Core Ultra 5 245HX vs M4 Max (14 cores)

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 245HX

#6

Core Ultra 5 245HX

MSRP: N/A|Avg: N/A

100%

#10

Ryzen 7 260

MSRP: $199|Avg: $70

90%

#13

Ryzen 3 210

MSRP: $99|Avg: $99

84%

#14

Ryzen 5 PRO 230

MSRP: $150|Avg: $150

83%

#15

Ryzen 5 220

MSRP: $150|Avg: $150

79%

#18

Ryzen 5 8500G

MSRP: $179|Avg: $150

76%

Based on actual market prices and performance synthetic scores.

Performance Per Dollar M4 Max (14 cores)

#188

Core i7-10870H

MSRP: $417|Avg: N/A

131%

#203

M4 Max (14 cores)

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 Leadership: The Core Ultra 5 245HX delivers superior performance across the board. It outperforms the M4 Max (14 cores) in both compute-intensive tasks (2.7% faster) and gaming workloads.

Insight	Core Ultra 5 245HX	M4 Max (14 cores)
Gaming	✅ Superior gaming performance	❌ Lower gaming performance
Workstation	✅ Better multi-core power	❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks
Price	Equivalent pricing	Equivalent pricing
Longevity	✨ Modern (Arrow Lake-HX (2025) / 3 nm)	✨ Modern (Legacy / 3 nm)

💎 Value Proposition

Insight	Core Ultra 5 245HX	M4 Max (14 cores)
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 245HX Benchmark Check

M4 Max (14 cores) Benchmark Check

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core Ultra 5 245HX and M4 Max (14 cores)

Core Ultra 5 245HX

The Core Ultra 5 245HX is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 13 January 2025 (less than a year ago). It is based on the Arrow Lake-HX (2025) architecture. It features 14 cores and 14 threads. Base frequency is 3.1 GHz, with boost up to 5.1 GHz. L3 cache: 24 MB (total). L2 cache: 3 MB (per core). Built on 3 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA2114. Thermal design power (TDP): 55 Watt. Memory support: DDR5-6400. Passmark benchmark score: 39,605 points. Launch price was $499.

M4 Max (14 cores)

The M4 Max (14 cores) is manufactured by Apple. It was released in 30 November 2024 (1 year ago). It features 14 cores and 14 threads. Base frequency is 2.59 GHz, with boost up to 4.51 GHz. Built on 3 nm process technology. Socket: none. Thermal design power (TDP): 4 MB. Memory support: LPDDR5X. Passmark benchmark score: 38,558 points. Launch price was $499.

⚡

Processing Power

Both the Core Ultra 5 245HX and M4 Max (14 cores) share an identical 14-core/14-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 5.1 GHz on the Core Ultra 5 245HX versus 4.51 GHz on the M4 Max (14 cores) — a 12.3% clock advantage for the Core Ultra 5 245HX (base: 3.1 GHz vs 2.59 GHz). The Core Ultra 5 245HX is built on the Arrow Lake-HX (2025) architecture. In PassMark, the Core Ultra 5 245HX scores 39,605 against the M4 Max (14 cores)'s 38,558 — a 2.7% lead for the Core Ultra 5 245HX.

Feature	Core Ultra 5 245HX	M4 Max (14 cores)
Cores / Threads	14 / 14	14 / 14
Boost Clock	5.1 GHz+13%	4.51 GHz
Base Clock	3.1 GHz+20%	2.59 GHz
L3 Cache	24 MB (total)	—
L2 Cache	3 MB (per core)	—
Process	3 nm	3 nm
Architecture	Arrow Lake-HX (2025)	—
PassMark	39,605+3%	38,558

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core Ultra 5 245HX uses the FCBGA2114 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the M4 Max (14 cores) uses none (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches 6400 on the Core Ultra 5 245HX versus 8533 on the M4 Max (14 cores) — the M4 Max (14 cores) supports 28.6% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Core Ultra 5 245HX supports up to 256 of RAM compared to 128 — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 2 (Core Ultra 5 245HX) vs 0 (M4 Max (14 cores)). PCIe lanes: 24 (Core Ultra 5 245HX) vs 0 (M4 Max (14 cores)) — the Core Ultra 5 245HX offers 24 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: Arrow Lake-HX (Core Ultra 5 245HX) and Apple M4 (M4 Max (14 cores)).

Feature	Core Ultra 5 245HX	M4 Max (14 cores)
Socket	FCBGA2114	none
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0+25%	PCIe 4.0
Max RAM Speed	6400	8533+33%
Max RAM Capacity	256+100%	128
RAM Channels	2	0
ECC Support	✅	❌
PCIe Lanes	24	0

🔧

Advanced Features

Only the Core Ultra 5 245HX has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d (Core Ultra 5 245HX) vs VT-x, VT-d (macOS) (M4 Max (14 cores)). Both include integrated graphics — Intel Arc Xe-LPG Graphics (Core Ultra 5 245HX) and Apple M4 Max GPU (32-core) (M4 Max (14 cores)) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Direct competitor: Core Ultra 5 245HX rivals Ryzen 7 8845HS; M4 Max (14 cores) rivals Ryzen AI Max PRO 390.