M4 Max (16 cores) vs Core i7-9700K
M4 Max (16 cores)
Core i7-9700K
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 Max (16 cores)
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-9700K
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | M4 Max (16 cores) | Core i7-9700K |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($200) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Legacy / 3 nm) | ✨ Modern (Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | M4 Max (16 cores) | Core i7-9700K |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($200) |
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 Max (16 cores) and Core i7-9700K
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.
Core i7-9700K
The Core i7-9700K is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 19 October 2018 (7 years ago). It is based on the Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019) architecture. It features 8 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 4.9 GHz. L3 cache: 12 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1151. Thermal design power (TDP): 95 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 14,397 points. Launch price was $374.
Processing Power
The M4 Max (16 cores) packs 16 cores / 16 threads, while the Core i7-9700K offers 8 cores / 8 threads — the M4 Max (16 cores) has 8 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.51 GHz on the M4 Max (16 cores) versus 4.9 GHz on the Core i7-9700K — a 8.3% clock advantage for the Core i7-9700K (base: 2.75 GHz vs 3.6 GHz). The Core i7-9700K is built on the Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019) architecture. In PassMark, the M4 Max (16 cores) scores 43,985 against the Core i7-9700K's 14,397 — a 101.4% lead for the M4 Max (16 cores).
| Feature | M4 Max (16 cores) | Core i7-9700K |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 16 / 16+100% | 8 / 8 |
| Boost Clock | 4.51 GHz | 4.9 GHz+9% |
| Base Clock | 2.75 GHz | 3.6 GHz+31% |
| L3 Cache | — | 12 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | — | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 3 nm-79% | 14 nm |
| Architecture | — | Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019) |
| PassMark | 43,985+206% | 14,397 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 4,060 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 26,675 | — |
Memory & Platform
The M4 Max (16 cores) uses the none socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Core i7-9700K uses LGA1151 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to Unified Memory memory speed. Both support up to 128 GB of RAM. Memory channels: 8 (M4 Max (16 cores)) vs 2 (Core i7-9700K). PCIe lanes: 40 (M4 Max (16 cores)) vs 16 (Core i7-9700K) — the M4 Max (16 cores) offers 24 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: Apple Silicon (M4 Max (16 cores)) and Intel 300 series (Core i7-9700K).
| Feature | M4 Max (16 cores) | Core i7-9700K |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | none | LGA1151 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 4.0+33% | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | Unified Memory | DDR4-2666 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 128 GB | 128 GB |
| RAM Channels | 8+300% | 2 |
| ECC Support | ✅ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 40+150% | 16 |
Advanced Features
Only the Core i7-9700K has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Virtualization support: Apple Virtualization (M4 Max (16 cores)) vs VT-x, VT-d (Core i7-9700K). Both include integrated graphics — Apple 40-core GPU (M4 Max (16 cores)) and UHD Graphics 630 (Core i7-9700K) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: M4 Max (16 cores) targets Professional Laptop, Core i7-9700K targets Desktop. Direct competitor: M4 Max (16 cores) rivals Ryzen AI Max PRO 390.
| Feature | M4 Max (16 cores) | Core i7-9700K |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | Yes |
| IGPU Model | Apple 40-core GPU | UHD Graphics 630 |
| Unlocked | No | Yes |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | Apple Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d |
| Target Use | Professional Laptop | Desktop |
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