60

M3 Processor

Apple Silicon · 8C/8T

$599

MSRP

78

Ryzen 7 5800X3D Processor

Zen 3 3D V-Cache · 8C/16T · AM4

$449

MSRP

Our verdict

The Ryzen 7 5800X3D Processor takes the performance lead with a 30% higher overall score, driven by its 8 shader cores, 96 MB of memory, and 4,500 MHz TFLOPS of compute power. In gaming benchmarks at 1440p, it delivers roughly 118% more frames per second across demanding titles like Counter-Strike 2 1080p and Cyberpunk 2077 1080p.

However, the Ryzen 7 5800X3D Processor tells a compelling value story. At $449 versus the M3 Processor's $599 price tag, it costs 33% less while delivering performance that's only 30% behind. Its 96 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 7 5800X3D Processor is the smarter purchase. The M3 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 5800X3D Processor

30% faster overall

Best value for money

Ryzen 7 5800X3D Processor

20% better value per dollar

M3 Processor best for

Power efficiency

20% 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
3,400 MHz
Boost clock
4,100 MHz
4,500 MHz
L2 cache
16 MB
4 MB
L3 cache
0 MB
96 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
105W

Gaming benchmarks (avg FPS at 1080p)

Counter-Strike 2
165 fps
355 fps
Cyberpunk 2077
72 fps
155 fps
Hogwarts Legacy
62 fps
135 fps
Spider-Man 2
68 fps
145 fps
Starfield
45 fps
105 fps

Synthetic & compute benchmarks

Blender BMW
138 seconds
95 seconds
Cinebench 2024 Multi-Core
520 pts
720 pts
Geekbench 6 Multi-Core
8,800 pts
10,800 pts
Handbrake 4K Encode
265 seconds
180 seconds
7-Zip Compression
42,000 MIPS
72,000 MIPS
Adobe Premiere Pro Export
92 seconds
62 seconds
Cinebench 2024 Single-Core
105 pts
95 pts
Geekbench 6 Single-Core
2,900 pts
2,050 pts

Frequently asked questions

Is the M3 Processor worth $150 more than the Ryzen 7 5800X3D Processor?

It depends on your needs. The M3 Processor scores 78 overall vs 60 for the Ryzen 7 5800X3D 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 5800X3D Processor offers better value.

Which GPU is better for 1440p gaming, the M3 Processor or Ryzen 7 5800X3D Processor?

The Ryzen 7 5800X3D Processor delivers higher frame rates at 1440p, but both GPUs handle 1440p gaming well. The Ryzen 7 5800X3D 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 5800X3D Processor is the better choice with its higher performance ceiling.

Which should I buy, the M3 Processor or Ryzen 7 5800X3D Processor?

Choose the Ryzen 7 5800X3D 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.

Related comparisons

Pair with a graphics card

See our GPU rankings →