M3 Ultra vs x86: Apple's chip outperforms AMD and Intel flagships by 30%

Recent Cinebench 2024 benchmarks have shaken up the tech world: Apple's flagship M3 Ultra chip has demonstrated unprecedented dominance over top-tier AMD and Intel processors. Scoring 3,000 points in multi-threaded mode, the 32-core processor outperformed the Ryzen 9 9950X by 25% and the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K by 30%, marking a radical leap in ARM architecture evolution.

The M3 Ultra, introduced in the updated Mac Studio, combines 32 CPU cores and 80 GPU cores while consuming less than 500W. This puts the chip in a unique position: it surpasses consumer-grade x86 solutions while avoiding competition with server-class processors, offering a balanced solution for professional workloads. The key advantage lies not only in core density but also in memory optimization — up to 512 GB of unified RAM, enabling smooth handling of AI models and 8K rendering.

Experts note that a direct comparison between the M3 Ultra and x86 processors is technically inaccurate due to architectural differences. However, the benchmarks have revealed an intriguing trend — the ARM chip demonstrates exceptional efficiency in tasks where AMD and Intel have traditionally dominated. For example, in GFXBench, the M3 Ultra’s GPU outperformed the RTX 5070 Ti by 20%, nearly matching the RTX 5080.

For now, the M3 Ultra is exclusively available in the 2025 Mac Studio, starting at $3,999 (approximately 346,000 rubles). That’s twice the price of a PC with a Ryzen 9 9950X, but analysts point out that Apple is positioning the system as a tool for studios where power efficiency and compact design are critical.