AMD Ryzen 9 8945HS vs Apple M3 Max: Which is the best CPU?

Best laptop CPU
Which is superior — AMD Ryzen 9 8945HS or Apple M3 Max (Image via Ubuy/AMD, Apple)

The AMD Ryzen 9 8945HS vs Apple M3 Max presents a fascinating comparison. They are two of the most powerful laptop processors available now. However, they are vastly different from each other. The former can be found in a variety of high-end gaming laptops and productivity machines, while the latter only belongs to MacBooks.

It can be very confusing to select between devices with either of these chips, as they are both fantastic options. This guide will compare both CPUs to help you in making an informed decision.

Note: This article is subjective and reflects the author's opinions.


AMD Ryzen 9 8945HS vs Apple M3 Max: Specifications

AMD Ryzen 9 8945HS vs Apple M3 Max: Which is a better processor for laptops (Image via AMD)
AMD Ryzen 9 8945HS vs Apple M3 Max: Which is a better processor for laptops (Image via AMD)

Both processors are remarkably different from each other. They use completely distinct architectures, instruction sets, and core designs. The AMD chip is based on Zen 4 architecture and uses an x86-64 instruction set with a traditional design having eight cores and sixteen threads. On the other hand, the M-series chip is an ARMv8-based chip with a hybrid core design having 12P + 4E cores and 12 threads.

Here are the other details:

Specifications

AMD Ryzen 9 8945HS

Apple M3 Max

Instruction set

x86-64

ARMv8

Architecture

Zen 4 (Hawk Point)

Apple M3

iGPU

Radeon 780M

Apple M3 Max GPU (38-core)

Cores

8

12P + 4E

Threads

16

12

Base frequency

4.0GHz

4.05GHz

Turbo frequency

5.2GHz

NA

L2+L3 cache

17MB

32MB

Fabrication process

4nm

3nm

TDP

35-54W (configurable)

40W

Memory support

DDR5-5600 and LPDDR5x-7500

LPDDR5-6400

PCIe version

4.0

4.0

The Apple chip has more cache memory and an efficient process node, while the Ryzen chip has a turbo clock speed of 5.2GHz, which means you will get a temporary performance boost when encountering a heavy workload.

The CPU from Team Red has a configurable TDP ranging from 35W to 54W, while its counterpart has a fixed TDP of 40W. On average, the latter is more energy efficient.


AMD Ryzen 9 8945HS vs Apple M3 Max: Performance comparison

M-series chip manufacturing (Image via Apple)
M-series chip manufacturing (Image via Apple)

The previous section focused on theory, which is only good for having a general overview. To get more insight into the AMD Ryzen 9 8945HS vs Apple M3 Max comparison, it is important to check the real-life performance of these chips. To do so, I have collected the synthetic test results of both CPUs from the NanoReview website.

Tests

AMD Ryzen 9 8945HS

Apple M3 Max

Cinebench R23 (Single-Core)

1790 (+8%)

1933

Cinebench R23 (Multi-Core)

16956 (+41%)

23858

Geekbench 6 (Single-Core)

2616 (+23%)

3227

Geekbench 6 (Multi-Core)

13316 (+59%)

21167

The Apple M3 Max outperforms its counterpart in every test with significant margins, especially in the multi-core tests. In the Geekbench 6 multi-core test, it has delivered 59% better performance, which is a pretty huge improvement over the competitor. So, it can be concluded that this M-series chip is better for general performance.


Gaming performance

A direct gaming comparison between both chips cannot be done, as both run on different OS, come with different hardware, and are based on a different architecture. Therefore, we will rely on the iGPU flops to understand their prowess.


AMD Ryzen 9 8945HS

Apple M3 Max

iGPU FLOPS

4.14 TFLOPS

16.4 TFLOPS (+296%)

The AMD Ryzen process is not even near to its Apple equivalent in GPU power. However, that’s just theoretical performance. To understand more, I have sourced the gaming test number of two laptops having these processors. Here are their details:

Specs

ROG Zephyrus G14 (2024)

MacBook Pro 16

CPU

AMD Ryzen 9 8945HS

Apple M3 Max

GPU

RTX 4050 Mobile

Apple M3 Max GPU (40-core)

RAM

16GB

18GB

Based on the NanoReview data, the ASUS device scored 45 out of 100 in gaming, while its counterpart got 51. That means the M3 Max is superior in terms of raw gaming prowess. However, if paired with a powerful GPU, the AMD chip can outperform its competitor.


AMD Ryzen 9 8945HS vs Apple M3 Max: Final verdict

Based on the above analysis, it is evident that the M-series processor is a better CPU for laptops. However, other factors can influence your decision-making.

You will find the M3 Max chip only on Macs, which are very decent devices overall. But can’t be categorized as gaming machines. They are good for casual and productivity tasks, thanks to their efficient battery life and optimized software.

On the other hand, the Ryzen chip can be found in multiple laptops. And if combined with top-notch hardware, it can overpower the Apple device in gaming. Moreover, these devices are generally more affordable.

Ultimately, the final winner of the AMD Ryzen 9 8945HS vs Apple M3 Max battle depends on your needs and preferences.


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Edited by Abhipsito Das
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