Apple M5 Max
16C CPU · 40C GPU · 570 GB/s
Ryzen Threadripper 9980X
64C/128T · 5.4 GHz · 350 W · sTR5 · PassMark #11
Apple M5 Max takes it — here’s why.
In our weighted Specdex score, Apple M5 Max lands at 98 and Ryzen Threadripper 9980X at 80. That puts Apple M5 Max ahead by 18 points — a decisive margin driven mostly by its strengths in the categories below.
Pick Apple M5 Max if…
- ✓Leads the industry in perf-per-watt
- ✓128 GB unified memory option
- ✓Best-in-class ML acceleration
Pick Ryzen Threadripper 9980X if…
- ✓PassMark rank #11 — strong productivity throughput
- ✓HEDT platform with abundant PCIe and memory lanes
- ✓Current PassMark-tracked street price around $4,399
Winner by scenario
Derived from the sub-score breakdown · not a separate testValue for money
Apple M5 MaxSpecdex score per dollar at MSRP
Apple M5 Max more score per dollar ($3,499 vs $4,999).
Score breakdown
Specs side-by-side
| Spec | Apple M5 Max | Ryzen Threadripper 9980X |
|---|---|---|
| Cores | 16 (12P+4E) | ▲ 64 |
| GPU cores | 40 | — |
| Memory bandwidth | 570 GB/s | — |
| Neural engine | 16-core, 60 TOPS | — |
| Threads | — | 128 |
| Base clock | — | 3.2 GHz |
| Boost clock | — | 5.4 GHz |
| L3 cache | — | 256 MB |
| TDP | — | 350 W |
| Socket | — | sTR5 |
| Platform | — | TRX50 |
| Memory | — | 4-channel DDR5-6400 ECC RDIMM, up to 1TB |
| PCIe | — | 48x PCIe 5.0 + 32x PCIe 4.0 from CPU (80 CPU lanes) + chipset x4 uplink |
| PassMark rank | — | #11 of 5,901 |
| PassMark CPU Mark | — | 142,812 |
Apple M5 Max
- +Leads the industry in perf-per-watt
- +128 GB unified memory option
- +Best-in-class ML acceleration
- −Macs only, no DIY
- −Expensive
- −Gaming library still limited
Ryzen Threadripper 9980X
- +PassMark rank #11 — strong productivity throughput
- +HEDT platform with abundant PCIe and memory lanes
- +Current PassMark-tracked street price around $4,399
- −HEDT motherboards and cooling raise total platform cost
FAQ: Apple M5 Max vs Ryzen Threadripper 9980X
Which is better, Apple M5 Max or Ryzen Threadripper 9980X? +
Apple M5 Max scores 98 on our weighted rubric — ahead by 18. Your best pick depends on the sub-scores above.
Is Apple M5 Max worth the price? +
At $3,499, Apple M5 Max delivers a Specdex score of 98 — strongest in efficiency.
Is Ryzen Threadripper 9980X worth the price? +
At $4,999, Ryzen Threadripper 9980X delivers a Specdex score of 80 — strongest in passmark.
Does Apple M5 Max or Ryzen Threadripper 9980X 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 the better value, Apple M5 Max or Ryzen Threadripper 9980X? +
Apple M5 Max — more score per dollar ($3,499 vs $4,999). Specdex score per dollar at MSRP.