Apple M5 Max vs Ryzen 9 7950X: specs and benchmark comparison
BAMD · Zen 4
AMD Ryzen 9 7950X
- 16 cores / 32 threads
- up to 5.7 GHz
- AM5
September 27, 2022 · $699 at launch
Short verdict
In the available comparable benchmarks the difference is below the noticeable threshold, so no significant advantage was found.
Compare with AIMulti-thread performance
≈ parityThe difference in available benchmarks is below the noticeable threshold, so there is no significant advantage.
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 M5 Max is better1
Cores 2 more18 vs 16
Where Ryzen 9 7950X is better0
No advantages found in our data.
Benchmarks
Results are compared within one benchmark, one version and the same conditions.
- 1.6% difference, within the threshold
Blender Benchmark 5.2.0
CPU, sum of scenes monster + junkshop + classroom · samples/min, higher is better
Apple M5 Max584.5 samples/minRyzen 9 7950X575.3 samples/minPosition among tested models (49)
B · 575A · 5850200400600800Each dot is one model’s median in this benchmark. The scale starts at zero, samples/min. The 1.6% difference is below the noticeable threshold (5%).
About the measurement and source
- A · Apple M5 Max
584.5 samples/min · community measurement, sample 92 · November 14, 2026
Blender Open Data (Blender Foundation)
Median of 92 submissions (7 outliers excluded), interquartile range 567.47–590.34; submissions 2026-07-22 to 2026-11-12; CPU backend. Snapshot 2026-11-14.
- B · AMD Ryzen 9 7950X
575.3 samples/min · community measurement, sample 30 · November 14, 2026
Blender Open Data (Blender Foundation)
Median of 30 submissions (1 outliers excluded), interquartile range 552.02–615.66; submissions 2026-07-21 to 2026-11-09; 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 (2)
| Benchmark | A | B | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blender Benchmark 5.1.1CPU, sum of scenes monster + junkshop + classroom | 566.8 | 585.5 | B +3.3% |
| Blender Benchmark 5.1.0CPU, sum of scenes monster + junkshop + classroom | 577.8 | 588 | B +1.8% |
Each benchmark version has its own scale: numbers are compared only within a row.
Reference results (13)
| Benchmark | A | B | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blender Benchmark 4.5.0CPU, sum of scenes monster + junkshop + classroom | 606.5 | 551.2 | reference |
| Blender Benchmark 4.3.0CPU, sum of scenes monster + junkshop + classroom | 552.4 | 522.4 | reference |
| Blender Benchmark 5.0.0CPU, sum of scenes monster + junkshop + classroom | 587.1 | 518 | reference |
| Blender Benchmark 5.3.0CPU, sum of scenes monster + junkshop + classroom | 594.5 | 570.5 | reference |
| Blender Benchmark 4.2.0CPU, sum of scenes monster + junkshop + classroom | — | 527.9 | no pair |
| Blender Benchmark 3.2.1CPU, sum of scenes monster + junkshop + classroom | — | 576.1 | no pair |
| Blender Benchmark 3.3.0CPU, sum of scenes monster + junkshop + classroom | — | 619.7 | no pair |
| Blender Benchmark 3.4.0CPU, sum of scenes monster + junkshop + classroom | — | 588.8 | no pair |
| Blender Benchmark 3.5.0CPU, sum of scenes monster + junkshop + classroom | — | 566.9 | no pair |
| Blender Benchmark 3.6.0CPU, sum of scenes monster + junkshop + classroom | — | 569.1 | no pair |
| Blender Benchmark 4.0.0CPU, sum of scenes monster + junkshop + classroom | — | 550.1 | no pair |
| Blender Benchmark 4.1.0CPU, sum of scenes monster + junkshop + classroom | — | 551.9 | no pair |
| Blender Benchmark 4.4.0CPU, sum of scenes monster + junkshop + classroom | — | 535 | no pair |
Each benchmark version has its own scale: numbers are compared only within a row.
Specifications
| Specification | A · Apple M5 Max | B · Ryzen 9 7950X | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cores and clocks | |||
| CoresCores of different types may differ in performance. | 18 | 16 | A: 2 more |
| Threads | no data | 32 | no data for A |
| Base clockFor hybrid Intel CPUs, the P-core base clock is shown. | no data | 4.5 GHz | no data for A |
| Max clock (Boost/Turbo) | no data | 5.7 GHz | no data for A |
| Unlocked multiplier | no data | yes | no data for A |
| Cache | |||
| L1 cache | no data | 1,024 KB | no data for A |
| L2 cache | no data | 16 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 | 128 GB | 128 GB | equal |
| PCI Express | no data | PCIe 5.0, 24 lanes | no data for A |
| Integrated graphics | Apple M5 Max (32 / 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 | 170 W | no data for A |
Cores and clocks
Cores
A18
B16
A: 2 moreCores of different types may differ in performance.
Threads
Ano data
B32
no data for ABase clock
Ano data
B4.5 GHz
no data for AFor hybrid Intel CPUs, the P-core base clock is shown.
Max clock (Boost/Turbo)
Ano data
B5.7 GHz
no data for AUnlocked multiplier
Ano data
Byes
no data for A
Cache
L1 cache
Ano data
B1,024 KB
no data for AL2 cache
Ano data
B16 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
A128 GB
B128 GB
equalPCI Express
Ano data
BPCIe 5.0, 24 lanes
no data for AIntegrated graphics
AApple M5 Max (32 / 40-core GPU)
BAMD Radeon Graphics (2 CU)
differs
Power
TDP (AMD method)
Ano data
B170 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 M5 Max: Apple M5 Max (32 / 40-core GPU). AMD Ryzen 9 7950X: AMD Radeon Graphics (2 CU).
Which is faster: Apple M5 Max or AMD Ryzen 9 7950X?
In the available comparable benchmarks the difference is below the noticeable threshold, so no significant advantage was found.
See also
Data sources (4)
- Apple — specifications of Apple M5 Maxchecked November 14, 2026
- AMD — specifications of AMD Ryzen 9 7950Xchecked 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.