Ryzen 9 7845HX vs M4 Max (16 cores)
Ryzen 9 7845HX
M4 Max (16 cores)
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 7845HX
Performance Per Dollar M4 Max (16 cores)
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Ryzen 9 7845HX | M4 Max (16 cores) |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Dragon Range-HX (Zen 4) (2023−2024) / CCD = 5 nm, I/O = 6 nm) | ✨ Modern (Legacy / 3 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Ryzen 9 7845HX | M4 Max (16 cores) |
|---|---|---|
| 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 7845HX and M4 Max (16 cores)
Ryzen 9 7845HX
The Ryzen 9 7845HX is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 4 January 2023 (2 years ago). It is based on the Dragon Range-HX (Zen 4) (2023−2024) architecture. It features 12 cores and 24 threads. Base frequency is 3 GHz, with boost up to 5.2 GHz. L3 cache: 64 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on CCD = 5 nm, I/O = 6 nm process technology. Socket: FL1. Thermal design power (TDP): 55 Watt. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 44,940 points. Launch price was $499.
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.
Processing Power
The Ryzen 9 7845HX packs 12 cores / 24 threads, while the M4 Max (16 cores) offers 16 cores / 16 threads — the M4 Max (16 cores) has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 5.2 GHz on the Ryzen 9 7845HX versus 4.51 GHz on the M4 Max (16 cores) — a 14.2% clock advantage for the Ryzen 9 7845HX (base: 3 GHz vs 2.75 GHz). The Ryzen 9 7845HX is built on the Dragon Range-HX (Zen 4) (2023−2024) architecture. In PassMark, the Ryzen 9 7845HX scores 44,940 against the M4 Max (16 cores)'s 43,985 — a 2.1% lead for the Ryzen 9 7845HX. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 2,697 vs 4,060, a 40.3% lead for the M4 Max (16 cores) that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 15,039 vs 26,675 (55.8% advantage for the M4 Max (16 cores)).
| Feature | Ryzen 9 7845HX | M4 Max (16 cores) |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 12 / 24 | 16 / 16+33% |
| Boost Clock | 5.2 GHz+15% | 4.51 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3 GHz+9% | 2.75 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 64 MB (total) | — |
| L2 Cache | 1 MB (per core) | — |
| Process | CCD = 5 nm, I/O = 6 nm | 3 nm-40% |
| Architecture | Dragon Range-HX (Zen 4) (2023−2024) | — |
| PassMark | 44,940+2% | 43,985 |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | 26,654 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 2,697 | 4,060+51% |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 15,039 | 26,675+77% |
Memory & Platform
The Ryzen 9 7845HX uses the FL1 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the M4 Max (16 cores) uses none (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR5-5200 memory speed. The M4 Max (16 cores) supports up to 128 GB of RAM compared to 64 GB — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 2 (Ryzen 9 7845HX) vs 8 (M4 Max (16 cores)). PCIe lanes: 28 (Ryzen 9 7845HX) vs 40 (M4 Max (16 cores)) — the M4 Max (16 cores) offers 12 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: FL1 (Ryzen 9 7845HX) and Apple Silicon (M4 Max (16 cores)).
| Feature | Ryzen 9 7845HX | M4 Max (16 cores) |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FL1 | none |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 5.0+25% | PCIe 4.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR5-5200 | Unified Memory |
| Max RAM Capacity | 64 GB | 128 GB+100% |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 8+300% |
| ECC Support | ✅ | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | 28 | 40+43% |
Advanced Features
Only the Ryzen 9 7845HX has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Only the Ryzen 9 7845HX supports AVX-512 instructions — important for machine learning and scientific applications. Virtualization support: AMD-V (Ryzen 9 7845HX) vs Apple Virtualization (M4 Max (16 cores)). Both include integrated graphics — Radeon 610M (Ryzen 9 7845HX) and Apple 40-core GPU (M4 Max (16 cores)) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Ryzen 9 7845HX targets High-end Gaming / Content Creation, M4 Max (16 cores) targets Professional Laptop. Direct competitor: Ryzen 9 7845HX rivals Core i9-13900HX; M4 Max (16 cores) rivals Ryzen AI Max PRO 390.
| Feature | Ryzen 9 7845HX | M4 Max (16 cores) |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | Yes |
| IGPU Model | Radeon 610M | Apple 40-core GPU |
| Unlocked | Yes | No |
| AVX-512 | Yes | No |
| Virtualization | AMD-V | Apple Virtualization |
| Target Use | High-end Gaming / Content Creation | Professional Laptop |
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