68

M4 Processor

Apple Silicon · 10C/10T

$599

MSRP

85

Ryzen 9 7950X Processor

Zen 4 · 16C/32T · AM5

$699

MSRP

Our verdict

The Ryzen 9 7950X Processor takes the performance lead with a 25% higher overall score, driven by its 16 shader cores, 64 MB of memory, and 5,700 MHz TFLOPS of compute power. In gaming benchmarks at 1440p, it delivers roughly 88% more frames per second across demanding titles like Counter-Strike 2 1080p and Cyberpunk 2077 1080p.

However, the M4 Processor tells a compelling value story. At $599 versus the Ryzen 9 7950X Processor's $699 price tag, it costs 17% less while delivering performance that's only 25% 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 M4 Processor is the smarter purchase. The Ryzen 9 7950X 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 9 7950X Processor

25% faster overall

Best value for money

M4 Processor

18% better value per dollar

M4 Processor best for

Power efficiency

18% better value per dollar

Memory

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

Performance

Cores
10
16
Threads
10
32
Base clock
2,900 MHz
4,500 MHz
Boost clock
4,400 MHz
5,700 MHz
L2 cache
16 MB
16 MB
L3 cache
0 MB
64 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
25W
170W
Max turbo power
25W
230W

Gaming benchmarks (avg FPS at 1080p)

Counter-Strike 2
195 fps
365 fps
Cyberpunk 2077
85 fps
155 fps
Hogwarts Legacy
72 fps
135 fps
Spider-Man 2
78 fps
148 fps
Starfield
55 fps
105 fps

Synthetic & compute benchmarks

Blender BMW
112 seconds
44 seconds
Cinebench 2024 Multi-Core
650 pts
1,700 pts
Geekbench 6 Multi-Core
10,800 pts
21,500 pts
Handbrake 4K Encode
215 seconds
88 seconds
7-Zip Compression
55,000 MIPS
148,000 MIPS
Adobe Premiere Pro Export
75 seconds
34 seconds
Cinebench 2024 Single-Core
115 pts
130 pts
Geekbench 6 Single-Core
3,200 pts
2,850 pts

Frequently asked questions

Is the Ryzen 9 7950X Processor worth $100 more than the M4 Processor?

It depends on your needs. The Ryzen 9 7950X Processor scores 85 overall vs 68 for the M4 Processor. If you need the extra performance for demanding tasks, the premium is justified. For most users gaming at 1440p or below, the M4 Processor offers better value.

Which GPU is better for 1440p gaming, the M4 Processor or Ryzen 9 7950X Processor?

The Ryzen 9 7950X Processor delivers higher frame rates at 1440p, but both GPUs handle 1440p gaming well. The Ryzen 9 7950X Processor provides more headroom for ray tracing and future titles, while the M4 Processor still maintains smooth gameplay in current games.

Can the M4 Processor handle 4K gaming?

The M4 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 9 7950X Processor is the better choice with its higher performance ceiling.

Which should I buy, the M4 Processor or Ryzen 9 7950X Processor?

Choose the M4 Processor if you want the best value for money and primarily game at 1080p or 1440p. Choose the Ryzen 9 7950X Processor if you need maximum performance, play at 4K, or do professional workloads like video editing and 3D rendering.

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