M5 Max 18-Core CPU Achieves 10% Performance Increase Over M4 Max in Recent Benchmark Leak, Surpassing 32-Core M3 Ultra

Apple’s latest Fusion Architecture has paved the way for an impressive increase in core count for the new M5 Max chip, showcasing a remarkable configuration that includes six super cores and twelve performance cores. This setup is designed to significantly enhance multi-core performance. However, recent leaks from benchmark tests reveal that the M5 Max exhibits only a marginal improvement over its predecessor, the M4 Max. Despite this underwhelming news, there’s a notable achievement: the M5 Max has outperformed the workstation-class M3 Ultra in similar comparisons, marking a significant milestone for Apple’s processing technology.

M5 Max Outscores M3 Ultra: A Closer Look at Performance

In Geekbench 6 benchmarking, we witnessed a trio of performance tests highlighting the M5 Max’s capabilities. The results indicate that the 16-core M4 Max trails slightly behind the M5 Max but still holds its own. This small difference in performance may lead potential buyers to rethink upgrading to the latest Macs if they anticipate groundbreaking changes.

However, the performance comparison against the M3 Ultra tells a different story. The M5 Max showcases a stunning 31.4 percent increase in single-core performance, attributed largely to its improved clock speeds. Surprisingly, the M5 Max’s multi-core capabilities outshine those of the M3 Ultra, despite the M5 Max’s smaller 18-core structure vs.the M3 Ultra’s 32-cores. This positions the M5 Max as Apple’s most powerful multi-core chipset to date.

Specifications for M5 Max (18-core CPU)

Single-core score: 4, 268
Multi-core score: 29, 233

Specifications for M4 Max (16-core CPU)

Single-core score: 4, 049 (M5 Max is 5.4% faster)
Multi-core score: 26, 509 (M5 Max is 10.3% faster)

Specifications for M3 Ultra (32-core CPU)

Single-core score: 3, 247 (M5 Max is 31.4% faster)
Multi-core score: 28, 169 (M5 Max is 3.8% faster)

M5 Max Geekbench 6 single-core and multi-core scores are displayed — M5 Max’s single-core and multi-core results

Comparison of M5 Max versus M4 Max Geekbench scores — Not the most impressive comparison

M5 Max Geekbench 6 scores comparison with M3 Ultra — M5 Max is now Apple’s fastest silicon in Geekbench 6’s single-core and multi-core tests

The transition to TSMC’s 2.5D chiplet design has enabled Apple to surpass the previous 16-core ceiling, allowing the M5 Max to feature an unprecedented 18-core CPU. This advancement positions Apple to better compete against rivals such as the Snapdragon X2 Elite and various x86 CPU offerings. Further comparisons will be available soon, so stay tuned for the latest updates on this evolving technology landscape.

For further details, you can check the benchmark results on Geekbench 6.

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