Between the M3 and Core i7-14700K, the M3 comes out ahead in tdp, while the Core i7-14700K wins on cores and cinebench r23 (multi). Overall, the M3 scores 43.6 and the Core i7-14700K scores 57.8 on our Mars Score.
Which should you buy?
The Core i7-14700K is the clear pick on raw spec strength, leading by 14.2 points on the Mars Score. The margin is wide enough that the underdog only makes sense if its individual strengths line up with what you specifically need.
Pick the M3 if you care most about tdp. The biggest gaps in its favor are tdp.
Pick the Core i7-14700K 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 cores, cinebench r23 (multi), l3 cache, among others.
There are no meaningful ties on the headline specs — every popular-comparison metric has a winner.
Bottom line: the Core i7-14700K is the safer default. The other model is the right choice only when its specific advantages line up with your priorities.
Why Apple - M3 wins
- ▲TDP — 103.00 W less. 22 vs 125.
Why Intel - Core i7-14700K wins
- ▲Cores — 150.00% more. 20 vs 8.
- ▲Cinebench R23 (multi) — 144.44% more. 35200 vs 14400.
- ▲L3 cache — 106.25% more. 33 MB vs 16 MB.
- ▲Boost clock — 38.27% more. 5.6 GHz vs 4.05 GHz.
Spec comparison
Cores
| Spec | Apple - M3 | Intel - Core i7-14700K |
|---|---|---|
| Coresⓘ | 8 | 20lead |
| Threadsⓘ | 8 | 28lead |
| Base clockⓘ | 0 GHz | 3.4 GHzlead |
| Boost clockⓘ | 4.05 GHz | 5.6 GHzlead |
| L3 cacheⓘ | 16 MB | 33 MBlead |
Platform
| Spec | Apple - M3 | Intel - Core i7-14700K |
|---|---|---|
| Socketⓘ | Soldered | LGA1700 |
| TDPⓘ | 22 Wlead | 125 W |
| Integrated graphicsⓘ | true | true |
| DDR5ⓘ | true | true |
Benchmarks
| Spec | Apple - M3 | Intel - Core i7-14700K |
|---|---|---|
| Cinebench R23 (multi)ⓘ | 14400 | 35200lead |
| Cinebench R23 (single)ⓘ | 1950 | 2120lead |
Frequently asked
Spec-level deep dives
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