Where they actually differ
The most decisive specs, ranked by how much they matter — before the full spec table.
| Spec | Apple - M3 Max | Intel - Core i5-14600K |
|---|---|---|
| TDP | 60 W | 125 W |
| L3 cache | 32 MB | 24 MB |
| Boost clock | 4.05 GHz | 5.3 GHz |
| Cores | 16 | 14 |
| Cinebench R23 (multi) | 26800 | 24300 |
Between the M3 Max and Core i5-14600K, the M3 Max comes out ahead in tdp / l3 cache, while the Core i5-14600K wins on boost clock. Overall, the M3 Max scores 50 and the Core i5-14600K scores 52.1 on our Mars Score.
Which should you buy?
These two are nearly even on the Mars Score (50 vs 52.1). The decision is not about overall quality — both clear the bar — it is about which specific trade-offs fit your use.
Pick the M3 Max if you care most about tdp / l3 cache. The biggest gaps in its favor are tdp, l3 cache, cores, among others. The single most decisive one: TDP — 65.00 W less. 60 vs 125.
Pick the Core i5-14600K if you care most about boost clock. Its strongest claims are boost clock. The single most decisive one: Boost clock — 30.86% more. 5.3 GHz vs 4.05 GHz.
There are no meaningful ties on the headline specs — every popular-comparison metric has a winner.
Bottom line: there is no wrong answer here — match the spec advantages to how you actually use the product. The Mars Score parity says both are well-rounded; the differences are about trade-offs, not quality.
Which should you buy: Apple - M3 Max or Intel - Core i5-14600K?
Intel - Core i5-14600K leads the current Mars Score by 2.1 points.The more useful decision is the trade-off behind that result: compare cores, boost clock, tdp against the way you will actually use the product.
Choose Apple - M3 Max if…
Apple - M3 Max has the measurable edge on tdp w, cache l3 mb, core count.
Choose Intel - Core i5-14600K if…
Intel - Core i5-14600K has the measurable edge on boost clock ghz.
This is a structured comparison of the published catalog values. It is not a claim of identical real-world performance across every workload; use the linked spec drill-downs and methodology page to inspect the inputs.
Why Apple - M3 Max wins
- ▲TDP — 65.00 W less. 60 vs 125.
- ▲L3 cache — 33.33% more. 32 MB vs 24 MB.
- ▲Cores — 14.29% more. 16 vs 14.
- ▲Cinebench R23 (multi) — 10.29% more. 26800 vs 24300.
Why Intel - Core i5-14600K wins
- ▲Boost clock — 30.86% more. 5.3 GHz vs 4.05 GHz.
Spec comparison
Cores
| Spec | Apple - M3 Max | Intel - Core i5-14600K |
|---|---|---|
| Coresⓘ | 16lead | 14 |
| Threadsⓘ | 16 | 20lead |
| Base clockⓘ | 0 GHz | 3.5 GHzlead |
| Boost clockⓘ | 4.05 GHz | 5.3 GHzlead |
| L3 cacheⓘ | 32 MBlead | 24 MB |
Platform
| Spec | Apple - M3 Max | Intel - Core i5-14600K |
|---|---|---|
| Socketⓘ | Soldered | LGA1700 |
| TDPⓘ | 60 Wlead | 125 W |
| Integrated graphicsⓘ | true | true |
| DDR5ⓘ | true | true |
Benchmarks
| Spec | Apple - M3 Max | Intel - Core i5-14600K |
|---|---|---|
| Cinebench R23 (multi)ⓘ | 26800lead | 24300 |
| Cinebench R23 (single)ⓘ | 2100lead | 2030 |