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Apple - M4 Max (16-core) vs Intel - Core i9-14900K

Last updated · How Mars Score works
M4 Max (16-core)APPLERENDER
Probe A
Apple
M4 Max (16-core)
50.7/ 100D
Cores48· 40%
Benchmarks54· 40%
Platform—· 20%
Core i9-14900KINTELRENDER
Probe B
Intel
Core i9-14900K
61.1/ 100C
Cores59· 40%
Benchmarks63· 40%
Platform—· 20%
Quick verdict

Between the M4 Max (16-core) and Core i9-14900K, the M4 Max (16-core) comes out ahead in tdp, while the Core i9-14900K wins on cores and cinebench r23 (multi). Overall, the M4 Max (16-core) scores 50.7 and the Core i9-14900K scores 61.1 on our Mars Score.

Buying advice

Which should you buy?

The Core i9-14900K is the clear pick on raw spec strength, leading by 10.4 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 M4 Max (16-core) if you care most about tdp. The biggest gaps in its favor are tdp.

Pick the Core i9-14900K 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), boost clock, among others.

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

Bottom line: the Core i9-14900K is the safer default. The other model is the right choice only when its specific advantages line up with your priorities.

Why Apple - M4 Max (16-core) wins

  • ▲TDP — 80.00 W less. 45 vs 125.

Why Intel - Core i9-14900K wins

  • ▲Cores — 71.43% more. 24 vs 14.
  • ▲Cinebench R23 (multi) — 52.45% more. 40400 vs 26500.
  • ▲Boost clock — 33.33% more. 6.0 GHz vs 4.5 GHz.
  • ▲L3 cache — 28.57% more. 36 MB vs 28 MB.
Full readout

Spec comparison

Cores

SpecApple - M4 Max (16-core)Intel - Core i9-14900K
Coresⓘ1424lead
Threadsⓘ1432lead
Base clockⓘ0 GHz3.2 GHzlead
Boost clockⓘ4.5 GHz6.0 GHzlead
L3 cacheⓘ28 MB36 MBlead

Platform

SpecApple - M4 Max (16-core)Intel - Core i9-14900K
SocketⓘSolderedLGA1700
TDPⓘ45 Wlead125 W
Integrated graphicsⓘtruetrue
DDR5ⓘtruetrue

Benchmarks

SpecApple - M4 Max (16-core)Intel - Core i9-14900K
Cinebench R23 (multi)ⓘ2650040400lead
Cinebench R23 (single)ⓘ22752310lead
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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Intel →4

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