Core i9-13900 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.

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 i9-13900

2023

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +4.4% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.

Trade-offs

❌Launch MSRP is still $549 MSRP, while M4 Max (16 cores) mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌3025% higher power demand at 125W vs 4W.

M4 Max (16 cores)

2024

Why buy it

✅Draws 4W instead of 125W, a 121W reduction.
✅100% more PCIe lanes (40 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i9-13900 across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (43,985 vs 45,252).

Core i9-13900

2023

M4 Max (16 cores)

2024

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +4.4% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.

Why buy it

✅Draws 4W instead of 125W, a 121W reduction.
✅100% more PCIe lanes (40 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Launch MSRP is still $549 MSRP, while M4 Max (16 cores) mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌3025% higher power demand at 125W vs 4W.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i9-13900 across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (43,985 vs 45,252).

Quick Answers

So, is Core i9-13900 better than M4 Max (16 cores)?

Yes. Core i9-13900 is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 4.4% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data and 2.9% better PassMark, which makes it the stronger all-around choice.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Core i9-13900 is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 4.4% more average FPS across 4 shared CPU game tests.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i9-13900 is the better fit. You are getting 2.9% better PassMark, backed by 24 cores and 32 threads.

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

Core i9-13900 is the smarter buy today. Core i9-13900 is at an unclear MSRP at $549 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it gives you a 4.4% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (82.4 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), 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, M4 Max (16 cores) 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?

M4 Max (16 cores) is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2024 vs 2023). 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 i9-13900 Benchmark Check

M4 Max (16 cores) Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i9-13900	M4 Max (16 cores)
1080p
low	321 FPS	180 FPS
medium	311 FPS	145 FPS
high	247 FPS	119 FPS
ultra	209 FPS	97 FPS
1440p
low	278 FPS	146 FPS
medium	240 FPS	115 FPS
high	178 FPS	95 FPS
ultra	158 FPS	78 FPS
4K
low	192 FPS	80 FPS
medium	164 FPS	69 FPS
high	123 FPS	55 FPS
ultra	112 FPS	43 FPS

Open Core i9-13900 Open M4 Max (16 cores)

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i9-13900	M4 Max (16 cores)
1080p
low	497 FPS	465 FPS
medium	434 FPS	383 FPS
high	354 FPS	327 FPS
ultra	313 FPS	288 FPS
1440p
low	422 FPS	400 FPS
medium	380 FPS	343 FPS
high	316 FPS	299 FPS
ultra	257 FPS	254 FPS
4K
low	236 FPS	278 FPS
medium	216 FPS	245 FPS
high	205 FPS	226 FPS
ultra	179 FPS	196 FPS

Open Core i9-13900 Open M4 Max (16 cores)

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i9-13900	M4 Max (16 cores)
1080p
low	762 FPS	812 FPS
medium	626 FPS	655 FPS
high	543 FPS	593 FPS
ultra	467 FPS	518 FPS
1440p
low	680 FPS	632 FPS
medium	567 FPS	516 FPS
high	485 FPS	468 FPS
ultra	423 FPS	404 FPS
4K
low	497 FPS	466 FPS
medium	430 FPS	368 FPS
high	383 FPS	331 FPS
ultra	329 FPS	264 FPS

Open Core i9-13900 Open M4 Max (16 cores)

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i9-13900	M4 Max (16 cores)
1080p
low	1012 FPS	1026 FPS
medium	905 FPS	924 FPS
high	792 FPS	809 FPS
ultra	704 FPS	718 FPS
1440p
low	840 FPS	817 FPS
medium	739 FPS	718 FPS
high	646 FPS	629 FPS
ultra	568 FPS	553 FPS
4K
low	620 FPS	562 FPS
medium	555 FPS	503 FPS
high	491 FPS	453 FPS
ultra	430 FPS	399 FPS

Open Core i9-13900 Open M4 Max (16 cores)

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i9-13900 and M4 Max (16 cores)

Core i9-13900

The Core i9-13900 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 4 January 2023 (2 years ago). It is based on the Raptor Lake-S (2023−2024) architecture. It features 24 cores and 32 threads. Base frequency is 2 GHz, with boost up to 5.5 GHz. L3 cache: 36 MB (total). L2 cache: 2 MB (per core). Built on Intel 7 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1700. Thermal design power (TDP): 125 Watt. Memory support: DDR5-5600, DDR4-3200. Passmark benchmark score: 45,252 points. Launch price was $549.

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.

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Processing Power

The Core i9-13900 packs 24 cores / 32 threads, while the M4 Max (16 cores) offers 16 cores / 16 threads — the Core i9-13900 has 8 more cores. Boost clocks reach 5.5 GHz on the Core i9-13900 versus 4.51 GHz on the M4 Max (16 cores) — a 19.8% clock advantage for the Core i9-13900 (base: 2 GHz vs 2.75 GHz). The Core i9-13900 is built on the Raptor Lake-S (2023−2024) architecture. In PassMark, the Core i9-13900 scores 45,252 against the M4 Max (16 cores)'s 43,985 — a 2.8% lead for the Core i9-13900.

Feature	Core i9-13900	M4 Max (16 cores)
Cores / Threads	24 / 32+50%	16 / 16
Boost Clock	5.5 GHz+22%	4.51 GHz
Base Clock	2 GHz	2.75 GHz+38%
L3 Cache	36 MB (total)	—
L2 Cache	2 MB (per core)	—
Process	Intel 7 nm	3 nm-57%
Architecture	Raptor Lake-S (2023−2024)	—
PassMark	45,252+3%	43,985
Geekbench 6 Single	—	4,060
Geekbench 6 Multi	—	26,675

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Memory & Platform

The Core i9-13900 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 5600 memory speed. Both support up to 128 of RAM. Memory channels: 2 (Core i9-13900) vs 8 (M4 Max (16 cores)). PCIe lanes: 20 (Core i9-13900) vs 40 (M4 Max (16 cores)) — the M4 Max (16 cores) offers 20 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: Z790,B760 (Core i9-13900) and Apple Silicon (M4 Max (16 cores)).

Feature	Core i9-13900	M4 Max (16 cores)
Socket	LGA1700	none
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0+25%	PCIe 4.0
Max RAM Speed	5600	Unified Memory
Max RAM Capacity	128	128 GB+104857500%
RAM Channels	2	8+300%
ECC Support	No	Yes
PCIe Lanes	20	40+100%

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Advanced Features

Only the Core i9-13900 has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d (Core i9-13900) vs Apple Virtualization (M4 Max (16 cores)). Both include integrated graphics — Intel UHD Graphics 770 (Core i9-13900) and Apple 40-core GPU (M4 Max (16 cores)) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: M4 Max (16 cores) targets Professional Laptop. Direct competitor: Core i9-13900 rivals Ryzen 9 7900X; M4 Max (16 cores) rivals Ryzen AI Max PRO 390.

Feature	Core i9-13900	M4 Max (16 cores)
Integrated GPU	Yes	Yes
IGPU Model	Intel UHD Graphics 770	Apple 40-core GPU
Unlocked	Yes	No
AVX-512	No	No
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d	Apple Virtualization
Target Use	—	Professional Laptop