Between the M4 Max and Core i7-14700K, the M4 Max comes out ahead in tdp, while the Core i7-14700K wins on cores and boost clock. Overall, the M4 Max scores 52.3 and the Core i7-14700K scores 57.8 on our Mars Score.
Which should you buy?
The Core i7-14700K edges ahead on the Mars Score (52.3 vs 57.8), but the 5.5-point gap is small enough that the right pick comes down to which spec advantages matter to you.
Pick the M4 Max 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, boost clock, cinebench r23 (multi), 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 - M4 Max wins
- ▲TDP — 70.00 W less. 55 vs 125.
Why Intel - Core i7-14700K wins
- ▲Cores — 25.00% more. 20 vs 16.
- ▲Boost clock — 24.44% more. 5.6 GHz vs 4.5 GHz.
- ▲Cinebench R23 (multi) — 18.12% more. 35200 vs 29800.
- ▲L3 cache — 3.13% more. 33 MB vs 32 MB.
Spec comparison
Cores
| Spec | Apple - M4 Max | Intel - Core i7-14700K |
|---|---|---|
| Coresⓘ | 16 | 20lead |
| Threadsⓘ | 16 | 28lead |
| Base clockⓘ | 0 GHz | 3.4 GHzlead |
| Boost clockⓘ | 4.5 GHz | 5.6 GHzlead |
| L3 cacheⓘ | 32 MB | 33 MBlead |
Platform
| Spec | Apple - M4 Max | Intel - Core i7-14700K |
|---|---|---|
| Socketⓘ | Soldered | LGA1700 |
| TDPⓘ | 55 Wlead | 125 W |
| Integrated graphicsⓘ | true | true |
| DDR5ⓘ | true | true |
Benchmarks
| Spec | Apple - M4 Max | Intel - Core i7-14700K |
|---|---|---|
| Cinebench R23 (multi)ⓘ | 29800 | 35200lead |
| Cinebench R23 (single)ⓘ | 2280lead | 2120 |
Frequently asked
Spec-level deep dives
More from the same brands
vsMars is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you. Learn more.