M1 Max vs Ryzen 5 7400

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.

M1 Max

2021

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +4.1% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+200% larger total L3 cache (48 MB vs 16 MB).
✅Draws 28W instead of 65W, a 37W reduction.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with M1 Max GPU, while Ryzen 5 7400 needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Fewer obvious downsides in this matchup outside of normal market pricing swings.

Ryzen 5 7400

2025

Why buy it

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than M1 Max across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (22,010 vs 22,146).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (16 MB vs 48 MB).
❌Launch MSRP is still $229 MSRP, while M1 Max mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌132.1% higher power demand at 65W vs 28W.

M1 Max

2021

Ryzen 5 7400

2025

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +4.1% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+200% larger total L3 cache (48 MB vs 16 MB).
✅Draws 28W instead of 65W, a 37W reduction.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with M1 Max GPU, while Ryzen 5 7400 needs a discrete GPU.

Why buy it

Trade-offs

❌Fewer obvious downsides in this matchup outside of normal market pricing swings.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than M1 Max across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (22,010 vs 22,146).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (16 MB vs 48 MB).
❌Launch MSRP is still $229 MSRP, while M1 Max mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌132.1% higher power demand at 65W vs 28W.

Quick Answers

So, is M1 Max better than Ryzen 5 7400?

Yes. M1 Max is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 4.1% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data and 0.6% better PassMark, which makes it the stronger all-around choice.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, M1 Max is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 4.1% more average FPS across 50 shared CPU game tests.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, M1 Max is the better fit. You are getting 0.6% better PassMark, backed by 10 cores and 10 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 200% larger total L3 cache (48 MB vs 16 MB).

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

M1 Max is still the faster CPU overall, but Ryzen 5 7400 makes more sense if price matters more than absolute performance. M1 Max is at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus $229 MSRP, and it gives you a 4.1% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Ryzen 5 7400 is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (96.1 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), which is why it is easier to justify for price-conscious builds on paper. That said, if you already own a compatible AM5 + DDR5 setup, Ryzen 5 7400 can still make sense as a platform-matched option because it avoids a motherboard and RAM swap, but on MSRP alone you would want to find it meaningfully cheaper in real-world listings before that path becomes easy to justify.

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

Ryzen 5 7400 is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2025 vs 2021). 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.

M1 Max Benchmark Check

Ryzen 5 7400 Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	M1 Max	Ryzen 5 7400
1080p
low	183 FPS	146 FPS
medium	146 FPS	121 FPS
high	117 FPS	105 FPS
ultra	93 FPS	87 FPS
1440p
low	152 FPS	132 FPS
medium	118 FPS	108 FPS
high	91 FPS	91 FPS
ultra	73 FPS	74 FPS
4K
low	71 FPS	72 FPS
medium	59 FPS	63 FPS
high	46 FPS	51 FPS
ultra	37 FPS	40 FPS

Open M1 Max Open Ryzen 5 7400

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	M1 Max	Ryzen 5 7400
1080p
low	236 FPS	296 FPS
medium	211 FPS	256 FPS
high	172 FPS	229 FPS
ultra	137 FPS	200 FPS
1440p
low	200 FPS	260 FPS
medium	182 FPS	230 FPS
high	153 FPS	210 FPS
ultra	117 FPS	182 FPS
4K
low	122 FPS	204 FPS
medium	113 FPS	183 FPS
high	99 FPS	169 FPS
ultra	81 FPS	146 FPS

Open M1 Max Open Ryzen 5 7400

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	M1 Max	Ryzen 5 7400
1080p
low	554 FPS	550 FPS
medium	554 FPS	550 FPS
high	554 FPS	550 FPS
ultra	510 FPS	550 FPS
1440p
low	554 FPS	550 FPS
medium	473 FPS	550 FPS
high	415 FPS	531 FPS
ultra	364 FPS	481 FPS
4K
low	417 FPS	419 FPS
medium	323 FPS	349 FPS
high	274 FPS	297 FPS
ultra	221 FPS	239 FPS

Open M1 Max Open Ryzen 5 7400

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	M1 Max	Ryzen 5 7400
1080p
low	554 FPS	550 FPS
medium	554 FPS	550 FPS
high	554 FPS	550 FPS
ultra	554 FPS	550 FPS
1440p
low	554 FPS	550 FPS
medium	554 FPS	550 FPS
high	532 FPS	550 FPS
ultra	453 FPS	533 FPS
4K
low	509 FPS	550 FPS
medium	451 FPS	510 FPS
high	394 FPS	445 FPS
ultra	341 FPS	379 FPS

Open M1 Max Open Ryzen 5 7400

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of M1 Max and Ryzen 5 7400

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.

Ryzen 5 7400

The Ryzen 5 7400 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 16 September 2025 (less than a year ago). It is based on the Raphael (2023−2025) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 3.3 GHz, with boost up to 4.3 GHz. L3 cache: 16 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 5 nm process technology. Socket: AM5. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 22,010 points. Launch price was $299.

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Processing Power

The M1 Max packs 10 cores / 10 threads, while the Ryzen 5 7400 offers 6 cores / 12 threads — the M1 Max has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.22 GHz on the M1 Max versus 4.3 GHz on the Ryzen 5 7400 — a 28.7% clock advantage for the Ryzen 5 7400 (base: 2.06 GHz vs 3.3 GHz). The Ryzen 5 7400 is built on the Raphael (2023−2025) architecture. In PassMark, the M1 Max scores 22,146 against the Ryzen 5 7400's 22,010 — a 0.6% lead for the M1 Max. L3 cache: 48 MB on the M1 Max vs 16 MB (total) on the Ryzen 5 7400.

Feature	M1 Max	Ryzen 5 7400
Cores / Threads	10 / 10+67%	6 / 12
Boost Clock	3.22 GHz	4.3 GHz+34%
Base Clock	2.06 GHz	3.3 GHz+60%
L3 Cache	48 MB+200%	16 MB (total)
L2 Cache	28 MB+2700%	1 MB (per core)
Process	5 nm	5 nm
Architecture	—	Raphael (2023−2025)
PassMark	22,146	22,010

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Memory & Platform

The M1 Max uses the none socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Ryzen 5 7400 uses AM5 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

Feature	M1 Max	Ryzen 5 7400
Socket	none	AM5
PCIe Generation	PCIe 4.0	PCIe 4.0
Max RAM Speed	LPDDR5-6400	—
Max RAM Capacity	64 GB	—
RAM Channels	8	—
ECC Support	No	—
PCIe Lanes	0	—

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Advanced Features

Virtualization: ARM-V (M1 Max) / not specified (Ryzen 5 7400). The M1 Max includes integrated graphics (M1 Max GPU), while the Ryzen 5 7400 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: M1 Max targets Mobile Workstation.