Apple M5 Max (40-core GPU)
vs
Apple M5 (8-core GPU)

vs

CPU Comparison Result

Below are the results of a comparison of Apple M5 Max (40-core GPU) and Apple M5 (8-core GPU) processors based on key performance characteristics, as well as power consumption and much more.

Advantages

Basic

Apple
Label Name
Apple
March 2026
Launch Date
March 2026
Laptop
Platform
Laptop
Apple custom ARM architecture
CPU Architecture
Apple custom ARM architecture
Apple M5 Max
CPU Name
Apple M5
Apple M5 Max 40-Core GPU
Model Name
?
The Intel processor number is just one of several factors - along with processor brand, system configurations, and system-level benchmarks - to be considered when choosing the right processor for your computing needs.
Apple M5 8-Core GPU
TSMC N3P
Foundry
TSMC N3P
M5 Max
Generation
M5

CPU Specifications

Apple Fusion Architecture
Interconnect Technology
-
12
Performance Cores
-
4.38 GHz
Performance-core Multi-Core Max Frequency
-
6
Prime Cores
-
4.61 GHz
Prime-core Multi-Core Max Frequency
-
18
Total Cores
?
Cores is a hardware term that describes the number of independent central processing units in a single computing component (die or chip).
10
18
Total Threads
?
Where applicable, Intel® Hyper-Threading Technology is only available on Performance-cores.
10
-
Performance-cores
4
-
Efficient-cores
6
4.61 GHz
Max Turbo Frequency
?
Max Turbo Frequency is the maximum single-core frequency at which the processor is capable of operating using Intel® Turbo Boost Technology and, if present, Intel® Turbo Boost Max Technology 3.0 and Intel® Thermal Velocity Boost. Frequency is typically measured in gigahertz (GHz), or billion cycles per second.
4.61 GHz
-
Efficient-core Max Turbo Frequency
?
Maximum E-core turbo frequency derived from Intel® Turbo Boost Technology.
3.05 GHz
-
Performance-core Max Turbo Frequency
?
Maximum P-core turbo frequency derived from Intel® Turbo Boost Technology.
4.61 GHz
Third-generation 3 nm
Technology
?
Lithography refers to the semiconductor technology used to manufacture an integrated circuit, and is reported in nanometer (nm), indicative of the size of features built on the semiconductor.
Third-generation 3 nm

Memory Specifications

LPDDR5X unified memory
Memory Type
?
Intel® processors come in four different types: Single Channel, Dual Channel, Triple Channel, and Flex Mode. Maximum supported memory speed may be lower when populating multiple DIMMs per channel on products that support multiple memory channels.
LPDDR5X unified memory
128 GB
Max Memory Size
?
Max memory size refers to the maximum memory capacity supported by the processor.
32 GB
614 GB/s
Max Memory Bandwidth
?
Max Memory bandwidth is the maximum rate at which data can be read from or stored into a semiconductor memory by the processor (in GB/s).
153 GB/s
9600 MT/s
Maximum Memory Speed
9600 MT/s

GPU Specifications

Thunderbolt / DisplayPort 2.1 over USB-C; HDMI
External Display Standard
Thunderbolt / DisplayPort 1.4 over USB-C
Apple M5 Max 40-core GPU
GPU Name
Apple M5 8-core GPU
Supported
Hardware-accelerated ray tracing
Supported
Up to four external displays: four displays up to 6K at 60Hz or 4K at 144Hz; or two displays up to 8K at 60Hz, 5K at 120Hz or 4K at 240Hz
Max External Display Resolution
Up to two external displays: two 6K at 60Hz or 4K at 144Hz; or one 8K at 60Hz, 5K at 120Hz or 4K at 240Hz
H.264, HEVC, ProRes, ProRes RAW, AV1; hardware-accelerated; frame rate not disclosed
Video Decode
H.264, HEVC, ProRes, ProRes RAW, AV1; hardware-accelerated; frame rate not disclosed
H.264, HEVC, ProRes, ProRes RAW; hardware-accelerated; frame rate not disclosed
Video Encode
H.264, HEVC, ProRes, ProRes RAW; hardware-accelerated; frame rate not disclosed
40
Graphics Core Count
8
Up to 8K at 60Hz or 4K at 240Hz
Max Resolution
Up to 8K at 60Hz or 4K at 240Hz
Metal
GPU APIs
Metal
Hardware-accelerated H.264, HEVC, ProRes and ProRes RAW; AV1 decode
Media Engine
Hardware-accelerated H.264, HEVC, ProRes and ProRes RAW; AV1 decode
1
Video Decode Engines
1
2
Video Encode Engines
1
2
ProRes Encode/Decode Engines
1

AI Specifications

Apple Neural Engine with Neural Accelerators in GPU cores
AI Engine
Apple Neural Engine with Neural Accelerators in GPU cores
16
Neural Engine Core Count
16
16-core Neural Engine
NPU Name
16-core Neural Engine

Connectivity

Supported
Bluetooth Support
Supported
6
Bluetooth Version
6
Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be)
Wi-Fi Standard
Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be)
Apple N1 wireless networking chip
Wireless System
-

Interfaces and Ports

Thunderbolt 5
Thunderbolt Support
Thunderbolt 4
USB 4 up to 120Gb/s
USB Version
USB 4 up to 40Gb/s
Supported
USB4 Support
Supported

Miscellaneous

Memory Integrity Enforcement
Runtime Anti-Exploitation
-

Benchmarks

Cinebench R23 Single Core
Apple M5 Max (40-core GPU)
2532
Apple M5 (8-core GPU)
2603 +3%
Cinebench R23 Multi Core
Apple M5 Max (40-core GPU)
32197 +98%
Apple M5 (8-core GPU)
16230
Geekbench 6 Single Core
Apple M5 Max (40-core GPU)
4281 +2%
Apple M5 (8-core GPU)
4185
Geekbench 6 Multi Core
Apple M5 Max (40-core GPU)
29226 +71%
Apple M5 (8-core GPU)
17072
Passmark CPU Single Core
Apple M5 Max (40-core GPU)
5947 +3%
Apple M5 (8-core GPU)
5749
Passmark CPU Multi Core
Apple M5 Max (40-core GPU)
57701 +114%
Apple M5 (8-core GPU)
26996
Cinebench 2024 Single Core
Apple M5 Max (40-core GPU)
201 +1%
Apple M5 (8-core GPU)
200
Cinebench 2024 Multi Core
Apple M5 Max (40-core GPU)
2255 +136%
Apple M5 (8-core GPU)
957
Cinebench 2024 GPU
Apple M5 Max (40-core GPU)
22575 +317%
Apple M5 (8-core GPU)
5415
Blender
Apple M5 Max (40-core GPU)
149
Apple M5 (8-core GPU)
359 +141%