Apple M5 Max
16C CPU · 40C GPU · 570 GB/s
Core Ultra 9 285K
Arrow Lake · 24C · 5.7 GHz · LGA1851
Apple M5 Max takes it — here’s why.
In our weighted Specdex score, Apple M5 Max lands at 98 and Core Ultra 9 285K at 89. That puts Apple M5 Max ahead by 9 points — a decisive margin driven mostly by its strengths in the categories below.
Pick Apple M5 Max if…
- ✓Leads the industry in perf-per-watt
- ✓128 GB unified memory option
- ✓Best-in-class ML acceleration
Pick Core Ultra 9 285K if…
- ✓Far more efficient than 14900K
- ✓Strong multi-thread productivity
- ✓New LGA1851 platform with DDR5-6400
Winner by scenario
Derived from the sub-score breakdown · not a separate testGaming
Apple M5 MaxFrame-rate-bound workloads — favours cache and single-thread speed
Apple M5 Max leads on single (99 vs 92).
Creators & productivity
Apple M5 MaxRendering, compilation, heavy multitasking — favours core count
Apple M5 Max leads on multi (98 vs 94).
Power efficiency
Apple M5 MaxPerformance per watt — thermals, PSU headroom, electricity cost
Apple M5 Max leads on efficiency (100 vs 90).
Value for money
Core Ultra 9 285KSpecdex score per dollar at MSRP
Core Ultra 9 285K more score per dollar ($589 vs $3,499).
Score breakdown
Specs side-by-side
| Spec | Apple M5 Max | Core Ultra 9 285K |
|---|---|---|
| Cores | 16 (12P+4E) | ▲ 24 (8P + 16E) |
| GPU cores | 40 | — |
| Memory bandwidth | 570 GB/s | — |
| Neural engine | 16-core, 60 TOPS | — |
| Threads | — | 24 |
| Base clock | — | 3.7 GHz |
| Boost clock | — | 5.7 GHz |
| L3 cache | — | 36 MB |
| TDP | — | 125 W (PL1) / 250 W (PL2) |
| Socket | — | LGA1851 |
| Process | — | TSMC N3B |
| iGPU | — | Intel Graphics (Xe-LPG, 4 Xe cores @ 2.0 GHz) |
| NPU | — | 13 TOPS |
| Memory | — | DDR5-6400 |
Apple M5 Max
- +Leads the industry in perf-per-watt
- +128 GB unified memory option
- +Best-in-class ML acceleration
- −Macs only, no DIY
- −Expensive
- −Gaming library still limited
Core Ultra 9 285K
- +Far more efficient than 14900K
- +Strong multi-thread productivity
- +New LGA1851 platform with DDR5-6400
- −Gaming regresses vs 14900K in some titles
- −No hyper-threading (24 threads from 24 cores)
- −13 TOPS NPU is modest
FAQ: Apple M5 Max vs Core Ultra 9 285K
Which is better, Apple M5 Max or Core Ultra 9 285K? +
Apple M5 Max scores 98 on our weighted rubric — ahead by 9. Your best pick depends on the sub-scores above.
Is Apple M5 Max worth the price? +
At $3,499, Apple M5 Max delivers a Specdex score of 98 — strongest in efficiency.
Is Core Ultra 9 285K worth the price? +
At $589, Core Ultra 9 285K delivers a Specdex score of 89 — strongest in multi.
Does Apple M5 Max or Core Ultra 9 285K 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.
Which is better for gaming, Apple M5 Max or Core Ultra 9 285K? +
Apple M5 Max — leads on single (99 vs 92). Frame-rate-bound workloads — favours cache and single-thread speed.
Which is better for creator and productivity work, Apple M5 Max or Core Ultra 9 285K? +
Apple M5 Max — leads on multi (98 vs 94). Rendering, compilation, heavy multitasking — favours core count.