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.

M2 Max

2023

Why buy it

✅+50% larger total L3 cache (48 MB vs 32 MB).
✅Draws 36W instead of 65W, a 29W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 5 7600 across 31 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (26,824 vs 27,013).
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Ryzen 5 7600.

Ryzen 5 7600

2023

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +11.2% higher average FPS across 31 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (28 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike M2 Max.

Trade-offs

❌Smaller total L3 cache (32 MB vs 48 MB).
❌Launch MSRP is still $229 MSRP, while M2 Max mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌80.6% higher power demand at 65W vs 36W.

M2 Max

2023

Ryzen 5 7600

2023

Why buy it

✅+50% larger total L3 cache (48 MB vs 32 MB).
✅Draws 36W instead of 65W, a 29W reduction.

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +11.2% higher average FPS across 31 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (28 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike M2 Max.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 5 7600 across 31 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (26,824 vs 27,013).
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Ryzen 5 7600.

Trade-offs

❌Smaller total L3 cache (32 MB vs 48 MB).
❌Launch MSRP is still $229 MSRP, while M2 Max mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌80.6% higher power demand at 65W vs 36W.

Quick Answers

So, is Ryzen 5 7600 better than M2 Max?

Yes. Ryzen 5 7600 is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 11.2% average FPS lead across 31 shared CPU game tests in our data, 0.7% better PassMark, and the stronger long-term platform, which makes it the stronger all-around choice.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Ryzen 5 7600 is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 11.2% more average FPS across 31 shared CPU game tests.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Ryzen 5 7600 is the better fit. You are getting 0.7% better PassMark, backed by 6 cores and 12 threads.

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

Ryzen 5 7600 is the smarter buy today. Ryzen 5 7600 is at an unclear MSRP at $229 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it gives you a 11.2% average FPS lead across 31 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (118.0 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), so the better CPU is not just faster, it is also the cleaner value play on paper. That said, if you already own a compatible none + DDR5 setup, M2 Max can still make sense as a platform-matched option because it avoids a motherboard and RAM swap.

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

Ryzen 5 7600 is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting more multi-core headroom with 6 cores / 12 threads instead of 12/12. 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.

M2 Max Benchmark Check

Ryzen 5 7600 Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	M2 Max	Ryzen 5 7600
1080p
low	189 FPS	261 FPS
medium	152 FPS	238 FPS
high	124 FPS	203 FPS
ultra	98 FPS	175 FPS
1440p
low	155 FPS	225 FPS
medium	121 FPS	187 FPS
high	94 FPS	152 FPS
ultra	76 FPS	134 FPS
4K
low	71 FPS	157 FPS
medium	59 FPS	131 FPS
high	46 FPS	101 FPS
ultra	38 FPS	88 FPS

Open M2 Max Open Ryzen 5 7600

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	M2 Max	Ryzen 5 7600
1080p
low	505 FPS	588 FPS
medium	437 FPS	486 FPS
high	342 FPS	408 FPS
ultra	279 FPS	366 FPS
1440p
low	429 FPS	504 FPS
medium	379 FPS	432 FPS
high	306 FPS	368 FPS
ultra	240 FPS	318 FPS
4K
low	266 FPS	318 FPS
medium	239 FPS	277 FPS
high	210 FPS	258 FPS
ultra	173 FPS	225 FPS

Open M2 Max Open Ryzen 5 7600

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	M2 Max	Ryzen 5 7600
1080p
low	671 FPS	675 FPS
medium	670 FPS	657 FPS
high	625 FPS	575 FPS
ultra	552 FPS	488 FPS
1440p
low	605 FPS	675 FPS
medium	483 FPS	559 FPS
high	444 FPS	483 FPS
ultra	388 FPS	412 FPS
4K
low	423 FPS	471 FPS
medium	329 FPS	396 FPS
high	292 FPS	345 FPS
ultra	234 FPS	284 FPS

Open M2 Max Open Ryzen 5 7600

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	M2 Max	Ryzen 5 7600
1080p
low	671 FPS	675 FPS
medium	671 FPS	675 FPS
high	671 FPS	675 FPS
ultra	668 FPS	675 FPS
1440p
low	671 FPS	675 FPS
medium	663 FPS	675 FPS
high	569 FPS	666 FPS
ultra	489 FPS	573 FPS
4K
low	545 FPS	567 FPS
medium	486 FPS	504 FPS
high	427 FPS	454 FPS
ultra	368 FPS	392 FPS

Open M2 Max Open Ryzen 5 7600

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of M2 Max and Ryzen 5 7600

M2 Max

The M2 Max is manufactured by Apple. It was released in 17 January 2023 (2 years ago). It features 12 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 2.424 GHz, with boost up to 3.7 GHz. L3 cache: 48 MB. L2 cache: 36 MB. Built on 5 nm process technology. Socket: none. Thermal design power (TDP): 36 MB + 48 MB. Memory support: LPDDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 26,824 points. Launch price was $299.

Ryzen 5 7600

The Ryzen 5 7600 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 14 January 2023 (2 years ago). It is based on the Raphael (Zen4) (2022−2023) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 3.8 GHz, with boost up to 5.1 GHz. L3 cache: 32 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 5 nm process technology. Socket: AM5. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR5-5200. Passmark benchmark score: 27,013 points. Launch price was $229.

⚡

Processing Power

The M2 Max packs 12 cores / 12 threads, while the Ryzen 5 7600 offers 6 cores / 12 threads — the M2 Max has 6 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.7 GHz on the M2 Max versus 5.1 GHz on the Ryzen 5 7600 — a 31.8% clock advantage for the Ryzen 5 7600 (base: 2.424 GHz vs 3.8 GHz). The Ryzen 5 7600 is built on the Raphael (Zen4) (2022−2023) architecture. In PassMark, the M2 Max scores 26,824 against the Ryzen 5 7600's 27,013 — a 0.7% lead for the Ryzen 5 7600. L3 cache: 48 MB on the M2 Max vs 32 MB (total) on the Ryzen 5 7600.

Feature	M2 Max	Ryzen 5 7600
Cores / Threads	12 / 12+100%	6 / 12
Boost Clock	3.7 GHz	5.1 GHz+38%
Base Clock	2.424 GHz	3.8 GHz+57%
L3 Cache	48 MB+50%	32 MB (total)
L2 Cache	36 MB+3500%	1 MB (per core)
Process	5 nm	5 nm
Architecture	—	Raphael (Zen4) (2022−2023)
PassMark	26,824	27,013
Cinebench R23 Multi	—	14,500
Geekbench 6 Single	—	2,800
Geekbench 6 Multi	—	12,000

🧠

Memory & Platform

The M2 Max uses the none socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Ryzen 5 7600 uses AM5 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to LPDDR5-6400 memory speed. The Ryzen 5 7600 supports up to 128 GB of RAM compared to 96 GB — 28.6% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 4 (M2 Max) vs 2 (Ryzen 5 7600). PCIe lanes: 0 (M2 Max) vs 28 (Ryzen 5 7600) — the Ryzen 5 7600 offers 28 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives.

Feature	M2 Max	Ryzen 5 7600
Socket	none	AM5
PCIe Generation	PCIe 4.0	PCIe 5.0+25%
Max RAM Speed	LPDDR5-6400	DDR5-5200
Max RAM Capacity	96 GB	128 GB+33%
RAM Channels	4+100%	2
ECC Support	No	Yes
PCIe Lanes	0	28

🔧

Advanced Features

Only the Ryzen 5 7600 has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Only the Ryzen 5 7600 supports AVX-512 instructions — important for machine learning and scientific applications. Virtualization support: Virtualization (M2 Max) vs AMD-V (Ryzen 5 7600). Both include integrated graphics — Apple M2 Max GPU (M2 Max) and Radeon Graphics (2-core) (Ryzen 5 7600) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: M2 Max targets Mobile, Ryzen 5 7600 targets Gaming. Direct competitor: Ryzen 5 7600 rivals Core i5-13400.

Feature	M2 Max	Ryzen 5 7600
Integrated GPU	Yes	Yes
IGPU Model	Apple M2 Max GPU	Radeon Graphics (2-core)
Unlocked	No	Yes
AVX-512	No	Yes
Virtualization	Virtualization	AMD-V
Target Use	Mobile	Gaming