M4 (8 cores) vs Ryzen 5 5600X
M4 (8 cores)
Popular choices:
Ryzen 5 5600X
Performance Spectrum - CPU
About PassMark
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.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar M4 (8 cores)
Performance Per Dollar Ryzen 5 5600X
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | M4 (8 cores) | Ryzen 5 5600X |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($135) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Legacy / 3 nm) | ✨ Modern (Vermeer (Zen 3) (2020−2022) / 7 nm, 12 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | M4 (8 cores) | Ryzen 5 5600X |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($135) |
Performance Check
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.
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of M4 (8 cores) and Ryzen 5 5600X
M4 (8 cores)
The M4 (8 cores) is manufactured by Apple. It was released in 28 October 2024 (1 year ago). It features 8 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 2.89 GHz, with boost up to 4 GHz. Built on 3 nm process technology. Socket: none. Thermal design power (TDP): 4 MB. Memory support: LPDDR5x. Passmark benchmark score: 20,761 points. Launch price was $299.
Ryzen 5 5600X
The Ryzen 5 5600X is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 5 November 2020 (5 years ago). It is based on the Vermeer (Zen 3) (2020−2022) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 3.7 GHz, with boost up to 4.6 GHz. L3 cache: 32 MB. L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 7 nm, 12 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 21,845 points. Launch price was $299.
Processing Power
The M4 (8 cores) packs 8 cores / 8 threads, while the Ryzen 5 5600X offers 6 cores / 12 threads — the M4 (8 cores) has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4 GHz on the M4 (8 cores) versus 4.6 GHz on the Ryzen 5 5600X — a 14% clock advantage for the Ryzen 5 5600X (base: 2.89 GHz vs 3.7 GHz). The Ryzen 5 5600X is built on the Vermeer (Zen 3) (2020−2022) architecture. In PassMark, the M4 (8 cores) scores 20,761 against the Ryzen 5 5600X's 21,845 — a 5.1% lead for the Ryzen 5 5600X.
| Feature | M4 (8 cores) | Ryzen 5 5600X |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 8 / 8+33% | 6 / 12 |
| Boost Clock | 4 GHz | 4.6 GHz+15% |
| Base Clock | 2.89 GHz | 3.7 GHz+28% |
| L3 Cache | — | 32 MB |
| L2 Cache | — | 512K (per core) |
| Process | 3 nm-57% | 7 nm, 12 nm |
| Architecture | — | Vermeer (Zen 3) (2020−2022) |
| PassMark | 20,761 | 21,845+5% |
Memory & Platform
The M4 (8 cores) uses the none socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Ryzen 5 5600X uses AM4 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | M4 (8 cores) | Ryzen 5 5600X |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | none | AM4 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 4.0 | PCIe 4.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR4-3200 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 128 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 2 |
| ECC Support | — | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 24 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (M4 (8 cores)) / AMD-V (Ryzen 5 5600X). Primary use case: Ryzen 5 5600X targets Desktop.
| Feature | M4 (8 cores) | Ryzen 5 5600X |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | No |
| Unlocked | — | Yes |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | AMD-V |
| Target Use | — | Desktop |
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