74

M3 Pro Processor

Apple Silicon · 12C/12T

$1599

MSRP

60

Ryzen 5 7500F Processor

Zen 4 · 6C/12T · AM5

$179

MSRP

Our verdict

The M3 Pro Processor takes the performance lead with a 23% higher overall score, driven by its 12 shader cores, 0 MB of memory, and 4,100 MHz TFLOPS of compute power. In gaming benchmarks at 1440p, it delivers roughly 31% more frames per second across demanding titles like Counter-Strike 2 1080p and Cyberpunk 2077 1080p.

However, the Ryzen 5 7500F Processor tells a compelling value story. At $179 versus the M3 Pro Processor's $1599 price tag, it costs 793% less while delivering performance that's only 23% behind. Its 32 MB of memory is still more than enough for 1440p and even 4K gaming in most titles.

Our recommendation: for the majority of gamers targeting 1440p or even 4K with upscaling enabled, the Ryzen 5 7500F Processor is the smarter purchase. The M3 Pro Processor only makes sense if you need the absolute maximum performance for native 4K ray tracing, professional 3D rendering, or AI workloads where the extra VRAM and compute power provide a tangible advantage.

Performance winner

M3 Pro Processor

23% faster overall

Best value for money

Ryzen 5 7500F Processor

132% better value per dollar

M3 Pro Processor best for

Power efficiency

23% faster overall

Memory

Max memory
128 GB
128 GB
Memory type
LPDDR5x-6400
DDR5-5200
Memory channels
Unified
2

Performance

Cores
12
6
Threads
12
12
Base clock
2,700 MHz
3,700 MHz
Boost clock
4,100 MHz
5,000 MHz
L2 cache
18 MB
6 MB
L3 cache
0 MB
32 MB
Process
3 nm
5 nm
Transistors
N/A
N/A

platform

Socket
SoC
AM5
PCIe
Integrated
PCIe 5.0
PCIe lanes
0
24
Integrated graphics
Apple GPU 18-core
None

Power

TDP
75W
65W
Max turbo power
75W
88W

Gaming benchmarks (avg FPS at 1080p)

Counter-Strike 2
230 fps
305 fps
Cyberpunk 2077
100 fps
128 fps
Hogwarts Legacy
85 fps
110 fps
Spider-Man 2
92 fps
120 fps
Starfield
65 fps
82 fps

Synthetic & compute benchmarks

Blender BMW
75 seconds
118 seconds
Cinebench 2024 Multi-Core
980 pts
630 pts
Geekbench 6 Multi-Core
14,500 pts
9,800 pts
Handbrake 4K Encode
148 seconds
220 seconds
7-Zip Compression
82,000 MIPS
63,000 MIPS
Adobe Premiere Pro Export
55 seconds
78 seconds
Cinebench 2024 Single-Core
118 pts
108 pts
Geekbench 6 Single-Core
3,050 pts
2,450 pts

Frequently asked questions

Is the M3 Pro Processor worth $1420 more than the Ryzen 5 7500F Processor?

It depends on your needs. The M3 Pro Processor scores 74 overall vs 60 for the Ryzen 5 7500F Processor. If you need the extra performance for demanding tasks, the premium is justified. For most users gaming at 1440p or below, the Ryzen 5 7500F Processor offers better value.

Which GPU is better for 1440p gaming, the M3 Pro Processor or Ryzen 5 7500F Processor?

The M3 Pro Processor delivers higher frame rates at 1440p, but both GPUs handle 1440p gaming well. The M3 Pro Processor provides more headroom for ray tracing and future titles, while the Ryzen 5 7500F Processor still maintains smooth gameplay in current games.

Can the Ryzen 5 7500F Processor handle 4K gaming?

The Ryzen 5 7500F Processor can handle 4K gaming in less demanding titles and with upscaling technologies like DLSS or FSR. For native 4K at ultra settings in demanding games, the M3 Pro Processor is the better choice with its higher performance ceiling.

Which should I buy, the M3 Pro Processor or Ryzen 5 7500F Processor?

Choose the Ryzen 5 7500F Processor if you want the best value for money and primarily game at 1080p or 1440p. Choose the M3 Pro Processor if you need maximum performance, play at 4K, or do professional workloads like video editing and 3D rendering.

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