Ryzen 9 5900HX vs M1 Max
Ryzen 9 5900HX
M1 Max
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 Ryzen 9 5900HX
Performance Per Dollar M1 Max
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Ryzen 9 5900HX | M1 Max |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Cezanne-H (Zen 3) (2021) / 7 nm) | ✨ Modern (Legacy / 5 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Ryzen 9 5900HX | M1 Max |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
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 Ryzen 9 5900HX and M1 Max
Ryzen 9 5900HX
The Ryzen 9 5900HX is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 12 January 2021 (4 years ago). It is based on the Cezanne-H (Zen 3) (2021) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 3.3 GHz, with boost up to 4.6 GHz. L3 cache: 16 MB (total). L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 7 nm process technology. Socket: FP6. Thermal design power (TDP): 45 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 22,198 points. Launch price was $299.
M1 Max
The M1 Max is manufactured by Apple. It was released in 18 October 2021 (4 years ago). It features 10 cores and 10 threads. Base frequency is 2.06 GHz, with boost up to 3.22 GHz. L3 cache: 48 MB. L2 cache: 28 MB. Built on 5 nm process technology. Socket: none. Thermal design power (TDP): 28 MB + 48 MB. Memory support: LPDDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 22,146 points. Launch price was $299.
Processing Power
The Ryzen 9 5900HX packs 8 cores / 16 threads, while the M1 Max offers 10 cores / 10 threads — the M1 Max has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.6 GHz on the Ryzen 9 5900HX versus 3.22 GHz on the M1 Max — a 35.3% clock advantage for the Ryzen 9 5900HX (base: 3.3 GHz vs 2.06 GHz). The Ryzen 9 5900HX is built on the Cezanne-H (Zen 3) (2021) architecture. In PassMark, the Ryzen 9 5900HX scores 22,198 against the M1 Max's 22,146 — a 0.2% lead for the Ryzen 9 5900HX. L3 cache: 16 MB (total) on the Ryzen 9 5900HX vs 48 MB on the M1 Max.
| Feature | Ryzen 9 5900HX | M1 Max |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 8 / 16 | 10 / 10+25% |
| Boost Clock | 4.6 GHz+43% | 3.22 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.3 GHz+60% | 2.06 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 16 MB (total) | 48 MB+200% |
| L2 Cache | 512K (per core) | 28 MB+5500% |
| Process | 7 nm | 5 nm-29% |
| Architecture | Cezanne-H (Zen 3) (2021) | — |
| PassMark | 22,198 | 22,146 |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | 13,955 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 1,845 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 7,587 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Ryzen 9 5900HX uses the FP6 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the M1 Max uses none (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR4-3200, LPDDR4-4266 on the Ryzen 9 5900HX versus LPDDR5-6400 on the M1 Max — the M1 Max supports 22.2% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. Both support up to 64 GB of RAM. Memory channels: 2 (Ryzen 9 5900HX) vs 8 (M1 Max). PCIe lanes: 16 (Ryzen 9 5900HX) vs 0 (M1 Max) — the Ryzen 9 5900HX offers 16 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives.
| Feature | Ryzen 9 5900HX | M1 Max |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FP6 | none |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 4.0 | PCIe 4.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR4-3200, LPDDR4-4266 | LPDDR5-6400+25% |
| Max RAM Capacity | 64 GB | 64 GB |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 8+300% |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | 0 |
Advanced Features
Only the Ryzen 9 5900HX has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Virtualization support: AMD-V (Ryzen 9 5900HX) vs ARM-V (M1 Max). Both include integrated graphics — Radeon RX Vega 8 (Ryzen 9 5900HX) and M1 Max GPU (M1 Max) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Ryzen 9 5900HX targets Gaming Laptop / Mobile Workstation, M1 Max targets Mobile Workstation. Direct competitor: Ryzen 9 5900HX rivals Core i9-11980HK.
| Feature | Ryzen 9 5900HX | M1 Max |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | Yes |
| IGPU Model | Radeon RX Vega 8 | M1 Max GPU |
| Unlocked | Yes | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | AMD-V | ARM-V |
| Target Use | Gaming Laptop / Mobile Workstation | Mobile Workstation |
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