Ryzen 9 9900X
Zen 5 · 12C/24T · 5.6 GHz · AM5
Apple M4 Pro
14C CPU · 20C GPU · 273 GB/s
Apple M4 Pro takes it — here’s why.
In our weighted Specdex score, Ryzen 9 9900X lands at 92 and Apple M4 Pro at 95. That puts Apple M4 Pro ahead by 3 points — a narrow margin driven mostly by its strengths in the categories below.
Pick Ryzen 9 9900X if…
- ✓12 cores at 5.6 GHz boost
- ✓120 W TDP — cooler than 9950X
- ✓AM5 platform longevity
Pick Apple M4 Pro if…
- ✓Massive memory bandwidth
- ✓Silent under load
- ✓Excellent media engines
Winner by scenario
Derived from the sub-score breakdown · not a separate testGaming
Ryzen 9 9900XFrame-rate-bound workloads — favours cache and single-thread speed
Ryzen 9 9900X leads on gaming (88 vs 80).
Creators & productivity
TieRendering, compilation, heavy multitasking — favours core count
Effectively tied — neither pulls a 2-point weighted lead.
Power efficiency
Apple M4 ProPerformance per watt — thermals, PSU headroom, electricity cost
Apple M4 Pro leads on efficiency (98 vs 88).
Value for money
Ryzen 9 9900XSpecdex score per dollar at MSRP
Ryzen 9 9900X more score per dollar ($499 vs $1,999).
Score breakdown
Specs side-by-side
| Spec | Ryzen 9 9900X | Apple M4 Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Cores | 12 | ▲ 14 (10P+4E) |
| Threads | 24 | — |
| Base clock | 4.4 GHz | — |
| Boost clock | 5.6 GHz | — |
| L3 cache | 64 MB | — |
| TDP | 120 W | — |
| Socket | AM5 | — |
| Process | TSMC N4X | — |
| iGPU | Radeon Graphics (RDNA 2, 2 CUs) | — |
| Memory | DDR5-5600 dual-channel | — |
| GPU cores | — | 20 |
| Memory bandwidth | — | 273 GB/s |
| Neural engine | — | 16-core, 38 TOPS |
Ryzen 9 9900X
- +12 cores at 5.6 GHz boost
- +120 W TDP — cooler than 9950X
- +AM5 platform longevity
- −9950X edges it on multi-thread
- −9800X3D beats it on gaming
- −$499 puts it close to higher-tier
Apple M4 Pro
- +Massive memory bandwidth
- +Silent under load
- +Excellent media engines
- −Only in MacBook Pro 14/16 + Mac mini
- −Windows ARM is still niche
- −Premium
FAQ: Ryzen 9 9900X vs Apple M4 Pro
Which is better, Ryzen 9 9900X or Apple M4 Pro? +
Apple M4 Pro scores 95 on our weighted rubric — ahead by 3. Your best pick depends on the sub-scores above.
Is Ryzen 9 9900X worth the price? +
At $499, Ryzen 9 9900X delivers a Specdex score of 92 — strongest in multi.
Is Apple M4 Pro worth the price? +
At $1,999, Apple M4 Pro delivers a Specdex score of 95 — strongest in single.
Does Ryzen 9 9900X or Apple M4 Pro 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, Ryzen 9 9900X or Apple M4 Pro? +
Ryzen 9 9900X — leads on gaming (88 vs 80). Frame-rate-bound workloads — favours cache and single-thread speed.
Which is better for power efficiency, Ryzen 9 9900X or Apple M4 Pro? +
Apple M4 Pro — leads on efficiency (98 vs 88). Performance per watt — thermals, PSU headroom, electricity cost.