M3 Max 14-Core vs EPYC 8124P

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.

Value Upgrade Path

This is the official ChipVERSUS Value Rating, comparing raw performance (PassMark) per dollar. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money.

MSRP is the manufacturer's suggested retail price.•
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.

Performance Per Dollar M3 Max 14-Core

#184

Core Ultra 7 266V

MSRP: $520|Avg: $520

122%

#185

Ryzen 7 5825C

MSRP: $400|Avg: $400

120%

#187

Core Ultra 9 288V

MSRP: $600|Avg: $600

111%

#188

Core i7-10870H

MSRP: $417|Avg: N/A

111%

#196

M3 Max 14-Core

MSRP: N/A|Avg: N/A

100%

Based on actual market prices and performance synthetic scores.

Performance Per Dollar EPYC 8124P

#176

Xeon 6325P

MSRP: $281|Avg: $281

103%

#178

Xeon Silver 4510

MSRP: $563|Avg: $563

103%

#179

Xeon W-3223

MSRP: $294|Avg: $294

102%

#182

EPYC Embedded 8224P

MSRP: $855|Avg: $1048

101%

#187

Xeon Gold 5520+

MSRP: $1083|Avg: $764

100%

#188

EPYC 8124P

MSRP: $639|Avg: $639

100%

#196

Xeon 6515P

MSRP: $740|Avg: $886

97%

#201

Xeon Gold 6248R

MSRP: $2700|Avg: N/A

97%

Based on actual market prices and performance synthetic scores.

Performance Comparison

About PassMark

🏆 Chipversus Verdict

🚀 Performance Leadership

Use Case Distinction: This is a comparison between a Professional Workstation processor ($639) and a Consumer Desktop CPU. The EPYC 8124P is engineered for massive parallel workloads (rendering, scientific simulations), offering significantly higher core counts.

Insight	M3 Max 14-Core	EPYC 8124P
Gaming	✅ Superior gaming performance	❌ Lower gaming performance
Workstation	✅ Better multi-core power	❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks
Price	✅ More affordable ($0)	⚠️ Higher cost ($639)
Longevity	✨ Modern (Legacy / 3 nm)	✨ Modern (Siena (2023−2024) / 5 nm)

💎 Value Proposition

The M3 Max 14-Core ($0), however, is optimized for mixed workloads and gaming. For most users, it offers superior single-thread performance and responsiveness at a fraction of the cost ($639 less, 100% cheaper), making it the better choice for daily use and gaming.

Insight	M3 Max 14-Core	EPYC 8124P
Cost Efficiency	❌ Lower cost efficiency	❌ Lower cost efficiency
Upfront Cost	✅ More affordable ($0)	⚠️ Higher cost ($639)

Performance Check

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.

M3 Max 14-Core Benchmark Check

EPYC 8124P Benchmark Check

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Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of M3 Max 14-Core and EPYC 8124P

M3 Max 14-Core

The M3 Max 14-Core is manufactured by Apple. It was released in 30 October 2023 (2 years ago). It features 14 cores and 14 threads. Base frequency is 2.748 GHz, with boost up to 4.06 GHz. Built on 3 nm process technology. Socket: none. Memory support: LPDDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 36,529 points. Launch price was $499.

EPYC 8124P

The EPYC 8124P is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 18 September 2023 (2 years ago). It is based on the Siena (2023−2024) architecture. It features 16 cores and 32 threads. Base frequency is 2.45 GHz, with boost up to 3 GHz. L3 cache: 64 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 5 nm process technology. Socket: SP6. Thermal design power (TDP): 125 Watt. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 36,079 points. Launch price was $639.

⚡

Processing Power

The M3 Max 14-Core packs 14 cores / 14 threads, while the EPYC 8124P offers 16 cores / 32 threads — the EPYC 8124P has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.06 GHz on the M3 Max 14-Core versus 3 GHz on the EPYC 8124P — a 30% clock advantage for the M3 Max 14-Core (base: 2.748 GHz vs 2.45 GHz). The EPYC 8124P is built on the Siena (2023−2024) architecture. In PassMark, the M3 Max 14-Core scores 36,529 against the EPYC 8124P's 36,079 — a 1.2% lead for the M3 Max 14-Core.

Feature	M3 Max 14-Core	EPYC 8124P
Cores / Threads	14 / 14	16 / 32+14%
Boost Clock	4.06 GHz+35%	3 GHz
Base Clock	2.748 GHz+12%	2.45 GHz
L3 Cache	—	64 MB (total)
L2 Cache	—	1 MB (per core)
Process	3 nm-40%	5 nm
Architecture	—	Siena (2023−2024)
PassMark	36,529+1%	36,079

🧠

Memory & Platform

The M3 Max 14-Core uses the none socket (PCIe 4.0), while the EPYC 8124P uses SP6 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches 6400 on the M3 Max 14-Core versus 4800 on the EPYC 8124P — the M3 Max 14-Core supports 28.6% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The EPYC 8124P supports up to 2048 of RAM compared to 96 — 182.1% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 0 (M3 Max 14-Core) vs 6 (EPYC 8124P). PCIe lanes: 0 (M3 Max 14-Core) vs 96 (EPYC 8124P) — the EPYC 8124P offers 96 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: Apple M3 (M3 Max 14-Core) and SP6 (EPYC 8124P).

Feature	M3 Max 14-Core	EPYC 8124P
Socket	none	SP6
PCIe Generation	PCIe 4.0	PCIe 4.0
Max RAM Speed	6400+33%	4800
Max RAM Capacity	96	2048+2033%
RAM Channels	0	6
ECC Support	❌	✅
PCIe Lanes	0	96

🔧

Advanced Features

Neither processor supports overclocking. Only the EPYC 8124P supports AVX-512 instructions — important for machine learning and scientific applications. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d (macOS) (M3 Max 14-Core) vs AMD-V, IOMMU (EPYC 8124P). The M3 Max 14-Core includes integrated graphics (Apple M3 Max GPU (30-core)), while the EPYC 8124P requires a dedicated GPU. Direct competitor: M3 Max 14-Core rivals Core i9-13900HX; EPYC 8124P rivals Xeon Gold 6426Y.