MS All Models Mac Studio M3 Ultra vs RTX 5090 PugetBench

[ArtRev]

Performance tests for the Mac Studio M3 Ultra have appeared on PugetBench. I personally use DaVinci Resolve and can say that the tests are quite reliable, although for my needs, there are too many Fusion-related functions and too few tests with various codecs. However, the results are interesting, especially when compared to the prices of Windows systems based on the RTX 5080 and RTX 5090. As for the power consumption of these systems, let’s just draw a veil of silence over it.



The results are as follows (sorted by performance):

1. Basic Test:

• RTX 5090 - 16956

• M3 Ultra - 15001

• RTX 5080 - 14023

• M2 Ultra - 13349

2. Standard Test:

• RTX 5090 - 16427

• M3 Ultra - 13767

• RTX 5080 - 13049

• M2 Ultra - 12592



Prices of the respective systems with 256GB RAM and 4TB SSD:

• Mac Studio M3 Ultra - $8,099

• PugetSystems RTX 5080 - $10,655

• PugetSystems RTX 5090 - $11,978



Looking at these numbers, one could say that at least in this area, NVIDIA’s latest offerings seem to have lost their competitive edge—especially considering performance-per-dollar and energy efficiency.

 

[tlnargi]

So would you say the cost is justified?

 

[datagov63]

Thanks for that benchmark site. I found the Photoshop comparison between the M2 Max Studio and the M4 Max MacBook Pro to be about 35%, which for me isn't enough to justify upgrading.

 

[ArtRev]

So would you say the cost is justified?

For me, yes. I’m currently working on a Mac Studio M2 Ultra, and I also have a 2019 Mac Pro with two RX 6900 XT GPUs. The performance of the M2 Ultra is similar to the Mac Pro—sometimes faster, sometimes slower—but overall I prefer working on the M2 Ultra because the system feels more responsive and the AI features in DaVinci Resolve work better. I’ll probably test the M3 Ultra, and if it can handle real-time playback in projects that sometimes struggle now, I’ll keep it. I’m not sure whether to wait for the Mac Pro M4 Ultra—at this point, its release seems more like a vague promise than a reality, and I want to set up another workstation in my post-production studio.

 

[tlnargi]

For me, yes. I’m currently working on a Mac Studio M2 Ultra, and I also have a 2019 Mac Pro with two RX 6900 XT GPUs. The performance of the M2 Ultra is similar to the Mac Pro—sometimes faster, sometimes slower—but overall I prefer working on the M2 Ultra because the system feels more responsive and the AI features in DaVinci Resolve work better. I’ll probably test the M3 Ultra, and if it can handle real-time playback in projects that sometimes struggle now, I’ll keep it. I’m not sure whether to wait for the Mac Pro M4 Ultra—at this point, its release seems more like a vague promise than a reality, and I want to set up another workstation in my post-production studio.

My use case is the same as yours. What specs did you or will you get?

 

[ArtRev]

My use case is the same as yours. What specs did you or will you get?

M3 Ultra 32/80/256GB/2TB

 

[vladi]

Are you willing to share the fusion comps? Just do copy/paste here

OK I just went to their website to check out what it does. Fusion comps are superbasic and they will not tap out RAM nor stress GPU at all. If you are into NLE and encoding than you don't even need 5090 GPU. You need good CPU and superfast storage. Unless you work with RED and other GPU intensive video formats which I doubt.

You have to keep in mind that Resolve is a frankestein of an app, GPU utilization is all over the place and some code has never been updated to be precise. So testing GPU in Resolve, Premiere hack even AE is not the best idea because utilization is sparse. Resolve didn't have any GPU instructions and Fusion was in OpenCL infancy when BMD acquired them. GPU across the board was slapped afterwards like band aid and some Fusion tools to date never got precise GPU instructions. It's way too convoluted to explain in one post.

Also, Pugetsystems builds are overpriced. Their Core Ultra build with 196 RAM totals to $7,450 which is ridiculous. You could do that yourself for sub $5,000 without even hunting for deals on components.

 

[ArtRev]

Are you willing to share the fusion comps? Just do copy/paste here

I can't - copyright and stuff like that... and I don't know for what purpose?
If you want to know my workflow and the source and output files I create, I can describe it to you... but maybe it's better in priv.

 

[waloshin]

Pudget System 5090? What is the processor ect? I am sure the pusher system could be built yourself for half what they are asking…

 

[ArtRev]

Pudget System 5090? What is the processor ect? I am sure the pusher system could be built yourself for half what they are asking…

These are more or less the main components without the GPU:

Platform Puget Workstation T120-XL - Threadripper TRX50 Full Tower
Motherboard - ASUS Pro WS TRX50-SAGE WIFI-SI (AMD TRX50 CEB)
This motherboard does not support Thunderbolt; if you need that see our other Resolve systems instead
CPU - AMD Ryzen Threadripper 7970X 4.0GHz (Up To 5.3GHz Turbo) 32 Core
RAM - 256GB DDR5-5600 REG ECC (4x64GB)

Case - Fractal Design Debne 7 XL (black)
Power Supply - Super Flower Leadex Titanium 1600W (80 PLUS Titanium)
CPU Cooling - Asetek 360mm AIO CPU Liquid Cooler