Apple M3 Max (16-core CPU) vs Ryzen 9 7900: specs and benchmark comparison
Short verdict
Apple M3 Max (16-core CPU) leads in every scenario with comparable benchmarks: multi-thread performance. This does not imply an advantage in tasks without benchmarks.
Compare with AIMulti-thread performance
A +11.5%Apple M3 Max (16-core CPU) leads in this scenario (up to 11.5% in comparable benchmarks).
No comparable benchmarks yet: single-thread performance, gaming (cpu-bound scenarios), power efficiency.
Advantages
Only measured and rated values: a noticeable benchmark gap and specs where more is better.
Where Apple M3 Max (16-core CPU) is better1
Cores 4 more16 (12P + 4E) vs 12
Where Ryzen 9 7900 is better0
No advantages found in our data.
Benchmarks
Results are compared within one benchmark, one version and the same conditions.
- 0.9% difference, within the threshold
Blender Benchmark 4.5.0
CPU, sum of scenes monster + junkshop + classroom · samples/min, higher is better
Apple M3 Max (16-core CPU)414.7 samples/minRyzen 9 7900411.1 samples/minPosition among tested models (89)
B · 411A · 4150200400600800Each dot is one model’s median in this benchmark. The scale starts at zero, samples/min. The 0.9% difference is below the noticeable threshold (5%).
About the measurement and source
- A · Apple M3 Max (16-core CPU)
414.7 samples/min · community measurement, sample 31 · November 14, 2026
Blender Open Data (Blender Foundation)
Median of 31 submissions (1 outliers excluded), interquartile range 407.92–421.6; submissions 2025-07-17 to 2026-06-07; CPU backend. Snapshot 2026-11-14.
- B · AMD Ryzen 9 7900
411.1 samples/min · community measurement, sample 143 · November 14, 2026
Blender Open Data (Blender Foundation)
Median of 143 submissions (0 outliers excluded), interquartile range 370.5–435.48; submissions 2025-07-17 to 2026-02-24; CPU backend. Snapshot 2026-11-14.
difference = |A − B| ÷ the smaller value × 100%. The 5% noticeable threshold is a UX heuristic, not statistical significance.
Cycles render in Blender Benchmark. Median of the sum of samples per minute over three scenes after removing outliers.
Other comparable benchmarks (4)
| Benchmark | A | B | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blender Benchmark 4.2.0CPU, sum of scenes monster + junkshop + classroom | 407.7 | 371.7 | A +9.7% |
| Blender Benchmark 4.0.0CPU, sum of scenes monster + junkshop + classroom | 418.3 | 430.8 | B +3% |
| Blender Benchmark 4.1.0CPU, sum of scenes monster + junkshop + classroom | 417.9 | 374.8 | A +11.5% |
| Blender Benchmark 4.3.0CPU, sum of scenes monster + junkshop + classroom | 408.2 | 393.3 | A +3.8% |
Each benchmark version has its own scale: numbers are compared only within a row.
Reference results (11)
| Benchmark | A | B | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blender Benchmark 5.1.1CPU, sum of scenes monster + junkshop + classroom | 405.4 | 402.1 | reference |
| Blender Benchmark 5.2.0CPU, sum of scenes monster + junkshop + classroom | 399.6 | 421.4 | reference |
| Blender Benchmark 3.4.0CPU, sum of scenes monster + junkshop + classroom | 351.6 | 385.3 | reference |
| Blender Benchmark 3.6.0CPU, sum of scenes monster + junkshop + classroom | 414.3 | 401.6 | reference |
| Blender Benchmark 4.4.0CPU, sum of scenes monster + junkshop + classroom | 407.3 | 379 | reference |
| Blender Benchmark 5.0.0CPU, sum of scenes monster + junkshop + classroom | 413.8 | 336.9 | reference |
| Blender Benchmark 5.1.0CPU, sum of scenes monster + junkshop + classroom | 382.5 | 407.8 | reference |
| Blender Benchmark 5.3.0CPU, sum of scenes monster + junkshop + classroom | 378.3 | — | no pair |
| Blender Benchmark 3.2.1CPU, sum of scenes monster + junkshop + classroom | — | 454.8 | no pair |
| Blender Benchmark 3.3.0CPU, sum of scenes monster + junkshop + classroom | — | 450.3 | no pair |
| Blender Benchmark 3.5.0CPU, sum of scenes monster + junkshop + classroom | — | 371.6 | no pair |
Each benchmark version has its own scale: numbers are compared only within a row.
Specifications
| Specification | A · Apple M3 Max (16-core CPU) | B · Ryzen 9 7900 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cores and clocks | |||
| CoresCores of different types may differ in performance. | 16 (12P + 4E) | 12 | A: 4 more |
| Threads | no data | 24 | no data for A |
| Base clockFor hybrid Intel CPUs, the P-core base clock is shown. | no data | 3.7 GHz | no data for A |
| Max clock (Boost/Turbo) | no data | 5.4 GHz | no data for A |
| Unlocked multiplier | no data | yes | no data for A |
| Cache | |||
| L1 cache | no data | 768 KB | no data for A |
| L2 cache | no data | 12 MB | no data for A |
| L3 cache | no data | 64 MB | no data for A |
| Platform | |||
| Socket | no data | AM5 | no data for A |
| Process node | 3 nm | TSMC 5 nm FinFET | differs |
| Memory and interfaces | |||
| Memory type | Unified memory | DDR5 | differs |
| Memory channels | no data | 2 | no data for A |
| Official memory speedFor controllers that support two generations, the speed for the newer memory type is shown. | no data | 5,200 MT/s | no data for A |
| Max memory capacity | no data | 128 GB | no data for A |
| PCI Express | no data | PCIe 5.0, 24 lanes | no data for A |
| Integrated graphics | Apple M3 Max (30 / 40-core GPU) | AMD Radeon Graphics (2 CU) | differs |
| Power | |||
| TDP (AMD method)AMD TDP, AMD PPT, Intel Base Power (PL1) and Max Turbo Power (PL2) are different metrics and are not compared with each other. For laptop CPUs, the laptop maker configures the TDP. | no data | 65 W | no data for A |
Cores and clocks
Cores
A16 (12P + 4E)
B12
A: 4 moreCores of different types may differ in performance.
Threads
Ano data
B24
no data for ABase clock
Ano data
B3.7 GHz
no data for AFor hybrid Intel CPUs, the P-core base clock is shown.
Max clock (Boost/Turbo)
Ano data
B5.4 GHz
no data for AUnlocked multiplier
Ano data
Byes
no data for A
Cache
L1 cache
Ano data
B768 KB
no data for AL2 cache
Ano data
B12 MB
no data for AL3 cache
Ano data
B64 MB
no data for A
Platform
Socket
Ano data
BAM5
no data for AProcess node
A3 nm
BTSMC 5 nm FinFET
differs
Memory and interfaces
Memory type
AUnified memory
BDDR5
differsMemory channels
Ano data
B2
no data for AOfficial memory speed
Ano data
B5,200 MT/s
no data for AFor controllers that support two generations, the speed for the newer memory type is shown.
Max memory capacity
Ano data
B128 GB
no data for APCI Express
Ano data
BPCIe 5.0, 24 lanes
no data for AIntegrated graphics
AApple M3 Max (30 / 40-core GPU)
BAMD Radeon Graphics (2 CU)
differs
Power
TDP (AMD method)
Ano data
B65 W
no data for AAMD TDP, AMD PPT, Intel Base Power (PL1) and Max Turbo Power (PL2) are different metrics and are not compared with each other. For laptop CPUs, the laptop maker configures the TDP.
“More” does not always mean “better”: higher power draw or size is a system requirement, not an advantage (such bars are dimmed).
Compare with AI
An AI model reviews the specs and benchmarks of this pair and gives a plain-language verdict on who each model suits.
Questions and answers
Do these CPUs have integrated graphics?
Apple M3 Max (16-core CPU): Apple M3 Max (30 / 40-core GPU). AMD Ryzen 9 7900: AMD Radeon Graphics (2 CU).
Which is faster: Apple M3 Max (16-core CPU) or AMD Ryzen 9 7900?
Apple M3 Max (16-core CPU) leads in every scenario with comparable benchmarks: multi-thread performance. This does not imply an advantage in tasks without benchmarks.
See also
Data sources (4)
- Apple — specifications of Apple M3 Max (16-core CPU)checked November 14, 2026
- AMD — specifications of AMD Ryzen 9 7900checked November 7, 2026
- Blender Open Data (Blender Foundation) — benchmark Blender Benchmark 4.2.0, benchmark Blender Benchmark 4.5.0, benchmark Blender Benchmark 5.1.1, benchmark Blender Benchmark 5.2.0, benchmark Blender Benchmark 3.2.1, benchmark Blender Benchmark 3.3.0, benchmark Blender Benchmark 3.4.0, benchmark Blender Benchmark 3.5.0, benchmark Blender Benchmark 3.6.0, benchmark Blender Benchmark 4.0.0, benchmark Blender Benchmark 4.1.0, benchmark Blender Benchmark 4.3.0, benchmark Blender Benchmark 4.4.0, benchmark Blender Benchmark 5.0.0, benchmark Blender Benchmark 5.1.0, benchmark Blender Benchmark 5.3.0checked November 14, 2026
- Wikipedia (English) — release date and launch pricechecked November 14, 2026
How we compare: methodology. Where the data comes from: sources.