EPYC 8124P vs M3 Max 14-Core

CPU

GPU

EPYC 8124P

16 Cores32 Thrd125 WWMax: 3 GHz2023

Popular choices:

•••••••••

M3 Max 14-Core

14 Cores14 Thrd−WMax: 4.06 GHz2023

Popular choices:

•••••••••

Performance Spectrum - CPU

EPYC 8124P

16 / 32

36,079

0.0%

Ryzen Embedded V3C48

Ryzen AI 7 PRO 350

Ryzen 7 5800XT

Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX

Ryzen AI Max+ PRO 395

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3995WX

Ryzen Threadripper 7970X

M3 Max 14-Core

14 / 14

36,529

+1.2%

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 8124P

2023

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +3.6% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 16 cores / 32 threads, plus 96 PCIe lanes vs 0.
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (96 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (36,079 vs 36,529).
❌Launch MSRP is still $639 MSRP, while M3 Max 14-Core mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌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

✅+1.2% higher PassMark.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Apple M3 Max GPU (30-core), while EPYC 8124P needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than EPYC 8124P across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than EPYC 8124P, which brings 16 cores / 32 threads and 96 PCIe lanes.
❌No AVX-512 support for niche heavy compute workloads where it can matter.

EPYC 8124P

2023

M3 Max 14-Core

2023

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +3.6% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 16 cores / 32 threads, plus 96 PCIe lanes vs 0.
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (96 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Why buy it

✅+1.2% higher PassMark.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Apple M3 Max GPU (30-core), while EPYC 8124P needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (36,079 vs 36,529).
❌Launch MSRP is still $639 MSRP, while M3 Max 14-Core mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌No integrated graphics, while M3 Max 14-Core can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than EPYC 8124P across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than EPYC 8124P, which brings 16 cores / 32 threads and 96 PCIe lanes.
❌No AVX-512 support for niche heavy compute workloads where it can matter.

Quick Answers

So, is EPYC 8124P better than M3 Max 14-Core?

Not in a simple one-size-fits-all way. EPYC 8124P 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 streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, M3 Max 14-Core is the better fit. You are getting 1.2% better PassMark, backed by 14 cores and 14 threads.

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

EPYC 8124P is the smarter buy today. EPYC 8124P is at an unclear MSRP at $639 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it gives you a 3.6% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data. The trade-off is that M3 Max 14-Core is still stronger for heavier multi-core work with 1.2% better PassMark. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (56.5 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), so the better CPU is not just faster, it is also the cleaner value play on paper.

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

EPYC 8124P is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting AVX-512 support for heavier modern compute workloads. That makes it the safer long-term pick.

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 8124P Benchmark Check

M3 Max 14-Core Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	EPYC 8124P	M3 Max 14-Core
1080p
low	153 FPS	183 FPS
medium	125 FPS	146 FPS
high	105 FPS	120 FPS
ultra	83 FPS	94 FPS
1440p
low	139 FPS	146 FPS
medium	111 FPS	115 FPS
high	87 FPS	92 FPS
ultra	70 FPS	72 FPS
4K
low	67 FPS	67 FPS
medium	57 FPS	56 FPS
high	44 FPS	45 FPS
ultra	36 FPS	35 FPS

Open EPYC 8124P Open M3 Max 14-Core

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	EPYC 8124P	M3 Max 14-Core
1080p
low	387 FPS	399 FPS
medium	344 FPS	339 FPS
high	281 FPS	293 FPS
ultra	224 FPS	256 FPS
1440p
low	327 FPS	352 FPS
medium	296 FPS	309 FPS
high	250 FPS	270 FPS
ultra	191 FPS	230 FPS
4K
low	202 FPS	255 FPS
medium	186 FPS	229 FPS
high	157 FPS	210 FPS
ultra	127 FPS	184 FPS

Open EPYC 8124P Open M3 Max 14-Core

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	EPYC 8124P	M3 Max 14-Core
1080p
low	856 FPS	913 FPS
medium	767 FPS	735 FPS
high	743 FPS	663 FPS
ultra	667 FPS	593 FPS
1440p
low	660 FPS	642 FPS
medium	573 FPS	516 FPS
high	546 FPS	458 FPS
ultra	487 FPS	400 FPS
4K
low	432 FPS	452 FPS
medium	341 FPS	356 FPS
high	305 FPS	310 FPS
ultra	250 FPS	248 FPS

Open EPYC 8124P Open M3 Max 14-Core

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	EPYC 8124P	M3 Max 14-Core
1080p
low	902 FPS	913 FPS
medium	902 FPS	825 FPS
high	769 FPS	717 FPS
ultra	647 FPS	621 FPS
1440p
low	823 FPS	715 FPS
medium	707 FPS	625 FPS
high	596 FPS	540 FPS
ultra	488 FPS	469 FPS
4K
low	596 FPS	494 FPS
medium	521 FPS	443 FPS
high	449 FPS	396 FPS
ultra	372 FPS	342 FPS

Open EPYC 8124P Open M3 Max 14-Core

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of EPYC 8124P and M3 Max 14-Core

EPYC 8124P

The EPYC 8124P is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 18 September 2023 (2 years ago). It is based on the Siena (2023−2024) architecture. It features 16 cores and 32 threads. Base frequency is 2.45 GHz, with boost up to 3 GHz. L3 cache: 64 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 5 nm process technology. Socket: SP6. Thermal design power (TDP): 125 Watt. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 36,079 points. Launch price was $639.

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 8124P packs 16 cores / 32 threads, while the M3 Max 14-Core offers 14 cores / 14 threads — the EPYC 8124P has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3 GHz on the EPYC 8124P versus 4.06 GHz on the M3 Max 14-Core — a 30% clock advantage for the M3 Max 14-Core (base: 2.45 GHz vs 2.748 GHz). The EPYC 8124P is built on the Siena (2023−2024) architecture. In PassMark, the EPYC 8124P scores 36,079 against the M3 Max 14-Core's 36,529 — a 1.2% lead for the M3 Max 14-Core.

Feature	EPYC 8124P	M3 Max 14-Core
Cores / Threads	16 / 32+14%	14 / 14
Boost Clock	3 GHz	4.06 GHz+35%
Base Clock	2.45 GHz	2.748 GHz+12%
L3 Cache	64 MB (total)	—
L2 Cache	1 MB (per core)	—
Process	5 nm	3 nm-40%
Architecture	Siena (2023−2024)	—
PassMark	36,079	36,529+1%

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Memory & Platform

The EPYC 8124P uses the SP6 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 4800 on the EPYC 8124P versus 6400 on the M3 Max 14-Core — the M3 Max 14-Core supports 28.6% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The EPYC 8124P supports up to 2048 of RAM compared to 96 — 182.1% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 6 (EPYC 8124P) vs 0 (M3 Max 14-Core). PCIe lanes: 96 (EPYC 8124P) vs 0 (M3 Max 14-Core) — the EPYC 8124P offers 96 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: SP6 (EPYC 8124P) and Apple M3 (M3 Max 14-Core).

Feature	EPYC 8124P	M3 Max 14-Core
Socket	SP6	none
PCIe Generation	PCIe 4.0	PCIe 4.0
Max RAM Speed	4800	6400+33%
Max RAM Capacity	2048+2033%	96
RAM Channels	6	0
ECC Support	Yes	No
PCIe Lanes	96	0

🔧

Advanced Features

Neither processor supports overclocking. Only the EPYC 8124P supports AVX-512 instructions — important for machine learning and scientific applications. Virtualization support: AMD-V, IOMMU (EPYC 8124P) 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 8124P requires a dedicated GPU. Direct competitor: EPYC 8124P rivals Xeon Gold 6426Y; M3 Max 14-Core rivals Core i9-13900HX.