i5-2500K vs Apple M3 Max 16-Core

VS

Aggregate performance score

Apple M3 Max 16-Core
2023
16 cores / 16 threads, 78 Watt
25.85
+894%
Core i5-2500K
2011
4 cores / 4 threads, 95 Watt
2.60

Apple M3 Max 16-Core outperforms Core i5-2500K by a whopping 894% based on our aggregate benchmark results.

Primary details

Comparing Apple M3 Max 16-Core and Core i5-2500K processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in the ranking1941734
Place by popularitynot in top-100not in top-100
Cost-effectiveness evaluationno data0.39
Market segmentLaptopDesktop processor
SeriesApple M3Core i5 (Desktop)
Power efficiency31.362.59
Architecture codenameno dataSandy Bridge (2011−2013)
Release date30 October 2023 (1 year ago)9 January 2011 (13 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)no data$216

Cost-effectiveness evaluation

Performance per price, higher is better.

no data

Detailed specifications

Apple M3 Max 16-Core and Core i5-2500K basic parameters such as number of cores, number of threads, base frequency and turbo boost clock, lithography, cache size and multiplier lock state. These parameters indirectly say of CPU speed, though for more precise assessment you have to consider their test results.

Physical cores16 (Hexadeca-Core)4 (Quad-Core)
Threads164
Base clock speed2.748 GHz3.3 GHz
Boost clock speed4.06 GHz3.7 GHz
Bus rateno data5 GT/s
L1 cacheno data64 KB (per core)
L2 cacheno data256K (per core)
L3 cacheno data6 MB (shared)
Chip lithography3 nm32 nm
Die sizeno data216 mm2
Maximum core temperatureno data73 °C
Number of transistors92000 Million1,160 million
64 bit support++
Windows 11 compatibilityno data-
Unlocked multiplier-+

Compatibility

Information on Apple M3 Max 16-Core and Core i5-2500K compatibility with other computer components: motherboard (look for socket type), power supply unit (look for power consumption) etc. Useful when planning a future computer configuration or upgrading an existing one. Note that power consumption of some processors can well exceed their nominal TDP, even without overclocking. Some can even double their declared thermals given that the motherboard allows to tune the CPU power parameters.

Number of CPUs in a configurationno data1
Socketno dataLGA1155
Power consumption (TDP)78 Watt95 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Apple M3 Max 16-Core and Core i5-2500K. You'll probably need this information if you require some particular technology.

Instruction set extensionsno dataIntel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX
AES-NI-+
AVX-+
Enhanced SpeedStep (EIST)no data+
Turbo Boost Technologyno data2.0
Hyper-Threading Technologyno data-
Idle Statesno data+
Thermal Monitoring-+
Flex Memory Accessno data+
FDIno data+
Fast Memory Accessno data+

Security technologies

Apple M3 Max 16-Core and Core i5-2500K technologies aimed at improving security, for example, by protecting against hacks.

TXTno data-
EDBno data+
Identity Protection-+

Virtualization technologies

Virtual machine speed-up technologies supported by Apple M3 Max 16-Core and Core i5-2500K are enumerated here.

VT-dno data-
VT-xno data+
EPTno data+

Memory specs

Types, maximum amount and channel quantity of RAM supported by Apple M3 Max 16-Core and Core i5-2500K. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory typesno dataDDR3
Maximum memory sizeno data32 GB
Max memory channelsno data2
Maximum memory bandwidthno data21 GB/s

Graphics specifications

General parameters of integrated GPUs, if any.

Integrated graphics card
Compare
Apple M3 Max 40-Core GPUIntel HD Graphics 3000
Quick Sync Video-+
Clear Video HDno data+
Graphics max frequencyno data1.1 GHz
InTru 3Dno data+

Graphics interfaces

Available interfaces and connections of Apple M3 Max 16-Core and Core i5-2500K integrated GPUs.

Number of displays supportedno data2

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Apple M3 Max 16-Core and Core i5-2500K.

PCIe versionno data2.0
PCI Express lanesno data16

Synthetic benchmark performance

Various benchmark results of the processors in comparison. Overall score is measured in points in 0-100 range, higher is better.


Combined synthetic benchmark score

This is our combined benchmark performance rating. We are regularly improving our combining algorithms, but if you find some perceived inconsistencies, feel free to speak up in comments section, we usually fix problems quickly.

Apple M3 Max 16-Core 25.85
+894%
i5-2500K 2.60

Passmark

Passmark CPU Mark is a widespread benchmark, consisting of 8 different types of workload, including integer and floating point math, extended instructions, compression, encryption and physics calculation. There is also one separate single-threaded scenario measuring single-core performance.

Apple M3 Max 16-Core 41060
+896%
i5-2500K 4123

Cinebench 15 64-bit multi-core

Cinebench Release 15 Multi Core is a variant of Cinebench R15 which uses all the processor threads.

Apple M3 Max 16-Core 3264
+594%
i5-2500K 470

Cinebench 15 64-bit single-core

Cinebench R15 (standing for Release 15) is a benchmark made by Maxon, authors of Cinema 4D. It was superseded by later versions of Cinebench, which use more modern variants of Cinema 4D engine. The Single Core version (sometimes called Single-Thread) only uses a single processor thread to render a room full of reflective spheres and light sources.

Apple M3 Max 16-Core 271
+122%
i5-2500K 122

Gaming performance

Pros & cons summary


Performance score 25.85 2.60
Recency 30 October 2023 9 January 2011
Physical cores 16 4
Threads 16 4
Chip lithography 3 nm 32 nm
Power consumption (TDP) 78 Watt 95 Watt

Apple M3 Max 16-Core has a 894.2% higher aggregate performance score, an age advantage of 12 years, 300% more physical cores and 300% more threads, a 966.7% more advanced lithography process, and 21.8% lower power consumption.

The Apple M3 Max 16-Core is our recommended choice as it beats the Core i5-2500K in performance tests.

Be aware that Apple M3 Max 16-Core is a notebook processor while Core i5-2500K is a desktop one.


Should you still have questions on choice between Apple M3 Max 16-Core and Core i5-2500K, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

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Apple M3 Max 16-Core
M3 Max 16-Core
Intel Core i5-2500K
Core i5-2500K

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Community ratings

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Questions & comments

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