EPYC 7303P vs M3 Max 14-Core

CPU

GPU

EPYC 7303P

16 Cores32 Thrd130 WWMax: 3.4 GHz2023

Popular choices:

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M3 Max 14-Core

14 Cores14 Thrd−WMax: 4.06 GHz2023

Popular choices:

•••••••••

Performance Spectrum - CPU

EPYC 7303P

16 / 32

36,487

0.0%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3995WX

Ryzen Threadripper 7970X

M3 Max 14-Core

14 / 14

36,529

+0.1%

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.

Head-to-Head Verdict, Benchmarks, Value & Long-Term Outlook

This comparison brings together gaming FPS, productivity performance, platform differences, power efficiency, pricing context, and upgrade path so you can see which CPU actually makes more sense.

EPYC 7303P

2023

Why buy it

✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 16 cores / 32 threads, plus 128 PCIe lanes vs 0.
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (128 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅AVX-512 support for select workstation, AI, and scientific workloads.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (36,487 vs 36,529).
❌Launch MSRP is still $594 MSRP, while M3 Max 14-Core mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌Older platform position on SP3 with DDR4, while M3 Max 14-Core moves to none and DDR5.
❌No integrated graphics, while M3 Max 14-Core can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

M3 Max 14-Core

2023

Why buy it

✅Newer platform on none with DDR5 support instead of SP3 and DDR4.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Apple M3 Max GPU (30-core), while EPYC 7303P needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than EPYC 7303P, which brings 16 cores / 32 threads and 128 PCIe lanes.
❌No AVX-512 support for niche heavy compute workloads where it can matter.

EPYC 7303P

2023

M3 Max 14-Core

2023

Why buy it

✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 16 cores / 32 threads, plus 128 PCIe lanes vs 0.
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (128 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅AVX-512 support for select workstation, AI, and scientific workloads.

Why buy it

✅Newer platform on none with DDR5 support instead of SP3 and DDR4.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Apple M3 Max GPU (30-core), while EPYC 7303P needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (36,487 vs 36,529).
❌Launch MSRP is still $594 MSRP, while M3 Max 14-Core mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌Older platform position on SP3 with DDR4, while M3 Max 14-Core moves to none and DDR5.
❌No integrated graphics, while M3 Max 14-Core can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than EPYC 7303P, which brings 16 cores / 32 threads and 128 PCIe lanes.
❌No AVX-512 support for niche heavy compute workloads where it can matter.

Quick Answers

So, is M3 Max 14-Core better than EPYC 7303P?

Not in a simple one-size-fits-all way. EPYC 7303P makes more sense for workstation-style multi-core throughput, while M3 Max 14-Core is the better mainstream desktop choice for gaming, platform cost, and day-to-day practicality.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, M3 Max 14-Core is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 1.9% more average FPS across 50 shared CPU game tests.

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, M3 Max 14-Core is the better fit. You are getting 0.1% better PassMark, backed by 14 cores and 14 threads.

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?

M3 Max 14-Core is still the faster CPU overall, but EPYC 7303P makes more sense if price matters more than absolute performance. M3 Max 14-Core is at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus $594 MSRP, and it gives you a 1.9% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. EPYC 7303P is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (61.4 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), which is why it is easier to justify for price-conscious builds on paper.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

M3 Max 14-Core is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a healthier platform with none and DDR5 instead of SP3 and more multi-core headroom with 14 cores / 14 threads instead of 16/32. That should give you a better long-term upgrade path for motherboard, RAM, and future CPU swaps.

Games Benchmarks

Paired with RTX 4090

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.

EPYC 7303P Benchmark Check

M3 Max 14-Core Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	EPYC 7303P	M3 Max 14-Core
1080p
low	159 FPS	183 FPS
medium	130 FPS	146 FPS
high	109 FPS	120 FPS
ultra	86 FPS	94 FPS
1440p
low	141 FPS	146 FPS
medium	113 FPS	115 FPS
high	89 FPS	92 FPS
ultra	71 FPS	72 FPS
4K
low	68 FPS	67 FPS
medium	57 FPS	56 FPS
high	45 FPS	45 FPS
ultra	37 FPS	35 FPS

Open EPYC 7303P Open M3 Max 14-Core

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	EPYC 7303P	M3 Max 14-Core
1080p
low	390 FPS	399 FPS
medium	346 FPS	339 FPS
high	283 FPS	293 FPS
ultra	225 FPS	256 FPS
1440p
low	329 FPS	352 FPS
medium	297 FPS	309 FPS
high	251 FPS	270 FPS
ultra	192 FPS	230 FPS
4K
low	203 FPS	255 FPS
medium	186 FPS	229 FPS
high	158 FPS	210 FPS
ultra	127 FPS	184 FPS

Open EPYC 7303P Open M3 Max 14-Core

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	EPYC 7303P	M3 Max 14-Core
1080p
low	644 FPS	913 FPS
medium	526 FPS	735 FPS
high	469 FPS	663 FPS
ultra	411 FPS	593 FPS
1440p
low	499 FPS	642 FPS
medium	406 FPS	516 FPS
high	356 FPS	458 FPS
ultra	310 FPS	400 FPS
4K
low	368 FPS	452 FPS
medium	286 FPS	356 FPS
high	244 FPS	310 FPS
ultra	197 FPS	248 FPS

Open EPYC 7303P Open M3 Max 14-Core

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	EPYC 7303P	M3 Max 14-Core
1080p
low	885 FPS	913 FPS
medium	806 FPS	825 FPS
high	696 FPS	717 FPS
ultra	610 FPS	621 FPS
1440p
low	696 FPS	715 FPS
medium	608 FPS	625 FPS
high	521 FPS	540 FPS
ultra	446 FPS	469 FPS
4K
low	498 FPS	494 FPS
medium	445 FPS	443 FPS
high	390 FPS	396 FPS
ultra	337 FPS	342 FPS

Open EPYC 7303P Open M3 Max 14-Core

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of EPYC 7303P and M3 Max 14-Core

EPYC 7303P

The EPYC 7303P is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 5 September 2023 (2 years ago). It is based on the Milan (2021−2023) architecture. It features 16 cores and 32 threads. Base frequency is 2.4 GHz, with boost up to 3.4 GHz. L3 cache: 64 MB (total). L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 7 nm process technology. Socket: SP3. Thermal design power (TDP): 130 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 36,487 points. Launch price was $594.

M3 Max 14-Core

The M3 Max 14-Core is manufactured by Apple. It was released in 30 October 2023 (2 years ago). It features 14 cores and 14 threads. Base frequency is 2.748 GHz, with boost up to 4.06 GHz. Built on 3 nm process technology. Socket: none. Memory support: LPDDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 36,529 points. Launch price was $499.

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Processing Power

The EPYC 7303P packs 16 cores / 32 threads, while the M3 Max 14-Core offers 14 cores / 14 threads — the EPYC 7303P has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.4 GHz on the EPYC 7303P versus 4.06 GHz on the M3 Max 14-Core — a 17.7% clock advantage for the M3 Max 14-Core (base: 2.4 GHz vs 2.748 GHz). The EPYC 7303P is built on the Milan (2021−2023) architecture. In PassMark, the EPYC 7303P scores 36,487 against the M3 Max 14-Core's 36,529 — a 0.1% lead for the M3 Max 14-Core.

Feature	EPYC 7303P	M3 Max 14-Core
Cores / Threads	16 / 32+14%	14 / 14
Boost Clock	3.4 GHz	4.06 GHz+19%
Base Clock	2.4 GHz	2.748 GHz+15%
L3 Cache	64 MB (total)	—
L2 Cache	512 kB (per core)	—
Process	7 nm	3 nm-57%
Architecture	Milan (2021−2023)	—
PassMark	36,487	36,529

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Memory & Platform

The EPYC 7303P uses the SP3 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the M3 Max 14-Core uses none (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches 3200 on the EPYC 7303P versus 6400 on the M3 Max 14-Core — the M3 Max 14-Core supports 66.7% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The EPYC 7303P supports up to 4096 of RAM compared to 96 — 190.8% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 8 (EPYC 7303P) vs 0 (M3 Max 14-Core). PCIe lanes: 128 (EPYC 7303P) vs 0 (M3 Max 14-Core) — the EPYC 7303P offers 128 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: SP3 (EPYC 7303P) and Apple M3 (M3 Max 14-Core).

Feature	EPYC 7303P	M3 Max 14-Core
Socket	SP3	none
PCIe Generation	PCIe 4.0	PCIe 4.0
Max RAM Speed	3200	6400+100%
Max RAM Capacity	4096+4167%	96
RAM Channels	8	0
ECC Support	Yes	No
PCIe Lanes	128	0

🔧

Advanced Features

Neither processor supports overclocking. Only the EPYC 7303P supports AVX-512 instructions — important for machine learning and scientific applications. Virtualization support: AMD-V, IOMMU (EPYC 7303P) vs VT-x, VT-d (macOS) (M3 Max 14-Core). The M3 Max 14-Core includes integrated graphics (Apple M3 Max GPU (30-core)), while the EPYC 7303P requires a dedicated GPU. Direct competitor: EPYC 7303P rivals Xeon Gold 6330; M3 Max 14-Core rivals Core i9-13900HX.