Core i7-13790F vs M4 Max (16 cores)

PassMark CPU Mark evaluates processor speed through complex mathematical computations. It provides a reliable metric to compare multi-core performance, where higher scores indicate faster processing for multitasking, gaming, and heavy workloads.

Core i7-13790F vs M4 Max (16 cores) FPS Benchmarks

Predicted gaming performance across popular games. Tested paired with GeForce RTX 5090 to isolate CPU performance.

Search any supported game below to compare 1080p FPS for both components.

Core i7-13790F vs M4 Max (16 cores): Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

See where each CPU makes more sense in practice: gaming, heavier work, platform cost, power draw, and upgrade path.

Core i7-13790F

2023

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +13.9% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.

Trade-offs

❌Lower Geekbench multi-core (13,673 vs 26,675).
❌Launch MSRP is still $392 MSRP, while M4 Max (16 cores) mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌1525% higher power demand at 65W vs 4W.
❌No integrated graphics, while M4 Max (16 cores) can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

M4 Max (16 cores)

2024

Why buy it

✅+95.1% higher Geekbench multi-core.
✅Draws 4W instead of 65W, a 61W reduction.
✅150% more PCIe lanes (40 vs 16) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Apple 40-core GPU, while Core i7-13790F needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i7-13790F across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.

Quick Answers

So, is M4 Max (16 cores) better than Core i7-13790F?

It depends on what you want from the system. For gaming, Core i7-13790F is ahead with a 13.9% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, M4 Max (16 cores) pulls ahead with 95.1% better Geekbench multi-core.

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, M4 Max (16 cores) is the stronger fit. You are getting 95.1% better Geekbench multi-core, backed by 16 cores and 16 threads.

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?

M4 Max (16 cores) is still the faster CPU overall, but Core i7-13790F is easier to justify if budget matters more than peak performance. M4 Max (16 cores) comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus $392 MSRP, and it still gives you 95.1% better Geekbench multi-core. The compromise is that Core i7-13790F is still the better pure gaming CPU with a 13.9% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Core i7-13790F is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (111.1 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), which is why it can still make sense for tighter-budget builds on paper. That said, if you already own a compatible LGA1700 + DDR5 setup, Core i7-13790F is still an elite gaming CPU and a very strong platform-matched choice because it avoids a motherboard and RAM swap while remaining one of the strongest gaming chips you can buy.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

M4 Max (16 cores) makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2024 vs 2023) and more multi-core headroom with 16 cores / 16 threads instead of 16/24. That gives you a healthier platform runway for motherboard, RAM, and later CPU upgrades.

Core i7-13790F vs M4 Max (16 cores) Technical Specifications

Side-by-side specs, architecture details, clocks, memory, power, and platform differences.

Core i7-13790F

The Core i7-13790F is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 10 February 2023 (2 years ago). It is based on the Raptor Lake-S (2023−2024) architecture. It features 16 cores and 24 threads. Base frequency is 2.1 GHz, with boost up to 5.2 GHz. L3 cache: 33 MB (total). L2 cache: 2 MB (per core). Built on 10 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1700. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4, DDR5 Dual-channel. Passmark benchmark score: 43,549 points. Launch price was $441.

M4 Max (16 cores)

The M4 Max (16 cores) is manufactured by Apple. It was released in 30 October 2024 (1 year ago). It features 16 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 2.75 GHz, with boost up to 4.51 GHz. Built on 3 nm process technology. Socket: none. Thermal design power (TDP): 4 MB. Memory support: LPDDR5X. Passmark benchmark score: 43,985 points. Launch price was $499.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i7-13790F packs 16 cores / 24 threads, matching the M4 Max (16 cores)'s 16 cores. Boost clocks reach 5.2 GHz on the Core i7-13790F versus 4.51 GHz on the M4 Max (16 cores) — a 14.2% clock advantage for the Core i7-13790F (base: 2.1 GHz vs 2.75 GHz). The Core i7-13790F is built on the Raptor Lake-S (2023−2024) architecture. In PassMark, the Core i7-13790F scores 43,549 against the M4 Max (16 cores)'s 43,985 — a 1% lead for the M4 Max (16 cores). Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 2,815 vs 4,060, a 36.2% lead for the M4 Max (16 cores) that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 13,673 vs 26,675 (64.4% advantage for the M4 Max (16 cores)).

Feature	Core i7-13790F	M4 Max (16 cores)
Cores / Threads	16 / 24	16 / 16
Boost Clock	5.2 GHz+15%	4.51 GHz
Base Clock	2.1 GHz	2.75 GHz+31%
L3 Cache	33 MB (total)	—
L2 Cache	2 MB (per core)	—
Process	10 nm	3 nm-70%
Architecture	Raptor Lake-S (2023−2024)	—
PassMark	43,549	43,985+1%
Cinebench R23 Multi	26,247	—
Geekbench 6 Single	2,815	4,060+44%
Geekbench 6 Multi	13,673	26,675+95%

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i7-13790F uses the LGA1700 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the M4 Max (16 cores) uses none (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR5-5600 memory speed. The Core i7-13790F supports up to 192 GB of RAM compared to 128 GB — 50% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 2 (Core i7-13790F) vs 8 (M4 Max (16 cores)). PCIe lanes: 16 (Core i7-13790F) vs 40 (M4 Max (16 cores)) — the M4 Max (16 cores) offers 24 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: Z790,B760 (Core i7-13790F) and Apple Silicon (M4 Max (16 cores)).

Feature	Core i7-13790F	M4 Max (16 cores)
Socket	LGA1700	none
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0+25%	PCIe 4.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR5-5600	Unified Memory
Max RAM Capacity	192 GB+50%	128 GB
RAM Channels	2	8+300%
ECC Support	No	Yes
PCIe Lanes	16	40+150%

🔧

Advanced Features

Neither processor supports overclocking. Only the Core i7-13790F supports AVX-512 instructions — important for machine learning and scientific applications. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d (Core i7-13790F) vs Apple Virtualization (M4 Max (16 cores)). The M4 Max (16 cores) includes integrated graphics (Apple 40-core GPU), while the Core i7-13790F requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: M4 Max (16 cores) targets Professional Laptop. Direct competitor: M4 Max (16 cores) rivals Ryzen AI Max PRO 390.