M1 Max vs Core Ultra 5 135H

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

💎 Value Proposition

Insight	M1 Max	Core Ultra 5 135H
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.

M1 Max Benchmark Check

Core Ultra 5 135H Benchmark Check

Technical Specifications

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

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.

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.

⚡

Processing Power

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

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

🧠

Memory & Platform

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

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

🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization: ARM-V (M1 Max) / not specified (Core Ultra 5 135H). 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.