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AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 9965X3D vs Apple M2 Ultra: Comparison
AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 9965X3D vs Apple M2 Ultra: the total cores difference
These two are close on paper, and total cores is the only measure that separates them at all: AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 9965X3D 16 against Apple M2 Ultra 24. There is a split on release year as well, 2026 on the AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 9965X3D versus 2023 on the Apple M2 Ultra. Microarchitecture is not the same on both, Zen 5 on the AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 9965X3D versus Apple Silicon, Second Generation on the Apple M2 Ultra. They differ on smt enabled too, Yes on the AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 9965X3D versus No on the Apple M2 Ultra.
Which should you buy, AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 9965X3D or Apple M2 Ultra?
The AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 9965X3D is the one to take for high-refresh-rate gaming and flagship gaming builds, though it is not built for budget builds and non-gaming workstation loads. it is not the pick for anyone needing a portable chip, this is desktop-only silicon. It is equally the pick for Mac Studio or Mac Pro buyers running the most demanding local video, 3D, or scientific computing workloads that can use 24 CPU cores. Avoid it for buyers wanting Mac Pro-style PCIe GPU or storage expansion, Apple Silicon Mac Pros have no discrete GPU option. Our rating of the AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 9965X3D (9.2/10): the AMD Ryzen PRO 9 9965X3D is one of the best gaming CPUs available, its huge L3 cache translating directly into higher in-game frame rates.
Where the two are identical
The common ground is wider than the gap: performance cores, integrated graphics, form factor and market segment are identical here.
Frequently asked questions
Do the AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 9965X3D and Apple M2 Ultra differ on efficiency cores?
Yes. Efficiency Cores reads 0 on the AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 9965X3D versus 8 on the Apple M2 Ultra.
Specs and benchmarks
Form Factor
- AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 9965X3D
- Desktop
- Apple M2 Ultra
- Desktop
Release Year
- AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 9965X3D
- 2026
- Apple M2 Ultra
- 2023
TDP
- AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 9965X3D
- 170 W
- Apple M2 Ultra
- 60 W
Market Segment
- AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 9965X3D
- Desktop
- Apple M2 Ultra
- Desktop
Microarchitecture
- AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 9965X3D
- Zen 5 (9000 series)
- Apple M2 Ultra
- Apple Silicon, Second Generation
Process Node
- AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 9965X3D
- TSMC 4nm FinFET
- Apple M2 Ultra
- 5 nm
Total Cores
- AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 9965X3D
- 16
- Apple M2 Ultra
- 24Best
Performance Cores
- AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 9965X3D
- 16
- Apple M2 Ultra
- 16
Efficiency Cores
- AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 9965X3D
- 0
- Apple M2 Ultra
- 8Best
Total Threads
- AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 9965X3D
- 32Best
- Apple M2 Ultra
- 24
SMT Enabled
- AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 9965X3D
- Yes
- Apple M2 Ultra
- No
P-Core Base Clock
- AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 9965X3D
- 4.3 GHz
- Apple M2 Ultra
- 2.42 GHz
P-Core Boost Clock
- AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 9965X3D
- 5.5 GHz
- Apple M2 Ultra
- 3.49 GHz
Base Power
- AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 9965X3D
- 170 W
- Apple M2 Ultra
- 60 W
Memory Type
- AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 9965X3D
- DDR5
- Apple M2 Ultra
- LPDDR5X
Integrated Graphics
- AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 9965X3D
- Yes
- Apple M2 Ultra
- Yes
Which one should you pick?
Choose 9965X3D if you already have it on hand or find it at a lower price.
Choose M2 Ultra if you already have it on hand or find it at a lower price.
Verdict
AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 9965X3D
9.2 / 10 Expert Rating
The AMD Ryzen PRO 9 9965X3D is one of the best gaming CPUs available, its huge L3 cache translating directly into higher in-game frame rates.