60

M3 Processor

Apple Silicon · 8C/8T

$599

MSRP

72

Ryzen 7 7700X Processor

Zen 4 · 8C/16T · AM5

$349

MSRP

Our verdict

The Ryzen 7 7700X Processor takes the performance lead with a 20% higher overall score, driven by its 8 shader cores, 32 MB of memory, and 5,400 MHz TFLOPS of compute power. In gaming benchmarks at 1440p, it delivers roughly 101% more frames per second across demanding titles like Counter-Strike 2 1080p and Cyberpunk 2077 1080p.

However, the Ryzen 7 7700X Processor tells a compelling value story. At $349 versus the M3 Processor's $599 price tag, it costs 72% less while delivering performance that's only 20% 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 7 7700X 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 7700X Processor

20% faster overall

Best value for money

Ryzen 7 7700X Processor

25% better value per dollar

M3 Processor best for

Power efficiency

25% better value per dollar

Memory

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

Performance

Cores
8
8
Threads
8
16
Base clock
2,700 MHz
4,500 MHz
Boost clock
4,100 MHz
5,400 MHz
L2 cache
16 MB
8 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 10-core
AMD Radeon (RDNA 2)

Power

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

Gaming benchmarks (avg FPS at 1080p)

Counter-Strike 2
165 fps
335 fps
Cyberpunk 2077
72 fps
140 fps
Hogwarts Legacy
62 fps
122 fps
Spider-Man 2
68 fps
132 fps
Starfield
45 fps
95 fps

Synthetic & compute benchmarks

Blender BMW
138 seconds
88 seconds
Cinebench 2024 Multi-Core
520 pts
850 pts
Geekbench 6 Multi-Core
8,800 pts
12,500 pts
Handbrake 4K Encode
265 seconds
170 seconds
7-Zip Compression
42,000 MIPS
82,000 MIPS
Adobe Premiere Pro Export
92 seconds
58 seconds
Cinebench 2024 Single-Core
105 pts
118 pts
Geekbench 6 Single-Core
2,900 pts
2,650 pts

Frequently asked questions

Is the M3 Processor worth $250 more than the Ryzen 7 7700X Processor?

It depends on your needs. The M3 Processor scores 72 overall vs 60 for the Ryzen 7 7700X 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 7700X Processor offers better value.

Which GPU is better for 1440p gaming, the M3 Processor or Ryzen 7 7700X Processor?

The Ryzen 7 7700X Processor delivers higher frame rates at 1440p, but both GPUs handle 1440p gaming well. The Ryzen 7 7700X 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 7700X Processor is the better choice with its higher performance ceiling.

Which should I buy, the M3 Processor or Ryzen 7 7700X Processor?

Choose the Ryzen 7 7700X 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 →