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Apple - M4 Max (16-core) vs AMD - Ryzen 9 9950X

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 9950XAMDRENDER
Probe B
AMD
Ryzen 9 9950X
61.1/ 100C
Cores57· 40%
Benchmarks65· 40%
Platform—· 20%
Quick verdict

Between the M4 Max (16-core) and Ryzen 9 9950X, the M4 Max (16-core) comes out ahead in tdp, while the Ryzen 9 9950X wins on l3 cache and cinebench r23 (multi). Overall, the M4 Max (16-core) scores 50.7 and the Ryzen 9 9950X scores 61.1 on our Mars Score.

Buying advice

Which should you buy?

The Ryzen 9 9950X is the clear pick on raw spec strength, leading by 10.4 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 M4 Max (16-core) if you care most about tdp. The biggest gaps in its favor are tdp.

Pick the Ryzen 9 9950X 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, among others.

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

Bottom line: the Ryzen 9 9950X 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 — 125.00 W less. 45 vs 170.

Why AMD - Ryzen 9 9950X wins

  • ▲L3 cache — 128.57% more. 64 MB vs 28 MB.
  • ▲Cinebench R23 (multi) — 60.38% more. 42500 vs 26500.
  • ▲Boost clock — 26.67% more. 5.7 GHz vs 4.5 GHz.
  • ▲Cores — 14.29% more. 16 vs 14.
Full readout

Spec comparison

Cores

SpecApple - M4 Max (16-core)AMD - Ryzen 9 9950X
Coresⓘ1416lead
Threadsⓘ1432lead
Base clockⓘ0 GHz4.3 GHzlead
Boost clockⓘ4.5 GHz5.7 GHzlead
L3 cacheⓘ28 MB64 MBlead

Platform

SpecApple - M4 Max (16-core)AMD - Ryzen 9 9950X
SocketⓘSolderedAM5
TDPⓘ45 Wlead170 W
Integrated graphicsⓘtruetrue
DDR5ⓘtruetrue

Benchmarks

SpecApple - M4 Max (16-core)AMD - Ryzen 9 9950X
Cinebench R23 (multi)ⓘ2650042500lead
Cinebench R23 (single)ⓘ2275lead2270
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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