Apple M5 Max Outperforms Desktop M3 Ultra in Benchmarks
Apple’s latest M5 Max chip, featured in the newest generation of MacBook Pro, is demonstrating performance levels that surpass even the desktop-class M3 Ultra chip from the previous generation Mac Studio. Early benchmark results indicate a significant leap in Apple’s silicon design, challenging conventional wisdom about laptop versus desktop processor capabilities.
M5 Max Benchmarks: A New Record
Preliminary Geekbench results reveal the 18-core M5 Max achieving a multi-core CPU score of 29,233, exceeding the 27,726 score attained by the 32-core M3 Ultra chip in the Mac Studio [MacRumors]. This marks a notable achievement, as a laptop processor now outperforms a desktop counterpart with considerably more cores.
Performance Breakdown
The M5 Max’s performance extends beyond multi-core CPU tests. In single-core tests, the M5 Max scored 4,268, surpassing the Ryzen 9 9950X3D with a score of 3,395 [CPU-Monkey]. The M5 Max’s Metal graphics scores range from 218,772 to 232,718, slightly trailing the M3 Ultra’s average of 245,053 but significantly exceeding the M4 Max’s average of 191,600 [MacRumors].
Comparison with Competitors
The M5 Max’s multi-core score places it in second place among x86 contenders, ahead of AMD’s Ryzen Threadripper Pro 9975WX (27,895) and below the Ryzen Threadripper 9985WX (31,341) [HotHardware]. The chip is demonstrating up to 15% faster CPU performance and up to 20% faster GPU performance compared to the M4 Max [MacRumors].
Caveats and Considerations
It’s key to note that these results are preliminary and based on leaked Geekbench data [HotHardware]. While promising, Geekbench scores represent only one aspect of overall performance and should be considered alongside other benchmarks. The average rating of Apple M3 Ultra (32-CPU 80-GPU) is 4.9 stars (442 ratings), while Apple M5 Max (18-CPU 40-GPU) has received 0 stars (0 ratings) [CPU-Monkey].
Looking Ahead
The M5 Max’s performance suggests Apple continues to make significant strides in its in-house chip design. As more comprehensive benchmark data becomes available, a clearer picture of the M5 Max’s capabilities will emerge, potentially reshaping the landscape of laptop and desktop processor performance.