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Apple M4 Max — 16C CPU · 40C GPU · 16-core Neural Engine
Apple

Apple M4 Max

16C CPU · 40C GPU · 16-core Neural Engine

97
/ 100
From $1,299
VS
Apple M4 Max wins by 1
AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D (v2) — Zen 5 + 3D V-Cache · 8C · 5.4 GHz
AMD

AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D (v2)

Zen 5 + 3D V-Cache · 8C · 5.4 GHz

96
/ 100
From $499
Specdex verdict

Apple M4 Max takes it — here’s why.

In our weighted Specdex score, Apple M4 Max lands at 97 and AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D (v2) at 96. That puts Apple M4 Max ahead by 1 points — a narrow margin driven mostly by its strengths in the categories below.

Pick Apple M4 Max if…

  • ✓Industry-best perf-per-watt
  • ✓128 GB unified memory option
  • ✓Hardware ray-tracing

Pick AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D (v2) if…

  • ✓Latest generation silicon
  • ✓Improved perf-per-watt
  • ✓Full modern feature set
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Winner by scenario

Derived from the sub-score breakdown · not a separate test

Gaming

AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D (v2)

Frame-rate-bound workloads — favours cache and single-thread speed

AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D (v2) leads on gaming (97 vs 82).

Creators & productivity

Tie

Rendering, compilation, heavy multitasking — favours core count

Effectively tied — neither pulls a 2-point weighted lead.

Power efficiency

Apple M4 Max

Performance per watt — thermals, PSU headroom, electricity cost

Apple M4 Max leads on efficiency (100 vs 86).

Value for money

AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D (v2)

Specdex score per dollar at MSRP

AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D (v2) more score per dollar ($499 vs $1,299).

Apple M4 Max 97
vs
96 AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D (v2)

Score breakdown

Apple M4 Max
97
single 98
multi 96
gaming 82
efficiency 100
AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D (v2)
96
single 98
multi 96
gaming 97
efficiency 86

Specs side-by-side

Apple M4 Max versus AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D (v2) — full spec comparison
Spec Apple M4 Max AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D (v2)
Cores
▲ 16 (12P+4E)
8
Threads
16
16
Memory bandwidth
546 GB/s
—
Neural engine
16-core, 38 TOPS
—
Process
TSMC N3E
—
Max memory
128 GB unified
—
Architecture
—
Zen 5
Socket
—
AM5
Release year
—
2026

Apple M4 Max

Pros
  • +Industry-best perf-per-watt
  • +128 GB unified memory option
  • +Hardware ray-tracing
Cons
  • −Apple ecosystem lock-in
  • −Not user-replaceable
  • −Limited Windows gaming

AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D (v2)

Pros
  • +Latest generation silicon
  • +Improved perf-per-watt
  • +Full modern feature set
Cons
  • −Premium pricing
  • −Requires up-to-date platform
  • −Initial stock scarcity likely

FAQ: Apple M4 Max vs AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D (v2)

Which is better, Apple M4 Max or AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D (v2)? +

Apple M4 Max scores 97 on our weighted rubric — ahead by 1. Your best pick depends on the sub-scores above.

Is Apple M4 Max worth the price? +

At $1,299, Apple M4 Max delivers a Specdex score of 97 — strongest in efficiency.

Is AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D (v2) worth the price? +

At $499, AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D (v2) delivers a Specdex score of 96 — strongest in single.

Does Apple M4 Max or AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D (v2) last longer? +

Based on our long-term update and support ratings, both ship with multi-year support. Battery and reliability scores are visible in the breakdown above.

Which is better for gaming, Apple M4 Max or AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D (v2)? +

AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D (v2) — leads on gaming (97 vs 82). Frame-rate-bound workloads — favours cache and single-thread speed.

Which is better for power efficiency, Apple M4 Max or AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D (v2)? +

Apple M4 Max — leads on efficiency (100 vs 86). Performance per watt — thermals, PSU headroom, electricity cost.