Apple M5 Max (18-core) vs Intel Core i9-13980HX
92Single-core70.4
96.6Multi-core69.6
93.3Efficiencyspec-based28.9
—iGPU40.2
61.9Platformspec-based75.4
5 spec wins — Apple M5 Max (18-core)6 spec wins — Intel Core i9-13980HX
InnoReviews verdict
Apple M5 Max (18-core) wins this laptop processor face-off, 89 to 61.6, pulling ahead mainly in multi-core (+27) and single-core (+22). Intel Core i9-13980HX still makes sense if its price or standout specs fit your needs better.
Which would you pick?
Key differences
Reasons to pick the Apple M5 Max (18-core)
- Stronger single-core score: 92 vs 70
- Stronger multi-core score: 97 vs 70
- 75% higher Geekbench 6 (multi): 29,256 vs 16,700
- 70% lower process: 3 nm vs 10 nm
- 54% higher Geekbench 6 (single): 4,322 vs 2,810
Reasons to pick the Intel Core i9-13980HX
- 78% higher threads: 32 vs 18
- 50% higher L3 cache: 36 MB vs 24 MB
- 33% higher cores: 24 vs 18
- 33% higher Performance cores: 8 vs 6
- 33% higher Efficiency cores: 16 vs 12
General
| Spec | Apple M5 Max (18-core) | Intel Core i9-13980HX |
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2026 | 2023 |
| Process | 3 nm+70% | 10 nm |
| Base TDP | — | 55 W |
| Max TDP | — | 157 W |
Cores & Clocks
| Spec | Apple M5 Max (18-core) | Intel Core i9-13980HX |
|---|---|---|
| Cores | 18 | 24+33% |
| Performance cores | 6 | 8+33% |
| Efficiency cores | 12 | 16+33% |
| Threads | 18 | 32+78% |
| Base clock | — | 2.2 GHz |
| Boost clock | 4.6 GHz | 5.6 GHz+22% |
| L3 cache | 24 MB | 36 MB+50% |
Integrated GPU
| Spec | Apple M5 Max (18-core) | Intel Core i9-13980HX |
|---|---|---|
| iGPU | Apple 40-core GPU | Intel UHD Graphics |
| iGPU clock | — | 1,650 MHz |
Memory
| Spec | Apple M5 Max (18-core) | Intel Core i9-13980HX |
|---|---|---|
| Memory support | LPDDR5X-9600 | DDR5-5600 / DDR4-3200 |
| Max memory | 128 GB | 128 GB |
Benchmarks
| Spec | Apple M5 Max (18-core) | Intel Core i9-13980HX |
|---|---|---|
| Geekbench 6 (single) | 4,322+54%Top 3% | 2,810Top 31% |
| Geekbench 6 (multi) | 29,256+75%Top 2% | 16,700Top 20% |
| Cinebench R23 (single) | — | 2,120Top 13% |
| Cinebench R23 (multi) | — | 28,900Top 9% |
| PassMark | 57,677+27%Top 2% | 45,279Top 9% |
| 3DMark Time Spy Graphics (iGPU) | — | 744Bottom 27% |
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