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.

M1 Max

2021

Why buy it

✅+1.4% higher PassMark.
✅+50% larger total L3 cache (48 MB vs 32 MB).
✅Draws 28W instead of 65W, a 37W reduction.
✅Newer platform on none with DDR5 support instead of AM4 and DDR4.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with M1 Max GPU, while Ryzen 5 5600X needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 5 5600X across 49 shared CPU benchmark tests.

Ryzen 5 5600X

2020

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +7.6% higher average FPS across 49 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (24 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (21,845 vs 22,146).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (32 MB vs 48 MB).
❌Launch MSRP is still $299 MSRP, while M1 Max mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌132.1% higher power demand at 65W vs 28W.
❌Older platform position on AM4 with DDR4, while M1 Max moves to none and DDR5.

M1 Max

2021

Ryzen 5 5600X

2020

Why buy it

✅+1.4% higher PassMark.
✅+50% larger total L3 cache (48 MB vs 32 MB).
✅Draws 28W instead of 65W, a 37W reduction.
✅Newer platform on none with DDR5 support instead of AM4 and DDR4.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with M1 Max GPU, while Ryzen 5 5600X needs a discrete GPU.

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +7.6% higher average FPS across 49 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (24 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 5 5600X across 49 shared CPU benchmark tests.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (21,845 vs 22,146).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (32 MB vs 48 MB).
❌Launch MSRP is still $299 MSRP, while M1 Max mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌132.1% higher power demand at 65W vs 28W.
❌Older platform position on AM4 with DDR4, while M1 Max moves to none and DDR5.

Quick Answers

So, is M1 Max better than Ryzen 5 5600X?

It depends on what matters more to you. For gaming, Ryzen 5 5600X is ahead with a 7.6% average FPS lead across 49 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, M1 Max pulls ahead with 1.4% better PassMark. M1 Max also has the bigger cache pool with 50% larger total L3 cache (48 MB vs 32 MB).

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, M1 Max is the better fit. You are getting 1.4% better PassMark, backed by 10 cores and 10 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 50% larger total L3 cache (48 MB vs 32 MB).

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

M1 Max is still the faster CPU overall, but Ryzen 5 5600X makes more sense if price matters more than absolute performance. M1 Max is at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus $299 MSRP, and it gives you 1.4% better PassMark. The trade-off is that Ryzen 5 5600X is still the better pure gaming CPU with a 7.6% average FPS lead across 49 shared CPU game tests in our data. Ryzen 5 5600X is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (73.1 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), which is why it is easier to justify for price-conscious builds on paper. That said, if you already own a compatible AM4 + DDR4 setup, Ryzen 5 5600X can still make sense as a platform-matched option because it avoids a motherboard and RAM swap, but on MSRP alone you would want to find it meaningfully cheaper in real-world listings before that path becomes easy to justify.

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

M1 Max is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2021 vs 2020), a healthier platform with none and DDR5 instead of AM4, 50% larger total L3 cache (48 MB vs 32 MB), and more multi-core headroom with 10 cores / 10 threads instead of 6/12. That extra compute headroom should age better as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

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.

M1 Max Benchmark Check

Ryzen 5 5600X Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	M1 Max	Ryzen 5 5600X
1080p
low	183 FPS	203 FPS
medium	146 FPS	174 FPS
high	117 FPS	140 FPS
ultra	93 FPS	107 FPS
1440p
low	152 FPS	169 FPS
medium	118 FPS	141 FPS
high	91 FPS	113 FPS
ultra	73 FPS	86 FPS
4K
low	71 FPS	85 FPS
medium	59 FPS	76 FPS
high	46 FPS	60 FPS
ultra	37 FPS	47 FPS

Open M1 Max Open Ryzen 5 5600X

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	M1 Max	Ryzen 5 5600X
1080p
low	236 FPS	464 FPS
medium	211 FPS	387 FPS
high	172 FPS	324 FPS
ultra	137 FPS	291 FPS
1440p
low	200 FPS	397 FPS
medium	182 FPS	334 FPS
high	153 FPS	290 FPS
ultra	117 FPS	253 FPS
4K
low	122 FPS	263 FPS
medium	113 FPS	226 FPS
high	99 FPS	205 FPS
ultra	81 FPS	171 FPS

Open M1 Max Open Ryzen 5 5600X

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	M1 Max	Ryzen 5 5600X
1080p
low	554 FPS	546 FPS
medium	554 FPS	473 FPS
high	554 FPS	432 FPS
ultra	510 FPS	358 FPS
1440p
low	554 FPS	508 FPS
medium	473 FPS	413 FPS
high	415 FPS	375 FPS
ultra	364 FPS	312 FPS
4K
low	417 FPS	348 FPS
medium	323 FPS	292 FPS
high	274 FPS	255 FPS
ultra	221 FPS	199 FPS

Open M1 Max Open Ryzen 5 5600X

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	M1 Max	Ryzen 5 5600X
1080p
low	554 FPS	546 FPS
medium	554 FPS	546 FPS
high	554 FPS	546 FPS
ultra	554 FPS	546 FPS
1440p
low	554 FPS	546 FPS
medium	554 FPS	546 FPS
high	532 FPS	546 FPS
ultra	453 FPS	524 FPS
4K
low	509 FPS	529 FPS
medium	451 FPS	484 FPS
high	394 FPS	435 FPS
ultra	341 FPS	379 FPS

Open M1 Max Open Ryzen 5 5600X

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of M1 Max and Ryzen 5 5600X

M1 Max

The M1 Max is manufactured by Apple. It was released in 18 October 2021 (4 years ago). It features 10 cores and 10 threads. Base frequency is 2.06 GHz, with boost up to 3.22 GHz. L3 cache: 48 MB. L2 cache: 28 MB. Built on 5 nm process technology. Socket: none. Thermal design power (TDP): 28 MB + 48 MB. Memory support: LPDDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 22,146 points. Launch price was $299.

Ryzen 5 5600X

The Ryzen 5 5600X is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 5 November 2020 (5 years ago). It is based on the Vermeer (Zen 3) (2020−2022) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 3.7 GHz, with boost up to 4.6 GHz. L3 cache: 32 MB. L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 7 nm, 12 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 21,845 points. Launch price was $299.

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Processing Power

The M1 Max packs 10 cores / 10 threads, while the Ryzen 5 5600X offers 6 cores / 12 threads — the M1 Max has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.22 GHz on the M1 Max versus 4.6 GHz on the Ryzen 5 5600X — a 35.3% clock advantage for the Ryzen 5 5600X (base: 2.06 GHz vs 3.7 GHz). The Ryzen 5 5600X is built on the Vermeer (Zen 3) (2020−2022) architecture. In PassMark, the M1 Max scores 22,146 against the Ryzen 5 5600X's 21,845 — a 1.4% lead for the M1 Max. L3 cache: 48 MB on the M1 Max vs 32 MB on the Ryzen 5 5600X.

Feature	M1 Max	Ryzen 5 5600X
Cores / Threads	10 / 10+67%	6 / 12
Boost Clock	3.22 GHz	4.6 GHz+43%
Base Clock	2.06 GHz	3.7 GHz+80%
L3 Cache	48 MB+50%	32 MB
L2 Cache	28 MB+5500%	512K (per core)
Process	5 nm-29%	7 nm, 12 nm
Architecture	—	Vermeer (Zen 3) (2020−2022)
PassMark	22,146+1%	21,845

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Memory & Platform

The M1 Max uses the none socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Ryzen 5 5600X uses AM4 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches LPDDR5-6400 on the M1 Max versus DDR4-3200 on the Ryzen 5 5600X — the M1 Max supports 22.2% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Ryzen 5 5600X supports up to 128 GB of RAM compared to 64 GB — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 8 (M1 Max) vs 2 (Ryzen 5 5600X). PCIe lanes: 0 (M1 Max) vs 24 (Ryzen 5 5600X) — the Ryzen 5 5600X offers 24 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives.

Feature	M1 Max	Ryzen 5 5600X
Socket	none	AM4
PCIe Generation	PCIe 4.0	PCIe 4.0
Max RAM Speed	LPDDR5-6400+25%	DDR4-3200
Max RAM Capacity	64 GB	128 GB+100%
RAM Channels	8+300%	2
ECC Support	No	Yes
PCIe Lanes	0	24

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Advanced Features

Only the Ryzen 5 5600X has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Virtualization support: ARM-V (M1 Max) vs AMD-V (Ryzen 5 5600X). The M1 Max includes integrated graphics (M1 Max GPU), while the Ryzen 5 5600X requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: M1 Max targets Mobile Workstation, Ryzen 5 5600X targets Desktop.