Apple M5 Max GPU (40-core) vs Max GPU (32-core)

We compared two integrated laptop professional GPUs: the Apple M5 Max GPU (40-core) with 640 pipelines and 5120 shaders against the Max GPU (32-core) that utilizes 512 pipelines and 4096 shaders. Here you will find complete details about specs, efficiency, performance tests, and more.

Review

General comparison of performance in games, applications, power efficiency, and other metrics
Gaming
Performance in DirectX, OpenCL, and Vulkan games
Workstation
Perf. in 3D modeling, video editing and rendering apps
AI/ML
Capabilities for machine learning and AI-related tasks
Energy Efficiency
Power consumption efficiency in different scenarios
NanoReview Final Score
Overall video card score

Key differences

Key distinctions and advantages of M5 Max GPU (32-core) over M5 Max GPU (40-core)
Reasons to consider the Apple M5 Max GPU (40-core)
  • Performs slightly better (up to 16%) in 3DMark Steel Nomad Lite
  • 25% higher maximum theoretical performance (16.6 vs 13.3 TFLOPS)
  • Has 33% higher memory bandwidth: 614 vs 460.8 GB/s
  • Has 25% more shading units (5120 vs 4096)

Benchmarks

Graphics cards’ performance in recent benchmarking apps

3D Mark

Multiplatform graphics benchmark suite that directly correlates with performance in modern games
Steel Nomad Lite Score
Solar Bay 79263 69849
Wild Life Extreme 42423 35790
Sources: 3DMark [1], [2]

GeekBench 6 OpenCL

GPU test for computational tasks (image processing, photography, computer vision, and ML)
GB6 Compute Score
Background Blur 257 img/sec 234.8 img/sec
Face Detection 182.1 img/sec 158.1 img/sec
Horizon Detection 5.4 Gpixels/sec 4.48 Gpixels/sec
Edge Detection 8.33 Gpixels/sec 6.62 Gpixels/sec
Gaussian Blur 8.86 Gpixels/sec 7.19 Gpixels/sec
Feature Matching 1.28 Gpixels/sec 1.17 Gpixels/sec
Stereo Matching 455.4 Gpixels/sec 384.9 Gpixels/sec
Particle Physics 21658 FPS 17866.8 FPS
API OpenCL OpenCL
Sources: Geekbench [3], [4]

Cinebench 2024 GPU

Hardware benchmark using Maxon's Cinema 4D rendering engine
Cinebench 2024 GPU

Blender

Rendering performance test for 3D modeling
Blender GPU
Sources: Blender [9], [10] – 201 & 37 samples

Recent User Tests

The latest benchmark tests that have been submitted by users
Apple M5 Max GPU (40-core)
DateBenchmarkResult
📘 2026-04-16 -> Apple loverGeekbench 6 OpenCL146276
📘 2026-03-25 (Steven)Cinebench 20249283
📘 2026-03-25 (Steven)Steel Nomad Light18486
Apple M5 Max GPU (32-core)
No benchmark results yet

Artificial Intelligence Tests

Performance in machine learning and artificial intelligence tasks

GeekBench 6 ML

Tests throughput of AI operations in single, half, and quantized precision
GB6 ML Single Precision
GB6 ML Half Precision
GB6 ML Quantized
Image Classification (SP) 10711 10338
Image Segmentation (HP) 42406 42053
Image Super Resolution (Q) 42905 41729
Face Detection (HP) 73489 71929
Pose Estimation (Q) 289766 287035
Text Classification (SP) 6087 2958
Machine Translation (HP) 8881 9156
Object Detection (SP) 10130 9951
Depth Estimation (Q) 84224 82338
Style Transfer (SP) 264552 264780
Framework Core ML Core ML
Backend GPU GPU
Sources: Geekbench [9], [10]

Specifications

Technical specifications of Apple M5 Max GPU (40-core) and Max GPU (32-core)

General

Vendor Apple Apple
Build Integrated Integrated
Released March 3, 2026 March 3, 2026
Case Laptop Laptop
Purpose Professional Professional
Segment Mid-range Mid-range
Architecture Apple M GPU Apple M GPU
GPU Codename Custom Custom
Recommended CPU - Apple M5 Max (40-сore GPU) or above - Apple M5 Max (32-сore GPU) or above
Used in CPUs - Apple M5 Max (40-сore GPU) - Apple M5 Max (32-сore GPU)
Laptop GPU ranking (6th and 9th place)

Graphics Processing Unit

Boost Clock 1620 MHz 1620 MHz
Shading Units 5120 4096
Texture Mapping Units (TMUs) 320 256
Render Output Units (ROPs) 160 128
Compute Units (Pipelines) 640 512
Instructions Per Cycle 2 IPC 2 IPC

Raw Performance

Pixel Fill Rate 259 GPixel/s 207 GPixel/s
Texture Fill Rate 518 GTexel/s 415 GTexel/s
FLOPS (FP32)
16.6 TFLOPS
13.3 TFLOPS

Physical

Interface Custom Custom
Manufacturing TSMC TSMC
Fabrication Process 3 nm 3 nm
Transistor Count 28 billion 28 billion
Max. Temperature 100°C 100°C

Memory

Memory Type System Shared System Shared
Memory Clock 9600 MHz 9600 MHz
Bus 512-bit 384-bit
ECC No No
Memory Bandwidth
614 GB/s

API

Ray Tracing Yes Yes
DLSS No No

Cast your vote

Choose between two graphics cards
5 (50%)
5 (50%)
Total votes: 10

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