AMD
Ryzen 7 9700X
Zen 5 · 8C/16T · 65 W · AM5
89
/ 100
From $359
VS
Apple M4 wins by 3
Apple
Apple M4
10C CPU · 10C GPU · Ray-Tracing
92
/ 100
From $1,099
Specdex verdict
Apple M4 takes it — here’s why.
In our weighted Specdex score, Ryzen 7 9700X lands at 89 and Apple M4 at 92. That puts Apple M4 ahead by 3 points — a narrow margin driven mostly by its strengths in the categories below.
Pick Ryzen 7 9700X if…
- ✓AM4/AM5 longevity
- ✓Multi-thread value
- ✓Unlocked multipliers
Pick Apple M4 if…
- ✓Industry-best perf-per-watt
- ✓Hardware ray tracing on iGPU
- ✓LPDDR5X 120 GB/s
Ryzen 7 9700X 89
vs 92 Apple M4
Score breakdown
Ryzen 7 9700X
89 single 85
multi 89
gaming 87
efficiency 80
Apple M4
92 single 100
multi 86
gaming 72
efficiency 100
Specs side-by-side
| Spec | Ryzen 7 9700X | Apple M4 |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture | Zen 5 | — |
| Cores | 8 | ▲ 10 (4P+6E) |
| Threads | 16 | — |
| TDP | 65 W | — |
| Socket | AM5 | — |
| Release year | 2024 | — |
| Memory bandwidth | — | 120 GB/s |
| Neural engine | — | 16-core, 38 TOPS |
| Process | — | TSMC N3E |
Ryzen 7 9700X
Pros
- +AM4/AM5 longevity
- +Multi-thread value
- +Unlocked multipliers
Cons
- −DDR5 required on AM5
- −iGPU optional
- −X3D variants better for gaming
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
FAQ: Ryzen 7 9700X vs Apple M4
Which is better, Ryzen 7 9700X or Apple M4? +
Apple M4 scores 92 on our weighted rubric — ahead by 3. Your best pick depends on the sub-scores above.
Is Ryzen 7 9700X worth the price? +
At $359, Ryzen 7 9700X delivers a Specdex score of 89 — strongest in multi.
Is Apple M4 worth the price? +
At $1,099, Apple M4 delivers a Specdex score of 92 — strongest in single.
Does Ryzen 7 9700X or Apple M4 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.