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AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 9965X3D vs Apple M3 Ultra: Comparison
AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 9965X3D vs Apple M3 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 M3 Ultra 32. There is a split on socket as well, AM5 on the AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 9965X3D versus Soldered on the Apple M3 Ultra. They differ on release year too, 2026 on the AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 9965X3D versus 2025 on the Apple M3 Ultra. There is a split on microarchitecture as well, Zen 5 on the AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 9965X3D versus Apple Silicon, Third Generation on the Apple M3 Ultra.
Who each one is for
Buy the AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 9965X3D for high-refresh-rate gaming and flagship gaming builds, though it is not the pick for budget builds and non-gaming workstation loads. it is not built for anyone needing a portable chip, this is desktop-only silicon. It is equally the pick for Mac Studio buyers running the most demanding local AI, video, or 3D workloads that can use 32 CPU cores. It is the wrong buy for typical everyday or light creative use, where the cost premium isn't justified. 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.
What AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 9965X3D and Apple M3 Ultra have in common
Everything else lines up. Total threads, integrated graphics, form factor and market segment read the same on both, so those are not worth weighing.
Frequently asked questions
Do the AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 9965X3D and Apple M3 Ultra differ on performance cores?
Yes. Performance Cores reads 16 on the AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 9965X3D versus 24 on the Apple M3 Ultra.
Specs and benchmarks
Form Factor
- AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 9965X3D
- Desktop
- Apple M3 Ultra
- Desktop
Release Year
- AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 9965X3D
- 2026
- Apple M3 Ultra
- 2025
TDP
- AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 9965X3D
- 170 W
- Apple M3 Ultra
- 80 W
Market Segment
- AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 9965X3D
- Desktop
- Apple M3 Ultra
- Desktop
Microarchitecture
- AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 9965X3D
- Zen 5 (9000 series)
- Apple M3 Ultra
- Apple Silicon, Third Generation
Socket
- AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 9965X3D
- AM5
- Apple M3 Ultra
- Soldered
Process Node
- AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 9965X3D
- TSMC 4nm FinFET
- Apple M3 Ultra
- 3 nm
Total Cores
- AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 9965X3D
- 16
- Apple M3 Ultra
- 32Best
Performance Cores
- AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 9965X3D
- 16
- Apple M3 Ultra
- 24Best
Efficiency Cores
- AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 9965X3D
- 0
- Apple M3 Ultra
- 8Best
Total Threads
- AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 9965X3D
- 32
- Apple M3 Ultra
- 32
SMT Enabled
- AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 9965X3D
- Yes
- Apple M3 Ultra
- No
P-Core Base Clock
- AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 9965X3D
- 4.3 GHz
- Apple M3 Ultra
- 2.75 GHz
P-Core Boost Clock
- AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 9965X3D
- 5.5 GHz
- Apple M3 Ultra
- 4.05 GHz
Base Power
- AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 9965X3D
- 170 W
- Apple M3 Ultra
- 80 W
Memory Type
- AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 9965X3D
- DDR5
- Apple M3 Ultra
- On-Package LPDDR5X
Integrated Graphics
- AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 9965X3D
- Yes
- Apple M3 Ultra
- Yes
Which one should you pick?
Choose 9965X3D if you already have it on hand or find it at a lower price.
Choose M3 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.