M4 (8 cores) vs Ryzen 7 6800U

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.

M4 (8 cores) vs Ryzen 7 6800U FPS Benchmarks

Predicted gaming performance across popular games. Tested paired with GeForce RTX 5090 to isolate CPU performance.

Search any supported game below to compare 1080p FPS for both components.

M4 (8 cores) vs Ryzen 7 6800U: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

See where each CPU makes more sense in practice: gaming, heavier work, platform cost, power draw, and upgrade path.

M4 (8 cores)

2024

Why buy it

✅+0.7% higher PassMark.
✅Draws 4W instead of 15W, a 11W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 7 6800U across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌No integrated graphics, while Ryzen 7 6800U can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Ryzen 7 6800U

2022

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +12.7% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (20 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Radeon 680M, while M4 (8 cores) needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (20,619 vs 20,761).
❌Launch MSRP is still $360 MSRP, while M4 (8 cores) mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌275% higher power demand at 15W vs 4W.

Quick Answers

So, is M4 (8 cores) better than Ryzen 7 6800U?

It depends on what you want from the system. For gaming, Ryzen 7 6800U is ahead with a 12.7% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, M4 (8 cores) pulls ahead with 0.7% better PassMark.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, M4 (8 cores) is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.7% better PassMark, backed by 8 cores and 8 threads.

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

M4 (8 cores) is the easy recommendation for a fresh desktop build. M4 (8 cores) comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus $360 MSRP, and it still gives you 0.7% better PassMark. Ryzen 7 6800U only looks good on raw value math because it is a cheap legacy laptop chip, not because it is a real desktop gaming recommendation. It simply does not keep up in modern games.

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

M4 (8 cores) makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2024 vs 2022) and more multi-core headroom with 8 cores / 8 threads instead of 8/16. That gives you a healthier platform runway for motherboard, RAM, and later CPU upgrades.

M4 (8 cores) vs Ryzen 7 6800U Technical Specifications

Side-by-side specs, architecture details, clocks, memory, power, and platform differences.

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 7 6800U

The Ryzen 7 6800U is manufactured by AMD. It was released in Janeiro 2022 (3 years ago). It is based on the Rembrandt-U (Zen 3+) (2022) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 2.7 GHz, with boost up to 4.7 GHz. L3 cache: 16 MB (total). L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 6 nm process technology. Socket: FP7. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 20,619 points. Launch price was $299.

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Processing Power

The M4 (8 cores) packs 8 cores / 8 threads, matching the Ryzen 7 6800U's 8 cores. Boost clocks reach 4 GHz on the M4 (8 cores) versus 4.7 GHz on the Ryzen 7 6800U — a 16.1% clock advantage for the Ryzen 7 6800U (base: 2.89 GHz vs 2.7 GHz). The Ryzen 7 6800U is built on the Rembrandt-U (Zen 3+) (2022) architecture. In PassMark, the M4 (8 cores) scores 20,761 against the Ryzen 7 6800U's 20,619 — a 0.7% lead for the M4 (8 cores).

Feature	M4 (8 cores)	Ryzen 7 6800U
Cores / Threads	8 / 8	8 / 16
Boost Clock	4 GHz	4.7 GHz+18%
Base Clock	2.89 GHz+7%	2.7 GHz
L3 Cache	—	16 MB (total)
L2 Cache	—	512K (per core)
Process	3 nm-50%	6 nm
Architecture	—	Rembrandt-U (Zen 3+) (2022)
PassMark	20,761	20,619
Cinebench R23 Multi	—	11,741
Geekbench 6 Single	—	1,713
Geekbench 6 Multi	—	7,397

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Memory & Platform

The M4 (8 cores) uses the none socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Ryzen 7 6800U uses FP7 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

Feature	M4 (8 cores)	Ryzen 7 6800U
Socket	none	FP7
PCIe Generation	PCIe 4.0	PCIe 4.0
Max RAM Speed	—	LPDDR5-6400
Max RAM Capacity	—	64 GB
RAM Channels	—	2
ECC Support	—	Yes
PCIe Lanes	—	20

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Advanced Features

Virtualization: not specified (M4 (8 cores)) / AMD-V (SVM) (Ryzen 7 6800U). The Ryzen 7 6800U includes integrated graphics (Radeon 680M), while the M4 (8 cores) requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Ryzen 7 6800U targets Productivity. Direct competitor: Ryzen 7 6800U rivals Core i7-1255U.