Skytech Crystal CRYSTAL-2357-B-AM vs Apple Mac Studio M5 Max
Skytech Crystal CRYSTAL-2357-B-AM 2025, Intel i5 14400F, 32GB, 1TB SSD, RTX 5050, Black
Apple Mac Studio M5 Max, 64GB, 4TB SSD
What Buyers Say
Skytech Crystal CRYSTAL-2357-B-AM 2025, Intel i5 14400F, 32GB, 1TB SSD, RTX 5050, Black
This budget gaming PC receives mixed reviews. Many users praise its quiet operation, easy setup, and strong 1080p performance for the price, with name-brand components and no bloatware. However, several buyers report critical errors, blue/black screens, repeated shutdowns, and software issues, with one receiving a unit that appeared refurbished. Customer service is also noted as difficult to reach.
Pros
- Quiet operation
- Easy setup out of the box
- Strong 1080p performance
- Great value for the price
- Name-brand components
Cons
- Critical errors and blue/black screens
- Repeated shutdowns on boot
- Software issues requiring multiple repairs
- Unit appeared refurbished instead of new
- Missing cables in replacement unit
Apple Mac Studio M5 Max, 64GB, 4TB SSD
Users are overwhelmingly positive about the Mac Studio with M5 Max, praising its performance, especially for media production and 4K editing. The upgrade from older Macs or PCs is seen as a significant improvement, with many noting the speed and capability of the M5 Max chip. Some mention the value of catching it on sale, and the build quality and ecosystem integration are appreciated.
Pros
- Blazing fast M5 Max chip
- Excellent for 4K editing
- Smooth upgrade path
- Good value when on sale
- Reliable Apple build quality
Cons
- Pricey without sale
- Base storage may be limiting
- Latest macOS required for new features
Scores
Specifications
| Skytech Crystal CRYSTAL-2357-B-AM | Apple Mac Studio M5 Max | |
|---|---|---|
| Processor | ||
| CPU* | Intel Core i5 14400F | Apple M5 Max★ |
| CPU Multi-Core Score | ||
| Cores | 10 | 18★ |
| Frequency | 2.5 GHz★ | — |
| L3 Cache | 20 MB★ | — |
| Graphics | ||
| GPU* | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5050 8GB GDDR6 | Apple (40-Core)★ |
| GPU Benchmark Score | ||
| Type | discrete | integrated★ |
| VRAM | 8 GB | 64 GB★ |
| VRAM Type | GDDR7 | System Shared |
| Memory & Storage | ||
| RAM | 32 GB | 64 GB★ |
| RAM Generation | DDR5 | DDR5 |
| Storage 1 | 1 TB | 4 TB★ |
| Storage 1 Type | NVMe SSD | NVMe SSD |
| Build | ||
| Form Factor | mid-tower | mini |
| PSU | 650W★ | 480W |
| Weight | 13.24 kg | 2.70 kg |
| Connectivity | ||
| USB-C Ports | — | 6★ |
| USB Ports | 2 | 2 |
| Thunderbolt | — | Thunderbolt 5 x 4 |
| HDMI | 1x HDMI | 1x HDMI 2.1 |
| DisplayPort | 1x Display Port | — |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 5 | Wi-Fi 7★ |
| Bluetooth | — | Bluetooth 6.0 |
| Ethernet | — | 10GbE |
| System | ||
| OS | Windows 11 Home | macOS |
Pros & Cons
Skytech Crystal CRYSTAL-2357-B-AM 2025, Intel i5 14400F, 32GB, 1TB SSD, RTX 5050, Black
- Strong social proof (89th percentile)89th %ile
- Strong ram (78th percentile)
- Strong gpu (73rd percentile)
- Strong storage (69th percentile)
- Below average user sentiment (16th percentile)16th %ile
- Below average port selection (25th percentile)
- Below average reliability (27th percentile)
Apple Mac Studio M5 Max, 64GB, 4TB SSD
- Strong reliability (99th percentile)99th %ile
- Strong ram (98th percentile)98th %ile
- Strong storage (98th percentile)98th %ile
- Strong cpu (96th percentile)96th %ile
Verdict
Scores 100 overall, wins 7 of 8 usage categories and 11 of 26 specs.