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Apple - M4 Max (16-core) vs AMD - Ryzen 9 9900X3D

Last updated · How Mars Score works
M4 Max (16-core)APPLERENDER
Probe A
Apple
M4 Max (16-core)
50.7/ 100D
Cores48· 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 M4 Max (16-core) and Ryzen 9 9900X3D, the M4 Max (16-core) comes out ahead in tdp and cores, while the Ryzen 9 9900X3D wins on l3 cache and cinebench r23 (multi). Overall, the M4 Max (16-core) scores 50.7 and the Ryzen 9 9900X3D scores 58.1 on our Mars Score.

Buying advice

Which should you buy?

The Ryzen 9 9900X3D edges ahead on the Mars Score (50.7 vs 58.1), but the 7.4-point gap is small enough that the right pick comes down to which spec advantages matter to you.

Pick the M4 Max (16-core) 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, cinebench r23 (multi), boost clock.

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 - M4 Max (16-core) wins

  • ▲TDP — 75.00 W less. 45 vs 120.
  • ▲Cores — 16.67% more. 14 vs 12.

Why AMD - Ryzen 9 9900X3D wins

  • ▲L3 cache — 357.14% more. 128 MB vs 28 MB.
  • ▲Cinebench R23 (multi) — 26.42% more. 33500 vs 26500.
  • ▲Boost clock — 22.22% more. 5.5 GHz vs 4.5 GHz.
Full readout

Spec comparison

Cores

SpecApple - M4 Max (16-core)AMD - Ryzen 9 9900X3D
Coresⓘ14lead12
Threadsⓘ1424lead
Base clockⓘ0 GHz4.4 GHzlead
Boost clockⓘ4.5 GHz5.5 GHzlead
L3 cacheⓘ28 MB128 MBlead

Platform

SpecApple - M4 Max (16-core)AMD - Ryzen 9 9900X3D
SocketⓘSolderedAM5
TDPⓘ45 Wlead120 W
Integrated graphicsⓘtruetrue
DDR5ⓘtruetrue

Benchmarks

SpecApple - M4 Max (16-core)AMD - Ryzen 9 9900X3D
Cinebench R23 (multi)ⓘ2650033500lead
Cinebench R23 (single)ⓘ2275lead2240
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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