i9-9900X vs Apple M3 Max 16-Core

VS

Aggregate performance score

Apple M3 Max 16-Core
2023
16 cores / 16 threads, 78 Watt
25.85
+88.3%
Core i9-9900X
2018
10 cores / 20 threads, 165 Watt
13.73

Apple M3 Max 16-Core outperforms Core i9-9900X by an impressive 88% based on our aggregate benchmark results.

Primary details

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

Place in the ranking194542
Place by popularitynot in top-100not in top-100
Cost-effectiveness evaluationno data5.07
Market segmentLaptopDesktop processor
SeriesApple M3Intel Core i9
Power efficiency31.367.87
Architecture codenameno dataSkylake (server) (2017−2018)
Release date30 October 2023 (1 year ago)8 October 2018 (6 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)no data$989

Cost-effectiveness evaluation

Performance per price, higher is better.

no data

Detailed specifications

Apple M3 Max 16-Core and Core i9-9900X 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)10 (Deca-Core)
Threads1620
Base clock speed2.748 GHz3.5 GHz
Boost clock speed4.06 GHz4.5 GHz
Bus typeno dataDMI 3.0
Bus rateno data4 × 8 GT/s
Multiplierno data35
L1 cacheno data640 KB
L2 cacheno data10 MB
L3 cacheno data19.25 MB (shared)
Chip lithography3 nm14 nm
Maximum core temperatureno data92 °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 i9-9900X 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 dataFCLGA2066
Power consumption (TDP)78 Watt165 Watt

Technologies and extensions

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

Instruction set extensionsno dataIntel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX2, Intel® AVX-512
AES-NI-+
AVX-+
Enhanced SpeedStep (EIST)no data+
Turbo Boost Technologyno data2.0
Hyper-Threading Technologyno data+
TSX-+
Turbo Boost Max 3.0no data+

Security technologies

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

EDBno data+

Virtualization technologies

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

VT-dno data+
VT-xno data+

Memory specs

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

Supported memory typesno dataDDR4-2666
Maximum memory sizeno data128 GB
Max memory channelsno data4
Maximum memory bandwidthno data85.33 GB/s

Graphics specifications

General parameters of integrated GPUs, if any.

Integrated graphics cardApple M3 Max 40-Core GPUN/A

Peripherals

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

PCIe versionno data3.0
PCI Express lanesno data44

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
+88.3%
i9-9900X 13.73

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
+88.3%
i9-9900X 21815

Gaming performance

Pros & cons summary


Performance score 25.85 13.73
Recency 30 October 2023 8 October 2018
Physical cores 16 10
Threads 16 20
Chip lithography 3 nm 14 nm
Power consumption (TDP) 78 Watt 165 Watt

Apple M3 Max 16-Core has a 88.3% higher aggregate performance score, an age advantage of 5 years, 60% more physical cores, a 366.7% more advanced lithography process, and 111.5% lower power consumption.

i9-9900X, on the other hand, has 25% more threads.

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

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


Should you still have questions on choice between Apple M3 Max 16-Core and Core i9-9900X, 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 i9-9900X
Core i9-9900X

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Community ratings

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Questions & comments

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