CPU Comparison
Apple M2 vs Intel Core i5-14450HX
A side-by-side comparison of specs, performance and value. The Apple M2 is a second‑generation 5 nm ARM‑based system‑on‑chip for Macs, with an 8‑core CPU, up to a 10‑core GPU, 16‑core Neural Engine, and 100 GB/s unified memory bandwidth, designed for thin‑and‑light laptops and compact desktops.
The Bottom Line
Overview & Launch
Specifications Compared
Performance Compared
Productivity
Very strong single‑thread and good multi‑thread performance for everyday apps and light creator workloads.
10 cores handle standard tasks well, but lag behind 14-core HX parts in rendering.
Gaming
Solid for 1080p and many 1440p titles at medium–high settings; not intended for high‑refresh 4K gaming or heavy ray tracing.
Strong 1080p gaming performance, suitable for RTX 4050/4060 laptop GPUs.
Virtualization
Capable of light VM/container use, but limited to 8 threads and not aimed at heavy server workloads.
Adequate for 1-2 VMs, but limited by the 16 threads and 20MB cache.
Efficiency
Outstanding performance per watt; typically around 20 W CPU package power under multi‑threaded load, far below comparable x86 ultrabook chips.
Still a 55W base part, so battery life will be modest in gaming laptops.
Specialized Performance
AI / ML
- 16‑core Neural Engine at 15.8 TOPS
- Good for on‑device inference and Core ML workloads
- No large‑scale training focus; more for consumer features than datacenter AI
- DLBoost supported
- Not ideal for heavy local AI workloads
Content Creation
Gaming
- Integrated 8–10 core GPU with up to 3.6 TFLOPS FP32
- Good for 1080p and some 1440p gaming at medium–high settings
- Limited by unified memory bandwidth and 8 CPU threads for CPU‑heavy titles
- Best experienced in macOS; Windows via virtualization or translation has overhead
- 4.8 GHz boost clock ensures high frame rates in single-threaded games
- L3 cache reduced to 20MB, slightly impacting 1% lows
- Must be paired with a dedicated GPU due to UHD 710
Industry Impact
Best CPU by Use Case
Target Audience
Strengths & Weaknesses
Pros
- Very strong single‑core performance for an ultrabook‑class chip
- Integrated 8–10 core GPU with up to 3.6 TFLOPS and hardware ProRes acceleration
- Unified memory architecture with 100 GB/s bandwidth simplifies development and avoids CPU–GPU copies
- 16‑core Neural Engine accelerates on‑device ML workloads
- Fanless designs in MacBook Air and very quiet operation under typical loads
Cons
- Not sold as a standalone CPU; only available inside Macs
- No user‑upgradable RAM or PCIe slots; I/O limited to what Apple provides
- Only 8 CPU threads; heavy multi‑threaded workloads are limited compared to higher‑core M2 Pro/Max or x86 chips
- CPU efficiency is slightly worse than M1 at maximum performance due to higher clocks and power
- Gaming performance is constrained by 8 threads and integrated GPU; not a gaming‑focused SoC
Pros
- Strong 4.8 GHz single-core speed
- Unlocked multiplier for tuning
- Native DDR5-5600 support
- More affordable than 14500HX laptops
- Full PCIe Gen 5 support for GPU
Cons
- Only 10 cores and 16 threads
- UHD 710 iGPU is very basic
- Lower L3 cache (20MB)
- High 157W max turbo limits battery life
Competitors & Alternatives
Apple M2
- AMD Ryzen 7 6800URival
Ultrabook
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i7‑1260PRival
Ultrabook
- Intel Core i7‑1355URival
Ultrabook
- AMD Ryzen 7 7730URival
Ultrabook
- Compare head-to-headApple M1Rival
Ultrabook
- Alt
More CPU/GPU cores and higher memory bandwidth for heavier creator workloads.
Compare head-to-head - AMD Ryzen 7 7840UAlt
Stronger multi‑threaded performance and better x86 Windows compatibility in ultrabook form factors.
- Intel Core Ultra 7 155HAlt
Good balance of CPU and integrated GPU performance for Windows ultrabooks with NPU‑accelerated AI features.
- Alt
Newer architecture with higher performance and better efficiency if you are buying a new Mac in 2024+.
Compare head-to-head
Intel Core i5-14450HX
- AMD Ryzen 5 7640HSRival
High-Performance Mobile
- AMD Ryzen 7 7735HSRival
High-Performance Mobile
- Intel Core i5-13500HRival
High-Performance Mobile
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i7-13650HXRival
High-Performance Mobile
- AMD Ryzen 5 8645HSRival
High-Performance Mobile
4 more E-cores and better iGPU for a small price bump.
Compare head-to-head- AMD Ryzen 7 7840HSAlt
Better battery life and superior integrated graphics.
More P-cores and E-cores for better sustained performance.
Compare head-to-head- Alt
Incomparable battery life and efficiency for non-gaming users.
Compare head-to-head - Intel Core i5-13450HXAlt
13th Gen equivalent often found at a deep discount.
Our Verdict on Each
A very efficient, well‑balanced SoC that makes more sense inside a Mac than as a standalone chip; strong single‑core performance, capable integrated graphics, and excellent efficiency, but not a workstation‑class part.
Best for: You are buying a new or refurbished Mac laptop or desktop and want a significant step up from Intel‑based Macs or older M1 models, especially for single‑threaded tasks and GPU‑accelerated apps.
Read the full reviewA solid entry-level HX processor that delivers strong gaming clocks and DDR5 support, but its 10 cores lag behind the 14500HX in heavy productivity.
Best for: The Core i5-14450HX is the ideal processor for budget-conscious gamers shopping for a mid-range gaming laptop. If your primary goal is playing esports titles or AAA games at 1080p paired with an RTX 4050 or 4060, this CPU provides enough speed without inflating the laptop's price. It offers the core benefits of the HX platform—unlocked tuning and DDR5-5600—without paying for cores you won't utilize in gaming. It's the smart entry point into high-performance mobile gaming.
Read the full reviewFrequently Asked Questions
Which is better, Apple M2 or Intel Core i5-14450HX?
Based on our editorial ratings, the Apple M2 comes out ahead with a score of 8.8/10. That said, the best choice depends on your workload — check the spec and performance breakdown above for gaming, productivity and efficiency differences.
Which is faster for gaming, Apple M2 or Intel Core i5-14450HX?
For gaming, the Intel Core i5-14450HX leads with a gaming performance score of 80/100 among Apple M2 and Intel Core i5-14450HX.
Which uses less power?
The Intel Core i5-14450HX has the lowest rated TDP. Power draw across these chips: Intel Core i5-14450HX (55 W).
Do Apple M2 and Intel Core i5-14450HX use the same socket?
No. They use different sockets (Apple M2: On‑Package (BGA), Intel Core i5-14450HX: Intel BGA 1964), so each needs a compatible motherboard.
Which has more cores?
The Intel Core i5-14450HX has the most cores. Core counts: Apple M2 (8 cores), Intel Core i5-14450HX (10 cores).
Which is faster in multi-core benchmarks?
The Intel Core i5-14450HX posts the highest multi-core benchmark score. Multi-core results: Apple M2 (9,800), Intel Core i5-14450HX (19,000). Benchmark figures are approximate and workload-dependent.