Apple
Apple M4
10C CPU · 10C GPU · Ray-Tracing
92
/ 100
From $1,099
VS
AMD
Ryzen 9 9900X
Zen 5 · 12C/24T · 5.6 GHz · AM5
92
/ 100
From $499
Specdex verdict
Dead heat — it comes down to priorities.
In our weighted Specdex score, Apple M4 lands at 92 and Ryzen 9 9900X at 92. With scores tied, the decision hinges on which sub-scores matter most to you.
Pick Apple M4 if…
- ✓Industry-best perf-per-watt
- ✓Hardware ray tracing on iGPU
- ✓LPDDR5X 120 GB/s
Pick Ryzen 9 9900X if…
- ✓12 cores at 5.6 GHz boost
- ✓120 W TDP — cooler than 9950X
- ✓AM5 platform longevity
Apple M4 92
vs 92 Ryzen 9 9900X
Score breakdown
Apple M4
92 single 100
multi 86
gaming 72
efficiency 100
Ryzen 9 9900X
92 single 93
multi 94
gaming 88
efficiency 88
Specs side-by-side
| Spec | Apple M4 | Ryzen 9 9900X |
|---|---|---|
| Cores | 10 (4P+6E) | ▲ 12 |
| Memory bandwidth | 120 GB/s | — |
| Neural engine | 16-core, 38 TOPS | — |
| Process | TSMC N3E | TSMC N4X |
| Threads | — | 24 |
| Base clock | — | 4.4 GHz |
| Boost clock | — | 5.6 GHz |
| L3 cache | — | 64 MB |
| TDP | — | 120 W |
| Socket | — | AM5 |
| iGPU | — | Radeon Graphics (RDNA 2, 2 CUs) |
| Memory | — | DDR5-5600 dual-channel |
Apple M4
Pros
- +Industry-best perf-per-watt
- +Hardware ray tracing on iGPU
- +LPDDR5X 120 GB/s
Cons
- −Only in Apple products
- −Limited Windows gaming
- −Entry-tier 8 GB RAM is tight for ML
Ryzen 9 9900X
Pros
- +12 cores at 5.6 GHz boost
- +120 W TDP — cooler than 9950X
- +AM5 platform longevity
Cons
- −9950X edges it on multi-thread
- −9800X3D beats it on gaming
- −$499 puts it close to higher-tier
FAQ: Apple M4 vs Ryzen 9 9900X
Which is better, Apple M4 or Ryzen 9 9900X? +
Both score 92 on our weighted rubric — tied. Your best pick depends on the sub-scores above.
Is Apple M4 worth the price? +
At $1,099, Apple M4 delivers a Specdex score of 92 — strongest in single.
Is Ryzen 9 9900X worth the price? +
At $499, Ryzen 9 9900X delivers a Specdex score of 92 — strongest in multi.
Does Apple M4 or Ryzen 9 9900X 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.