Apple M2 Max vs Phenom X3 8550
Aggregate performance score
Apple M2 Max outperforms Phenom X3 8550 by a whopping 2215% based on our aggregate benchmark results.
Primary details
Comparing Phenom X3 8550 and M2 Max processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.
| Place in the ranking | 2753 | 409 |
| Place by popularity | not in top-100 | not in top-100 |
| Cost-effectiveness evaluation | 2.13 | no data |
| Market segment | Desktop processor | Laptop |
| Series | no data | Apple M-Series |
| Power efficiency | 0.72 | 20.10 |
| Architecture codename | Toliman (2008) | no data |
| Release date | April 2008 (16 years ago) | 17 January 2023 (2 years ago) |
| Launch price (MSRP) | $170 | no data |
Cost-effectiveness evaluation
Performance per price, higher is better.
Detailed specifications
Phenom X3 8550 and M2 Max 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 cores | 3 (Tri-Core) | 12 (Dodeca-Core) |
| Threads | 3 | 12 |
| Base clock speed | no data | 2.424 GHz |
| Boost clock speed | 2.2 GHz | 3.7 GHz |
| L1 cache | 128 KB (per core) | 3.3 MB |
| L2 cache | 512 KB (per core) | 36 MB |
| L3 cache | 2 MB (shared) | 48 MB |
| Chip lithography | 65 nm | 5 nm |
| Die size | 285 mm2 | no data |
| Number of transistors | 450 million | 67000 Million |
| 64 bit support | + | + |
| Windows 11 compatibility | - | no data |
Compatibility
Information on Phenom X3 8550 and M2 Max 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 configuration | 1 | no data |
| Socket | AM2+ | no data |
| Power consumption (TDP) | 95 Watt | 79 Watt |
Virtualization technologies
Virtual machine speed-up technologies supported by Phenom X3 8550 and M2 Max are enumerated here.
| AMD-V | + | - |
Graphics specifications
General parameters of integrated GPUs, if any.
| Integrated graphics card | no data | Apple M2 Max 38-Core GPU |
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.
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.
Pros & cons summary
| Performance score | 0.72 | 16.67 |
| Physical cores | 3 | 12 |
| Threads | 3 | 12 |
| Chip lithography | 65 nm | 5 nm |
| Power consumption (TDP) | 95 Watt | 79 Watt |
Apple M2 Max has a 2215.3% higher aggregate performance score, 300% more physical cores and 300% more threads, a 1200% more advanced lithography process, and 20.3% lower power consumption.
The M2 Max is our recommended choice as it beats the Phenom X3 8550 in performance tests.
Note that Phenom X3 8550 is a desktop processor while Apple M2 Max is a notebook one.
Other comparisons
We've compiled a selection of CPU comparisons, ranging from closely matched processors to other comparisons that may be of interest.
