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Head-to-head

Apple - M3 Max vs Intel - Core Ultra 7 265K

Last updated · How Mars Score works
M3 MaxAPPLERENDER
Probe A
Apple
M3 Max
50.0/ 100D
Cores46· 40%
Benchmarks54· 40%
Platform—· 20%
Core Ultra 7 265KINTELRENDER
Probe B
Intel
Core Ultra 7 265K
57.7/ 100D
Cores54· 40%
Benchmarks61· 40%
Platform—· 20%
Quick verdict

Between the M3 Max and Core Ultra 7 265K, the M3 Max comes out ahead in tdp and l3 cache, while the Core Ultra 7 265K wins on cinebench r23 (multi) and boost clock. Overall, the M3 Max scores 50 and the Core Ultra 7 265K scores 57.7 on our Mars Score.

Buying advice

Which should you buy?

The Core Ultra 7 265K edges ahead on the Mars Score (50 vs 57.7), but the 7.7-point gap is small enough that the right pick comes down to which spec advantages matter to you.

Pick the M3 Max if you care most about tdp and l3 cache. The biggest gaps in its favor are tdp, l3 cache.

Pick the Core Ultra 7 265K if you push the hardware — gaming, on-device AI, heavy multitasking — and the extra compute headroom is worth the trade-offs. Its strongest claims are cinebench r23 (multi), boost clock, cores.

There are no meaningful ties on the headline specs — every popular-comparison metric has a winner.

Bottom line: the Core Ultra 7 265K is the safer default. The other model is the right choice only when its specific advantages line up with your priorities.

Why Apple - M3 Max wins

  • ▲TDP — 65.00 W less. 60 vs 125.
  • ▲L3 cache — 6.67% more. 32 MB vs 30 MB.

Why Intel - Core Ultra 7 265K wins

  • ▲Cinebench R23 (multi) — 36.19% more. 36500 vs 26800.
  • ▲Boost clock — 35.80% more. 5.5 GHz vs 4.05 GHz.
  • ▲Cores — 25.00% more. 20 vs 16.
Full readout

Spec comparison

Cores

SpecApple - M3 MaxIntel - Core Ultra 7 265K
Coresⓘ1620lead
Threadsⓘ1620lead
Base clockⓘ0 GHz3.9 GHzlead
Boost clockⓘ4.05 GHz5.5 GHzlead
L3 cacheⓘ32 MBlead30 MB

Platform

SpecApple - M3 MaxIntel - Core Ultra 7 265K
SocketⓘSolderedLGA1851
TDPⓘ60 Wlead125 W
Integrated graphicsⓘtruetrue
DDR5ⓘtruetrue

Benchmarks

SpecApple - M3 MaxIntel - Core Ultra 7 265K
Cinebench R23 (multi)ⓘ2680036500lead
Cinebench R23 (single)ⓘ21002160lead
Drill down

Spec-level deep dives

Cores→Threads→Base clock→Boost clock→L3 cache→Socket→TDP→Integrated graphics→DDR5→Cinebench R23 (multi)→Cinebench R23 (single)→
By manufacturer

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