Ryzen AI Max PRO 390 vs M4 Max (16 cores)
Ryzen AI Max PRO 390
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 AI Max PRO 390
Performance Per Dollar M4 Max (16 cores)
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Ryzen AI Max PRO 390 | M4 Max (16 cores) |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($600) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Strix Halo (2025) / 4 nm) | ✨ Modern (Legacy / 3 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Ryzen AI Max PRO 390 | M4 Max (16 cores) |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($600) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
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 AI Max PRO 390 and M4 Max (16 cores)
Ryzen AI Max PRO 390
The Ryzen AI Max PRO 390 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 6 January 2025 (less than a year ago). It is based on the Strix Halo (2025) architecture. It features 12 cores and 24 threads. Base frequency is 3.2 GHz, with boost up to 5 GHz. L3 cache: 64 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 4 nm process technology. Socket: FP11. Thermal design power (TDP): 55 Watt. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 43,174 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 AI Max PRO 390 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 GHz on the Ryzen AI Max PRO 390 versus 4.51 GHz on the M4 Max (16 cores) — a 10.3% clock advantage for the Ryzen AI Max PRO 390 (base: 3.2 GHz vs 2.75 GHz). The Ryzen AI Max PRO 390 is built on the Strix Halo (2025) architecture. In PassMark, the Ryzen AI Max PRO 390 scores 43,174 against the M4 Max (16 cores)'s 43,985 — a 1.9% lead for the M4 Max (16 cores).
| Feature | Ryzen AI Max PRO 390 | M4 Max (16 cores) |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 12 / 24 | 16 / 16+33% |
| Boost Clock | 5 GHz+11% | 4.51 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.2 GHz+16% | 2.75 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 64 MB (total) | — |
| L2 Cache | 1 MB (per core) | — |
| Process | 4 nm | 3 nm-25% |
| Architecture | Strix Halo (2025) | — |
| PassMark | 43,174 | 43,985+2% |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 4,060 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 26,675 |
Memory & Platform
The Ryzen AI Max PRO 390 uses the FP11 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the M4 Max (16 cores) uses none (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to 8000 memory speed. Both support up to 128 of RAM. Memory channels: 4 (Ryzen AI Max PRO 390) vs 8 (M4 Max (16 cores)). PCIe lanes: 28 (Ryzen AI Max PRO 390) vs 40 (M4 Max (16 cores)) — the M4 Max (16 cores) offers 12 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: Strix Halo (Ryzen AI Max PRO 390) and Apple Silicon (M4 Max (16 cores)).
| Feature | Ryzen AI Max PRO 390 | M4 Max (16 cores) |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FP11 | none |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 4.0 | PCIe 4.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | 8000 | Unified Memory |
| Max RAM Capacity | 128 | 128 GB+104857500% |
| RAM Channels | 4 | 8+100% |
| ECC Support | ✅ | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | 28 | 40+43% |
Advanced Features
Only the Ryzen AI Max PRO 390 has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Only the Ryzen AI Max PRO 390 supports AVX-512 instructions — important for machine learning and scientific applications. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d, AMD-V (Ryzen AI Max PRO 390) vs Apple Virtualization (M4 Max (16 cores)). Both include integrated graphics — AMD Radeon 8050S (Ryzen AI Max PRO 390) 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: M4 Max (16 cores) targets Professional Laptop. Direct competitor: Ryzen AI Max PRO 390 rivals Apple M4 Max; M4 Max (16 cores) rivals Ryzen AI Max PRO 390.
| Feature | Ryzen AI Max PRO 390 | M4 Max (16 cores) |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | Yes |
| IGPU Model | AMD Radeon 8050S | Apple 40-core GPU |
| Unlocked | Yes | No |
| AVX-512 | Yes | No |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d, AMD-V | Apple Virtualization |
| Target Use | — | Professional Laptop |
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