AMD
EPYC 9654
Zen 4 · 96C/192T · SP5
96
/ 100
From $11,805
VS
Apple M5 Max wins by 2
Apple
Apple M5 Max
16C CPU · 40C GPU · 570 GB/s
98
/ 100
From $3,499
Specdex verdict
Apple M5 Max takes it — here’s why.
In our weighted Specdex score, EPYC 9654 lands at 96 and Apple M5 Max at 98. That puts Apple M5 Max ahead by 2 points — a narrow margin driven mostly by its strengths in the categories below.
Pick EPYC 9654 if…
- ✓Massive core counts
- ✓ECC memory support
- ✓Workstation/server-grade platform
Pick Apple M5 Max if…
- ✓Leads the industry in perf-per-watt
- ✓128 GB unified memory option
- ✓Best-in-class ML acceleration
Score breakdown
EPYC 9654
96 single 88
multi 96
gaming 76
efficiency 78
Apple M5 Max
98 single 99
multi 98
gaming 85
efficiency 100
Specs side-by-side
Spec
EPYC 9654
Apple M5 Max
Architecture
Zen 4
—
Cores
96
16 (12P+4E)
Threads
192
—
Socket
SP5
—
Release year
2022
—
GPU cores
—
40
Memory bandwidth
—
570 GB/s
Neural engine
—
16-core, 60 TOPS
EPYC 9654
Pros
- +Massive core counts
- +ECC memory support
- +Workstation/server-grade platform
Cons
- −Niche platform, limited motherboards
- −High TDP requires serious cooling
- −Premium price
Apple M5 Max
Pros
- +Leads the industry in perf-per-watt
- +128 GB unified memory option
- +Best-in-class ML acceleration
Cons
- −Macs only, no DIY
- −Expensive
- −Gaming library still limited
FAQ: EPYC 9654 vs Apple M5 Max
Which is better, EPYC 9654 or Apple M5 Max? +
Apple M5 Max scores 98 on our weighted rubric — ahead by 2. Your best pick depends on the sub-scores above.
Is EPYC 9654 worth the price? +
At $11,805, EPYC 9654 delivers a Specdex score of 96 — strongest in multi.
Is Apple M5 Max worth the price? +
At $3,499, Apple M5 Max delivers a Specdex score of 98 — strongest in efficiency.
Does EPYC 9654 or Apple M5 Max 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.