60

M3 Processor

Apple Silicon · 8C/8T

$599

MSRP

68

Ryzen 7 5800X Processor

Zen 3 · 8C/16T · AM4

$449

MSRP

Our verdict

The Ryzen 7 5800X Processor takes the performance lead with a 13% higher overall score, driven by its 8 shader cores, 32 MB of memory, and 4,700 MHz TFLOPS of compute power. In gaming benchmarks at 1440p, it delivers roughly 82% more frames per second across demanding titles like Counter-Strike 2 1080p and Cyberpunk 2077 1080p.

However, the M3 Processor tells a compelling value story. At $599 versus the Ryzen 7 5800X Processor's $449 price tag, it costs $150 less while delivering performance that's only 13% behind. Its 0 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 M3 Processor is the smarter purchase. The Ryzen 7 5800X 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

Ryzen 7 5800X Processor

13% faster overall

Best value for money

M3 Processor

0% better value per dollar

M3 Processor best for

Power efficiency

0% better value per dollar

Memory

Max memory
32 GB
128 GB
Memory type
LPDDR5x-6400
DDR4-3200
Memory channels
Unified
2

Performance

Cores
8
8
Threads
8
16
Base clock
2,700 MHz
3,800 MHz
Boost clock
4,100 MHz
4,700 MHz
L2 cache
16 MB
4 MB
L3 cache
0 MB
32 MB
Process
3 nm
7 nm
Transistors
N/A
N/A

platform

Socket
SoC
AM4
PCIe
Integrated
PCIe 4.0
PCIe lanes
0
24
Integrated graphics
Apple GPU 10-core
None

Power

TDP
22W
105W
Max turbo power
22W
142W

Gaming benchmarks (avg FPS at 1080p)

Counter-Strike 2
165 fps
295 fps
Cyberpunk 2077
72 fps
130 fps
Hogwarts Legacy
62 fps
112 fps
Spider-Man 2
68 fps
122 fps
Starfield
45 fps
85 fps

Synthetic & compute benchmarks

Blender BMW
138 seconds
98 seconds
Cinebench 2024 Multi-Core
520 pts
700 pts
Geekbench 6 Multi-Core
8,800 pts
10,200 pts
Handbrake 4K Encode
265 seconds
185 seconds
7-Zip Compression
42,000 MIPS
68,000 MIPS
Adobe Premiere Pro Export
92 seconds
65 seconds
Cinebench 2024 Single-Core
105 pts
92 pts
Geekbench 6 Single-Core
2,900 pts
2,000 pts

Frequently asked questions

Is the M3 Processor worth $150 more than the Ryzen 7 5800X Processor?

It depends on your needs. The M3 Processor scores 68 overall vs 60 for the Ryzen 7 5800X Processor. If you need the extra performance for demanding tasks, the premium is justified. For most users gaming at 1440p or below, the Ryzen 7 5800X Processor offers better value.

Which GPU is better for 1440p gaming, the M3 Processor or Ryzen 7 5800X Processor?

The Ryzen 7 5800X Processor delivers higher frame rates at 1440p, but both GPUs handle 1440p gaming well. The Ryzen 7 5800X Processor provides more headroom for ray tracing and future titles, while the M3 Processor still maintains smooth gameplay in current games.

Can the M3 Processor handle 4K gaming?

The M3 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 Ryzen 7 5800X Processor is the better choice with its higher performance ceiling.

Which should I buy, the M3 Processor or Ryzen 7 5800X Processor?

Choose the Ryzen 7 5800X Processor if you want the best value for money and primarily game at 1080p or 1440p. Choose the M3 Processor if you need maximum performance, play at 4K, or do professional workloads like video editing and 3D rendering.

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