M4 Pro (12 cores) vs Ryzen 9 3900X
M4 Pro (12 cores)
Ryzen 9 3900X
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 Pro (12 cores)
Performance Per Dollar Ryzen 9 3900X
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | M4 Pro (12 cores) | Ryzen 9 3900X |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($441) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Legacy / 3 nm) | ✨ Modern (Matisse (Zen 2) (2019−2020) / 7 nm, 12 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | M4 Pro (12 cores) | Ryzen 9 3900X |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($441) |
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 Pro (12 cores) and Ryzen 9 3900X
M4 Pro (12 cores)
The M4 Pro (12 cores) is manufactured by Apple. It was released in 30 October 2024 (1 year ago). It features 12 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 2.592 GHz, with boost up to 4.51 GHz. L2 cache: 4 MB. Built on 3 nm process technology. Socket: none. Thermal design power (TDP): 4 MB. Memory support: LPDDR5X. Passmark benchmark score: 32,853 points. Launch price was $499.
Ryzen 9 3900X
The Ryzen 9 3900X is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 7 July 2019 (6 years ago). It is based on the Matisse (Zen 2) (2019−2020) architecture. It features 12 cores and 24 threads. Base frequency is 3.8 GHz, with boost up to 4.6 GHz. L3 cache: 64 MB. L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 7 nm, 12 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 125 Watt. Memory support: DDR4 Dual-channel. Passmark benchmark score: 32,517 points. Launch price was $499.
Processing Power
The M4 Pro (12 cores) packs 12 cores / 12 threads, matching the Ryzen 9 3900X's 12 cores. Boost clocks reach 4.51 GHz on the M4 Pro (12 cores) versus 4.6 GHz on the Ryzen 9 3900X — a 2% clock advantage for the Ryzen 9 3900X (base: 2.592 GHz vs 3.8 GHz). The Ryzen 9 3900X is built on the Matisse (Zen 2) (2019−2020) architecture. In PassMark, the M4 Pro (12 cores) scores 32,853 against the Ryzen 9 3900X's 32,517 — a 1% lead for the M4 Pro (12 cores). Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 3,812 vs 1,300, a 98.3% lead for the M4 Pro (12 cores) that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 20,076 vs 12,000 (50.4% advantage for the M4 Pro (12 cores)).
| Feature | M4 Pro (12 cores) | Ryzen 9 3900X |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 12 / 12 | 12 / 24 |
| Boost Clock | 4.51 GHz | 4.6 GHz+2% |
| Base Clock | 2.592 GHz | 3.8 GHz+47% |
| L3 Cache | — | 64 MB |
| L2 Cache | 4 MB+700% | 512K (per core) |
| Process | 3 nm-57% | 7 nm, 12 nm |
| Architecture | — | Matisse (Zen 2) (2019−2020) |
| PassMark | 32,853+1% | 32,517 |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | 18,904 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 3,812+193% | 1,300 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 20,076+67% | 12,000 |
Memory & Platform
The M4 Pro (12 cores) uses the none socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Ryzen 9 3900X uses AM4 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches LPDDR5x-8000 on the M4 Pro (12 cores) versus DDR4-3200 on the Ryzen 9 3900X — the M4 Pro (12 cores) supports 22.2% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Ryzen 9 3900X supports up to 128 GB of RAM compared to 64 GB — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 1 (M4 Pro (12 cores)) vs 2 (Ryzen 9 3900X). PCIe lanes: 0 (M4 Pro (12 cores)) vs 24 (Ryzen 9 3900X) — the Ryzen 9 3900X offers 24 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: Apple SoC (M4 Pro (12 cores)) and X570,B550 (Ryzen 9 3900X).
| Feature | M4 Pro (12 cores) | Ryzen 9 3900X |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | none | AM4 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 4.0 | PCIe 4.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | LPDDR5x-8000+25% | DDR4-3200 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 64 GB | 128 GB+100% |
| RAM Channels | 1 | 2+100% |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | 0 | 24 |
Advanced Features
Only the Ryzen 9 3900X has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Virtualization support: Apple Virtualization (M4 Pro (12 cores)) vs AMD-V (Ryzen 9 3900X). The M4 Pro (12 cores) includes integrated graphics (M4 Pro 16-core GPU), while the Ryzen 9 3900X requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: M4 Pro (12 cores) targets High-end Content Creation, Ryzen 9 3900X targets Workstation. Direct competitor: M4 Pro (12 cores) rivals Ryzen 9 8945HS.
| Feature | M4 Pro (12 cores) | Ryzen 9 3900X |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | No |
| IGPU Model | M4 Pro 16-core GPU | None |
| Unlocked | No | Yes |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | Apple Virtualization | AMD-V |
| Target Use | High-end Content Creation | Workstation |
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