i9-9900KS vs Apple M3 Max 16-Core

VS

Aggregate performance score

Apple M3 Max 16-Core
2023
16 cores / 16 threads, 78 Watt
25.85
+111%
Core i9-9900KS
2019
8 cores / 16 threads, 127 Watt
12.25

Apple M3 Max 16-Core outperforms Core i9-9900KS by a whopping 111% based on our aggregate benchmark results.

Primary details

Comparing Apple M3 Max 16-Core and Core i9-9900KS processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in the ranking194634
Place by popularitynot in top-100not in top-100
Cost-effectiveness evaluationno data10.81
Market segmentLaptopDesktop processor
SeriesApple M3Intel Core i9
Power efficiency31.369.13
Architecture codenameno dataCoffee Lake-R (2018−2019)
Release date30 October 2023 (1 year ago)28 October 2019 (5 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)no data$513

Cost-effectiveness evaluation

Performance per price, higher is better.

no data

Detailed specifications

Apple M3 Max 16-Core and Core i9-9900KS basic parameters such as number of cores, number of threads, base frequency and turbo boost clock, lithography, cache size and multiplier lock state. These parameters indirectly say of CPU speed, though for more precise assessment you have to consider their test results.

Physical cores16 (Hexadeca-Core)8 (Octa-Core)
Threads1616
Base clock speed2.748 GHz4 GHz
Boost clock speed4.06 GHz5 GHz
Bus typeno dataDMI 3.0
Bus rateno data4 × 8 GT/s
Multiplierno data40
L1 cacheno data64 KB (per core)
L2 cacheno data256 KB (per core)
L3 cacheno data16 MB (shared)
Chip lithography3 nm14 nm
Die sizeno data180 mm2
Maximum core temperatureno data100 °C
Maximum case temperature (TCase)no data72 °C
Number of transistors92000 Millionno data
64 bit support++
Windows 11 compatibilityno data+
Unlocked multiplier-+

Compatibility

Information on Apple M3 Max 16-Core and Core i9-9900KS compatibility with other computer components: motherboard (look for socket type), power supply unit (look for power consumption) etc. Useful when planning a future computer configuration or upgrading an existing one. Note that power consumption of some processors can well exceed their nominal TDP, even without overclocking. Some can even double their declared thermals given that the motherboard allows to tune the CPU power parameters.

Number of CPUs in a configurationno data1 (Uniprocessor)
Socketno dataFCLGA1151
Power consumption (TDP)78 Watt127 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Apple M3 Max 16-Core and Core i9-9900KS. You'll probably need this information if you require some particular technology.

Instruction set extensionsno dataIntel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX2
AES-NI-+
AVX-+
vProno data+
Enhanced SpeedStep (EIST)no data+
Turbo Boost Technologyno data2.0
Hyper-Threading Technologyno data+
TSX-+
Idle Statesno data+
Thermal Monitoring-+
SIPP-+

Security technologies

Apple M3 Max 16-Core and Core i9-9900KS technologies aimed at improving security, for example, by protecting against hacks.

TXTno data+
EDBno data+
Secure Keyno data+
MPX-+
Identity Protection-+
SGXno dataYes with Intel® ME
OS Guardno data+

Virtualization technologies

Virtual machine speed-up technologies supported by Apple M3 Max 16-Core and Core i9-9900KS are enumerated here.

AMD-V-+
VT-dno data+
VT-xno data+
EPTno data+

Memory specs

Types, maximum amount and channel quantity of RAM supported by Apple M3 Max 16-Core and Core i9-9900KS. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory typesno dataDDR4
Maximum memory sizeno data128 GB
Max memory channelsno data2
Maximum memory bandwidthno data42.671 GB/s

Graphics specifications

General parameters of integrated GPUs, if any.

Integrated graphics card
Compare
Apple M3 Max 40-Core GPUIntel UHD Graphics 630
Max video memoryno data64 GB
Quick Sync Video-+
Clear Videono data+
Clear Video HDno data+
Graphics max frequencyno data1.2 GHz
InTru 3Dno data+

Graphics interfaces

Available interfaces and connections of Apple M3 Max 16-Core and Core i9-9900KS integrated GPUs.

Number of displays supportedno data3

Graphics image quality

Maximum display resolutions supported by Apple M3 Max 16-Core and Core i9-9900KS integrated GPUs, including resolutions over different interfaces.

4K resolution supportno data+
Max resolution over HDMI 1.4no data4096 x 2304@24Hz
Max resolution over eDPno data4096 x 2304@60Hz
Max resolution over DisplayPortno data4096 x 2304@60Hz

Graphics API support

APIs supported by Apple M3 Max 16-Core and Core i9-9900KS integrated GPUs, sometimes API versions are included.

DirectXno data12
OpenGLno data4.5

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Apple M3 Max 16-Core and Core i9-9900KS.

PCIe versionno data3.0
PCI Express lanesno data16

Synthetic benchmark performance

Various benchmark results of the processors in comparison. Overall score is measured in points in 0-100 range, higher is better.


Combined synthetic benchmark score

This is our combined benchmark performance rating. We are regularly improving our combining algorithms, but if you find some perceived inconsistencies, feel free to speak up in comments section, we usually fix problems quickly.

Apple M3 Max 16-Core 25.85
+111%
i9-9900KS 12.25

Passmark

Passmark CPU Mark is a widespread benchmark, consisting of 8 different types of workload, including integer and floating point math, extended instructions, compression, encryption and physics calculation. There is also one separate single-threaded scenario measuring single-core performance.

Apple M3 Max 16-Core 41068
+111%
i9-9900KS 19461

Cinebench 15 64-bit multi-core

Cinebench Release 15 Multi Core is a variant of Cinebench R15 which uses all the processor threads.

Apple M3 Max 16-Core 3264
+58.6%
i9-9900KS 2058

Cinebench 15 64-bit single-core

Cinebench R15 (standing for Release 15) is a benchmark made by Maxon, authors of Cinema 4D. It was superseded by later versions of Cinebench, which use more modern variants of Cinema 4D engine. The Single Core version (sometimes called Single-Thread) only uses a single processor thread to render a room full of reflective spheres and light sources.

Apple M3 Max 16-Core 271
+25.5%
i9-9900KS 216

Geekbench 5.5 Multi-Core

Apple M3 Max 16-Core 22938
+152%
i9-9900KS 9100

Geekbench 5.5 Single-Core

Apple M3 Max 16-Core 2325
+69.4%
i9-9900KS 1372

Gaming performance

Pros & cons summary


Performance score 25.85 12.25
Recency 30 October 2023 28 October 2019
Physical cores 16 8
Chip lithography 3 nm 14 nm
Power consumption (TDP) 78 Watt 127 Watt

Apple M3 Max 16-Core has a 111% higher aggregate performance score, an age advantage of 4 years, 100% more physical cores, a 366.7% more advanced lithography process, and 62.8% lower power consumption.

The Apple M3 Max 16-Core is our recommended choice as it beats the Core i9-9900KS in performance tests.

Be aware that Apple M3 Max 16-Core is a notebook processor while Core i9-9900KS is a desktop one.


Should you still have questions on choice between Apple M3 Max 16-Core and Core i9-9900KS, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

Vote for your favorite

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Apple M3 Max 16-Core
M3 Max 16-Core
Intel Core i9-9900KS
Core i9-9900KS

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Community ratings

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Questions & comments

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