Frequently asked

Drill down

Spec-level deep dives

Cores→Threads→Base clock→Boost clock→L3 cache→Socket→TDP→Integrated graphics→DDR5→Cinebench R23 (multi)→Cinebench R23 (single)→
By manufacturer

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