Core i9-10900X vs M1 Max

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.

Head-to-Head Verdict, Benchmarks, Value & Long-Term Outlook

This comparison brings together gaming FPS, productivity performance, platform differences, power efficiency, pricing context, and upgrade path so you can see which CPU actually makes more sense.

Core i9-10900X

2019

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +23.6% higher average FPS across 33 shared CPU benchmark tests.

Trade-offs

❌Smaller total L3 cache (19 MB vs 48 MB).
❌Launch MSRP is still $590 MSRP, while M1 Max mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌489.3% higher power demand at 165W vs 28W.
❌Older platform position on LGA2066 with DDR4, while M1 Max moves to none and DDR5.
❌No integrated graphics, while M1 Max can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

M1 Max

2021

Why buy it

✅+149.4% larger total L3 cache (48 MB vs 19 MB).
✅Draws 28W instead of 165W, a 137W reduction.
✅Newer platform on none with DDR5 support instead of LGA2066 and DDR4.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with M1 Max GPU, while Core i9-10900X needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i9-10900X across 33 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (22,146 vs 22,377).

Core i9-10900X

2019

M1 Max

2021

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +23.6% higher average FPS across 33 shared CPU benchmark tests.

Why buy it

✅+149.4% larger total L3 cache (48 MB vs 19 MB).
✅Draws 28W instead of 165W, a 137W reduction.
✅Newer platform on none with DDR5 support instead of LGA2066 and DDR4.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with M1 Max GPU, while Core i9-10900X needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Smaller total L3 cache (19 MB vs 48 MB).
❌Launch MSRP is still $590 MSRP, while M1 Max mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌489.3% higher power demand at 165W vs 28W.
❌Older platform position on LGA2066 with DDR4, while M1 Max moves to none and DDR5.
❌No integrated graphics, while M1 Max can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i9-10900X across 33 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (22,146 vs 22,377).

Quick Answers

So, is Core i9-10900X better than M1 Max?

Yes. Core i9-10900X is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 23.6% average FPS lead across 33 shared CPU game tests in our data and 1% better PassMark, which makes it the stronger all-around choice.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Core i9-10900X is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 23.6% more average FPS across 33 shared CPU game tests.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i9-10900X is the better fit. You are getting 1% better PassMark, backed by 10 cores and 20 threads.

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

Core i9-10900X is the smarter buy today. Core i9-10900X is at an unclear MSRP at $590 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it gives you a 23.6% average FPS lead across 33 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (37.9 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), so the better CPU is not just faster, it is also the cleaner value play on paper. That said, if you already own a compatible none + DDR5 setup, M1 Max can still make sense as a platform-matched option because it avoids a motherboard and RAM swap.

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

M1 Max is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2021 vs 2019), a healthier platform with none and DDR5 instead of LGA2066, and 149.4% larger total L3 cache (48 MB vs 19 MB). That should give you a better long-term upgrade path for motherboard, RAM, and future CPU swaps.

Games Benchmarks

Paired with RTX 4090

To accurately isolate CPU performance, all benchmarks below use an NVIDIA RTX 4090 as the reference GPU. This eliminates GPU-side bottlenecks and highlights pure processing throughput differences between the CPUs.

Note: Real-world results may vary based on your actual GPU. CPU performance impact is more visible in processing-intensive titles and high-refresh-rate gaming scenarios.

Core i9-10900X Benchmark Check

M1 Max Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i9-10900X	M1 Max
1080p
low	186 FPS	183 FPS
medium	147 FPS	146 FPS
high	121 FPS	117 FPS
ultra	98 FPS	93 FPS
1440p
low	155 FPS	152 FPS
medium	120 FPS	118 FPS
high	98 FPS	91 FPS
ultra	80 FPS	73 FPS
4K
low	84 FPS	71 FPS
medium	71 FPS	59 FPS
high	57 FPS	46 FPS
ultra	45 FPS	37 FPS

Open Core i9-10900X Open M1 Max

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i9-10900X	M1 Max
1080p
low	539 FPS	236 FPS
medium	447 FPS	211 FPS
high	371 FPS	172 FPS
ultra	335 FPS	137 FPS
1440p
low	467 FPS	200 FPS
medium	399 FPS	182 FPS
high	334 FPS	153 FPS
ultra	290 FPS	117 FPS
4K
low	290 FPS	122 FPS
medium	249 FPS	113 FPS
high	228 FPS	99 FPS
ultra	200 FPS	81 FPS

Open Core i9-10900X Open M1 Max

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i9-10900X	M1 Max
1080p
low	559 FPS	554 FPS
medium	559 FPS	554 FPS
high	559 FPS	554 FPS
ultra	529 FPS	510 FPS
1440p
low	559 FPS	554 FPS
medium	559 FPS	473 FPS
high	514 FPS	415 FPS
ultra	438 FPS	364 FPS
4K
low	529 FPS	417 FPS
medium	437 FPS	323 FPS
high	390 FPS	274 FPS
ultra	325 FPS	221 FPS

Open Core i9-10900X Open M1 Max

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i9-10900X	M1 Max
1080p
low	559 FPS	554 FPS
medium	559 FPS	554 FPS
high	559 FPS	554 FPS
ultra	559 FPS	554 FPS
1440p
low	559 FPS	554 FPS
medium	559 FPS	554 FPS
high	559 FPS	532 FPS
ultra	559 FPS	453 FPS
4K
low	559 FPS	509 FPS
medium	545 FPS	451 FPS
high	489 FPS	394 FPS
ultra	426 FPS	341 FPS

Open Core i9-10900X Open M1 Max

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i9-10900X and M1 Max

Core i9-10900X

The Core i9-10900X is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 19 October 2019 (6 years ago). It is based on the Cascade Lake-X (2019) architecture. It features 10 cores and 20 threads. Base frequency is 3.7 GHz, with boost up to 4.7 GHz. L3 cache: 19.25 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2066. Thermal design power (TDP): 165 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2933. Passmark benchmark score: 22,377 points. Launch price was $299.

M1 Max

The M1 Max is manufactured by Apple. It was released in 18 October 2021 (4 years ago). It features 10 cores and 10 threads. Base frequency is 2.06 GHz, with boost up to 3.22 GHz. L3 cache: 48 MB. L2 cache: 28 MB. Built on 5 nm process technology. Socket: none. Thermal design power (TDP): 28 MB + 48 MB. Memory support: LPDDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 22,146 points. Launch price was $299.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i9-10900X packs 10 cores / 20 threads, matching the M1 Max's 10 cores. Boost clocks reach 4.7 GHz on the Core i9-10900X versus 3.22 GHz on the M1 Max — a 37.4% clock advantage for the Core i9-10900X (base: 3.7 GHz vs 2.06 GHz). The Core i9-10900X is built on the Cascade Lake-X (2019) architecture. In PassMark, the Core i9-10900X scores 22,377 against the M1 Max's 22,146 — a 1% lead for the Core i9-10900X. L3 cache: 19.25 MB (total) on the Core i9-10900X vs 48 MB on the M1 Max.

Feature	Core i9-10900X	M1 Max
Cores / Threads	10 / 20	10 / 10
Boost Clock	4.7 GHz+46%	3.22 GHz
Base Clock	3.7 GHz+80%	2.06 GHz
L3 Cache	19.25 MB (total)	48 MB+149%
L2 Cache	1 MB (per core)	28 MB+2700%
Process	14 nm	5 nm-64%
Architecture	Cascade Lake-X (2019)	—
PassMark	22,377+1%	22,146

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i9-10900X uses the LGA2066 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the M1 Max uses none (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

Feature	Core i9-10900X	M1 Max
Socket	LGA2066	none
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 4.0+33%
Max RAM Speed	—	LPDDR5-6400
Max RAM Capacity	—	64 GB
RAM Channels	—	8
ECC Support	—	No
PCIe Lanes	—	0

🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization: not specified (Core i9-10900X) / ARM-V (M1 Max). The M1 Max includes integrated graphics (M1 Max GPU), while the Core i9-10900X requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: M1 Max targets Mobile Workstation.