AMD
Threadripper 7980X
Zen 4 · 64C/128T · sTR5
95
/ 100
From $4,999
VS
Apple M5 Max wins by 3
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, Threadripper 7980X lands at 95 and Apple M5 Max at 98. That puts Apple M5 Max ahead by 3 points — a narrow margin driven mostly by its strengths in the categories below.
Pick Threadripper 7980X 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
Threadripper 7980X 95
vs 98 Apple M5 Max
Score breakdown
Threadripper 7980X
95 single 87
multi 95
gaming 75
efficiency 78
Apple M5 Max
98 single 99
multi 98
gaming 85
efficiency 100
Specs side-by-side
| Spec | Threadripper 7980X | Apple M5 Max |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture | Zen 4 | — |
| Cores | ▲ 64 | 16 (12P+4E) |
| Threads | 128 | — |
| Socket | sTR5 | — |
| Release year | 2023 | — |
| GPU cores | — | 40 |
| Memory bandwidth | — | 570 GB/s |
| Neural engine | — | 16-core, 60 TOPS |
Threadripper 7980X
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: Threadripper 7980X vs Apple M5 Max
Which is better, Threadripper 7980X or Apple M5 Max? +
Apple M5 Max scores 98 on our weighted rubric — ahead by 3. Your best pick depends on the sub-scores above.
Is Threadripper 7980X worth the price? +
At $4,999, Threadripper 7980X delivers a Specdex score of 95 — 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 Threadripper 7980X 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.