Core Ultra 5 135H vs M1 Max

PassMark CPU Mark evaluates processor speed through complex mathematical computations. It provides a reliable metric to compare multi-core performance, where higher scores indicate faster processing for multitasking, gaming, and heavy workloads.

Value Upgrade Path

This is the official ChipVERSUS Value Rating, comparing raw performance (PassMark) per dollar. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money.

MSRP is the manufacturer's suggested retail price.•
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.

Performance Per Dollar Core Ultra 5 135H

#73

Core i9-13950HX

MSRP: $590|Avg: $199

107%

#82

Core i7-11700B

MSRP: $323|Avg: $311

103%

#83

Core i7-13700HX

MSRP: $485|Avg: N/A

103%

#86

Ryzen AI 9 HX PRO 370

MSRP: $500|Avg: $500

102%

#87

Core Ultra 5 135H

MSRP: N/A|Avg: N/A

100%

#96

Ryzen AI Max PRO 380

MSRP: $400|Avg: $400

95%

#97

Core Ultra 5 226V

MSRP: $300|Avg: $300

95%

#101

Core i5-1350P

MSRP: $320|Avg: $250

91%

#102

Core i3-1220P

MSRP: $250|Avg: $150

90%

Based on actual market prices and performance synthetic scores.

Performance Per Dollar M1 Max

#184

Core Ultra 7 266V

MSRP: $520|Avg: $520

134%

#185

Ryzen 7 5825C

MSRP: $400|Avg: $400

132%

#187

Core Ultra 9 288V

MSRP: $600|Avg: $600

122%

#188

Core i7-10870H

MSRP: $417|Avg: N/A

122%

#199

M1 Max

MSRP: N/A|Avg: N/A

100%

Based on actual market prices and performance synthetic scores.

Performance Comparison

About PassMark

🏆 Chipversus Verdict

🚀 Performance Leadership

Performance Trade-off: The Core Ultra 5 135H leads in gaming performance. However, the M1 Max is the stronger candidate for professional workloads, offering 0.1% greater multi-core processing power.

Insight	Core Ultra 5 135H	M1 Max
Gaming	✅ Superior gaming performance	❌ Lower gaming performance
Workstation	❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks	✅ Better multi-core power
Price	Equivalent pricing	Equivalent pricing
Longevity	✨ Modern (Meteor Lake-H (2023) / 7 nm)	✨ Modern (Legacy / 5 nm)

💎 Value Proposition

Insight	Core Ultra 5 135H	M1 Max
Cost Efficiency	❌ Lower cost efficiency	❌ Lower cost efficiency
Upfront Cost	Equivalent pricing	Equivalent pricing

Performance Check

Paired with RTX 4090

To accurately isolate CPU performance, all benchmarks below use an NVIDIA RTX 4090 as the reference GPU. This eliminates GPU-side bottlenecks and highlights pure processing throughput differences between the CPUs.

Note: Real-world results may vary based on your actual GPU. CPU performance impact is more visible in processing-intensive titles and high-refresh-rate gaming scenarios.

Core Ultra 5 135H Benchmark Check

M1 Max Benchmark Check

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core Ultra 5 135H and M1 Max

Core Ultra 5 135H

The Core Ultra 5 135H is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 14 December 2023 (1 year ago). It is based on the Meteor Lake-H (2023) architecture. It features 14 cores and 18 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 4.6 GHz. L3 cache: 18 MB (total). L2 cache: 2 MB (per core). Built on 7 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA2049. Thermal design power (TDP): + 18 MB. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 22,116 points. Launch price was $342.

M1 Max

The M1 Max is manufactured by Apple. It was released in 18 October 2021 (4 years ago). It features 10 cores and 10 threads. Base frequency is 2.06 GHz, with boost up to 3.22 GHz. L3 cache: 48 MB. L2 cache: 28 MB. Built on 5 nm process technology. Socket: none. Thermal design power (TDP): 28 MB + 48 MB. Memory support: LPDDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 22,146 points. Launch price was $299.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core Ultra 5 135H packs 14 cores / 18 threads, while the M1 Max offers 10 cores / 10 threads — the Core Ultra 5 135H has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.6 GHz on the Core Ultra 5 135H versus 3.22 GHz on the M1 Max — a 35.3% clock advantage for the Core Ultra 5 135H (base: 3.6 GHz vs 2.06 GHz). The Core Ultra 5 135H is built on the Meteor Lake-H (2023) architecture. In PassMark, the Core Ultra 5 135H scores 22,116 against the M1 Max's 22,146 — a 0.1% lead for the M1 Max. L3 cache: 18 MB (total) on the Core Ultra 5 135H vs 48 MB on the M1 Max.

Feature	Core Ultra 5 135H	M1 Max
Cores / Threads	14 / 18+40%	10 / 10
Boost Clock	4.6 GHz+43%	3.22 GHz
Base Clock	3.6 GHz+75%	2.06 GHz
L3 Cache	18 MB (total)	48 MB+167%
L2 Cache	2 MB (per core)	28 MB+1300%
Process	7 nm	5 nm-29%
Architecture	Meteor Lake-H (2023)	—
PassMark	22,116	22,146

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core Ultra 5 135H uses the FCBGA2049 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the M1 Max uses none (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

Feature	Core Ultra 5 135H	M1 Max
Socket	FCBGA2049	none
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0+25%	PCIe 4.0
Max RAM Speed	—	LPDDR5-6400
Max RAM Capacity	—	64 GB
RAM Channels	—	8
ECC Support	—	❌
PCIe Lanes	—	0

🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization: not specified (Core Ultra 5 135H) / ARM-V (M1 Max). The M1 Max includes integrated graphics (M1 Max GPU), while the Core Ultra 5 135H requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: M1 Max targets Mobile Workstation.