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

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

💎 Value Proposition

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

M4 Max (14 cores) Benchmark Check

Core Ultra 5 245HX Benchmark Check

Technical Specifications

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

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.

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.

⚡

Processing Power

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

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

🧠

Memory & Platform

The M4 Max (14 cores) uses the none socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Core Ultra 5 245HX uses FCBGA2114 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches 8533 on the M4 Max (14 cores) versus 6400 on the Core Ultra 5 245HX — 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: 0 (M4 Max (14 cores)) vs 2 (Core Ultra 5 245HX). PCIe lanes: 0 (M4 Max (14 cores)) vs 24 (Core Ultra 5 245HX) — the Core Ultra 5 245HX offers 24 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: Apple M4 (M4 Max (14 cores)) and Arrow Lake-HX (Core Ultra 5 245HX).

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

🔧

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 (macOS) (M4 Max (14 cores)) vs VT-x, VT-d (Core Ultra 5 245HX). Both include integrated graphics — Apple M4 Max GPU (32-core) (M4 Max (14 cores)) and Intel Arc Xe-LPG Graphics (Core Ultra 5 245HX) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Direct competitor: M4 Max (14 cores) rivals Ryzen AI Max PRO 390; Core Ultra 5 245HX rivals Ryzen 7 8845HS.