82

M4 Pro Processor

Apple Silicon · 12C/12T

$1599

MSRP

58

Ryzen 5 5600X Processor

Zen 3 · 6C/12T · AM4

$299

MSRP

Our verdict

The M4 Pro Processor takes the performance lead with a 41% higher overall score, driven by its 12 shader cores, 0 MB of memory, and 4,500 MHz TFLOPS of compute power. In gaming benchmarks at 1440p, it delivers roughly 2% more frames per second across demanding titles like Counter-Strike 2 1080p and Cyberpunk 2077 1080p.

However, the Ryzen 5 5600X Processor tells a compelling value story. At $299 versus the M4 Pro Processor's $1599 price tag, it costs 435% less while delivering performance that's only 41% 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 5600X Processor is the smarter purchase. The M4 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

M4 Pro Processor

41% faster overall

Best value for money

Ryzen 5 5600X Processor

71% better value per dollar

M4 Pro Processor best for

Power efficiency

41% faster overall

Memory

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

Performance

Cores
12
6
Threads
12
12
Base clock
2,900 MHz
3,700 MHz
Boost clock
4,500 MHz
4,600 MHz
L2 cache
28 MB
3 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 18-core
None

Power

TDP
75W
65W
Max turbo power
75W
76W

Gaming benchmarks (avg FPS at 1080p)

Counter-Strike 2
265 fps
270 fps
Cyberpunk 2077
115 fps
120 fps
Hogwarts Legacy
98 fps
102 fps
Spider-Man 2
105 fps
110 fps
Starfield
75 fps
75 fps

Synthetic & compute benchmarks

Blender BMW
62 seconds
125 seconds
Cinebench 2024 Multi-Core
1,180 pts
560 pts
Geekbench 6 Multi-Core
17,200 pts
8,500 pts
Handbrake 4K Encode
125 seconds
235 seconds
7-Zip Compression
98,000 MIPS
55,000 MIPS
Adobe Premiere Pro Export
45 seconds
82 seconds
Cinebench 2024 Single-Core
132 pts
85 pts
Geekbench 6 Single-Core
3,500 pts
1,850 pts

Frequently asked questions

Is the M4 Pro Processor worth $1300 more than the Ryzen 5 5600X Processor?

It depends on your needs. The M4 Pro Processor scores 82 overall vs 58 for the Ryzen 5 5600X 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 5600X Processor offers better value.

Which GPU is better for 1440p gaming, the M4 Pro Processor or Ryzen 5 5600X Processor?

The M4 Pro Processor delivers higher frame rates at 1440p, but both GPUs handle 1440p gaming well. The M4 Pro Processor provides more headroom for ray tracing and future titles, while the Ryzen 5 5600X Processor still maintains smooth gameplay in current games.

Can the Ryzen 5 5600X Processor handle 4K gaming?

The Ryzen 5 5600X 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 M4 Pro Processor is the better choice with its higher performance ceiling.

Which should I buy, the M4 Pro Processor or Ryzen 5 5600X Processor?

Choose the Ryzen 5 5600X Processor if you want the best value for money and primarily game at 1080p or 1440p. Choose the M4 Pro Processor if you need maximum performance, play at 4K, or do professional workloads like video editing and 3D rendering.

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