Apple M4 Max
16C CPU · 40C GPU · 16-core Neural Engine
Core i7-14700KF
20C/28T · 5.6 GHz · 125 W · PassMark #238
Apple M4 Max takes it — here’s why.
In our weighted Specdex score, Apple M4 Max lands at 97 and Core i7-14700KF at 29. That puts Apple M4 Max ahead by 68 points — a decisive margin driven mostly by its strengths in the categories below.
Pick Apple M4 Max if…
- ✓Industry-best perf-per-watt
- ✓128 GB unified memory option
- ✓Hardware ray-tracing
Pick Core i7-14700KF if…
- ✓PassMark CPU Mark of 52,087 — solid multi-thread numbers
- ✓Current PassMark-tracked street price around $359
Winner by scenario
Derived from the sub-score breakdown · not a separate testValue for money
TieSpecdex score per dollar at MSRP
Effectively tied — similar score-per-dollar at MSRP.
Score breakdown
Specs side-by-side
| Spec | Apple M4 Max | Core i7-14700KF |
|---|---|---|
| Cores | 16 (12P+4E) | ▲ 20 (8P + 12E) |
| Threads | 16 | ▲ 28 |
| Memory bandwidth | 546 GB/s | — |
| Neural engine | 16-core, 38 TOPS | — |
| Process | TSMC N3E | — |
| Max memory | 128 GB unified | — |
| Base clock | — | 3.4 GHz (P) / 2.5 GHz (E) |
| Boost clock | — | 5.6 GHz |
| L3 cache | — | 33 MB |
| TDP | — | 125 W base / 253 W max |
| Socket | — | LGA 1700 |
| Class | — | Desktop (no integrated graphics) |
| PassMark rank | — | #238 of 5,901 |
| PassMark CPU Mark | — | 52,087 |
Apple M4 Max
- +Industry-best perf-per-watt
- +128 GB unified memory option
- +Hardware ray-tracing
- −Apple ecosystem lock-in
- −Not user-replaceable
- −Limited Windows gaming
Core i7-14700KF
- +PassMark CPU Mark of 52,087 — solid multi-thread numbers
- +Current PassMark-tracked street price around $359
- −Requires recent-generation motherboard and DDR5 memory
- −Newer-generation parts pull ahead in current rankings
FAQ: Apple M4 Max vs Core i7-14700KF
Which is better, Apple M4 Max or Core i7-14700KF? +
Apple M4 Max scores 97 on our weighted rubric — ahead by 68. Your best pick depends on the sub-scores above.
Is Apple M4 Max worth the price? +
At $1,299, Apple M4 Max delivers a Specdex score of 97 — strongest in efficiency.
Is Core i7-14700KF worth the price? +
At $359, Core i7-14700KF delivers a Specdex score of 29 — strongest in passmark.
Does Apple M4 Max or Core i7-14700KF last longer? +
Based on our long-term update and support ratings, both ship with multi-year support. Battery and reliability scores are visible in the breakdown above.