M2 Max vs Intel i9-13980HX: what price pure performance?

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Just lately, Intel has been crowing about its just-released Alder Lake-based Intel Core i9 13980HX chip, which manages to beat Apple’s present greatest chip, the M2 Max, on some scores in a number of classes in benchmarking and real-world testing.

Not solely that, however among the areas the place it excels might be necessary for creators who would possibly in any other case be firmly in Apple’s camp. However there is a increased worth to be paid in a number of areas for that additional processing energy.

Make no mistake: the i9 13980HX is a monster concerning uncooked processing energy. It is formally clocked at as much as 5.6GHz and comes with 24 cores and 32 threads.

When paired with a robust video card such because the Nvidia RTX 4090 as MSI did with its Raider GE78HX 17-inch pocket book — the efficiency does certainly beat out the M2 Max fairly considerably in a number of areas, together with video encoding and 3D rendering.

Naturally, this stage of efficiency comes with eye-watering specs and a worth to match. In a current comparability video, YouTuber Luke Miani pitted the MSI Raider with the 24-core i9 13980HX, 32GB of RAM, a 2TB SSD, and 17-inch 2560×1600 show powered by the RTX 4090 — costing $3,999 — in opposition to the 12-core CPU/38-core GPU M2 Max, with 64GB RAM, a 1TB SSD and 16.2-inch 3456×2234 show, which was $100 much less at $3,899.

Benchmarks typically inform the story in efficiency, however they by no means inform the entire story — and that is extra true than ever with these two comparable machines and their platforms. Unquestionably, the HX chews by the kind of jobs that require multi-threading efficiency higher than the M2 Max.

For instance, the Cinebench “Classroom” rating reported by Miani for the MSI pocket book with the RTX 4090 was 30,308, whereas the M2 Max MBP scored 14,702 — simply lower than half as nicely. For Geekbench general, the M2 Max scored 1,993 in single-core efficiency and 15,173 in multi-core, whereas the HX posted 2,153 and 28,888.

This tells us that the machines are fairly even in single-core efficiency. This might equate to the extent of velocity in “typical consumer” apps — internet browsers, Workplace-type apps, informal video games, and different light-duty on a regular basis functions.

With regards to “professional” functions that want all the facility they will get, the variations nearly all the time favored the HX chip and RTX 4070 card combo over the M2 Max.

Blender 3D rendering exams, for instance, confirmed the MSI machine profitable over the MacBook Pro in each CPU and GPU — 308 seconds vs. 342 seconds within the Classroom CPU take a look at and a extra dramatic 10 seconds versus 49 seconds within the Classroom GPU take a look at.

In Premiere Professional, the M2 Max MBP managed to very barely beat out the HX on rendering a 30-minute 4K 60FPS 10-bit film however fell considerably behind the MSI in exporting (12 and a half minutes versus 19 and a half minutes).

As for numerous video games suitable with each methods, as you would possibly anticipate, the RTX 4090 is optimized for gaming calls for and handily beats the M2 Max’s 32-core on-chip GPU.

However earlier than you get out your bank card and place your order for the MSI, there are necessary components of the general Apple expertise — even in the event you work within the type of areas and apps the HX 13980/RTX 4090 combo dominates in — which will steer you again to the Mac.

The most important benefit, by far, is that the M2 Max MBP can work for hours on battery, whereas the MSI Raider, regardless of being a pocket book machine, actually cannot be unplugged.

In Cinebench, for instance, the M2 MacBook Professional carried out the identical on battery because it had when plugged in — whereas the MSI pocket book dropped from a rating of over 30,000 to 11,000, permitting the M2 Max to handily win. Likewise, in Premiere Professional, the render scores of the M2 Max beat the HX 13980 by a full eight minutes when each have been on battery.

In Miani’s take a look at, the battery loss from rendering that very same 30-minute 4K 60FPS clip was additionally dramatic. From one hundred pc battery, the MBP with M2 Max misplaced 10 p.c of its battery capability, whereas the MSI dropped from 100 to 42 p.c doing the identical job.

So functionally talking, the HX 13980 is virtually nugatory until it’s constantly plugged in.

There’s additionally the difficulty of fan noise: as is typical of gaming PCs, the HX 13980/RTX 4090 combo made for very loud fan noise when tasked with any taxing jobs, from gaming to rendering. The M2 Max MBP, working at a peak of solely 35W, did certainly kick on its followers — however they have been barely noticeable, particularly by comparability.

Likewise, each machines get fairly heat when pushed exhausting, however the MSI will virtually warmth your entire room throughout such duties, whereas the M2 Max MBP does not.

It needs to be famous that Apple has lengthy advisable that its pocket book computer systems use their steel chassis to assist dispel warmth, and thus does not suggest putting its “laptops” in your lap.

Yet one more benefit of the 16-inch MacBook Pro was its lighter weight and lowered bulk. As configured, the MSI Raider weighed 6.83 kilos in comparison with the M2 Max MBP’s 4.7 kilos, and the MSI is significantly bulkier in thickness and display measurement.

Furthermore, even plugged into the mains, the HX 13980/RTX 4090 combo can draw 4.3 instances the facility the 16-inch MBP requires at peak.

Lastly, there are the aesthetics of the 2 machines — which is admittedly not all the time a serious consideration in shopping for choices. Along with the sound ranges, the MSI Raider has a light-up multicolor base entrance panel and a light-up multicolor keyboard, reflecting its gamer goal market.

The MSI’s housing is essentially plastic and requires an exterior 326W energy brick, the literal measurement, weight, and form of a brick. The charger for the M2 Max MacBook Professional — even at 140W — is positively petite by comparability.

It can’t be denied, and should not be underemphasized, that Intel has labored a little bit of a miracle in so shortly developing with a processor within the i9 household that catches as much as Apple’s newest and biggest. Given Intel’s decade-long malaise in producing actually superior new chip choices, the uncooked processing energy on provide within the i9 13980HX is genuinely spectacular — even when it needed to make some fairly ugly compromises to get there.

It is also honest to say that Intel’s capacity to work with extra highly effective video playing cards allows graphics efficiency that, once more, is cutting-edge. MSI priced this mix to compete aggressively in opposition to Apple’s present prime moveable providing.

The 16-inch MacBook Professional is extra simply moveable for on-the-go workflows.

However the MSI Raider is just “moveable” within the sense that it may be simply moved from one location to a different — and another location will want entry to energy plugs for any significant work to get finished.

All that stated, competitors is helpful for all, particularly the patron. Apple shouldn’t be allowed to relaxation on its well-deserved M-class laurels, and Apple’s engineering prowess not solely shines a light-weight on the flexibility of its ARM-based chips however pushes the PC trade away from complacency.

The disco-rave lighting on the MSI is as prone to repel critical professionals as it’s to draw rich players. Nonetheless, the massive advances in state-of-the-art from each corporations within the final two years are notable and admirable.

Whereas the MSI Raider places up an incredible combat, the M2 Max MacBook Professional nonetheless appears to be — at the very least for now — the pocket book to beat.