Apple Mac Studio M5 Max, 64GB, 4TB SSD
HP 290 G9 2026, Core i3-13100, 16GB, 256GB SSD, UHD 730
What Buyers Say
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
HP 290 G9 2026, Core i3-13100, 16GB, 256GB SSD, UHD 730
The majority of buyers find this HP desktop to be a solid value for home and office use, praising its speed, easy setup, and inclusion of keyboard and mouse. However, several recurring issues temper enthusiasm: early models may arrive with damaged Windows, modified BIOS (including a BANK OF AMERICA splash screen), or missing/incorrect power cords. Most critically, one buyer reports an unresponsive customer service and a defective audio driver, which forced a return. The lack of USB-C and DisplayPort ports is also noted as a limitation.
Pros
- Fast performance
- Easy setup
- Great value for money
- Includes keyboard and mouse
- Quiet operation
Cons
- Poor customer service
- Damaged Windows in some units
- Modified BIOS on some units (BANK OF AMERICA splash)
- Missing or incorrect power cords
- Slow boot on some units
Scores
Specifications
| Apple Mac Studio M5 Max | HP 290 G9 | |
|---|---|---|
| Processor | ||
| CPU* | Apple M5 Max★ | Intel Core i5 10400F |
| CPU Multi-Core Score | ||
| Cores | 18★ | 4 |
| Frequency | — | 3.4 GHz★ |
| L3 Cache | — | 12 MB★ |
| Graphics | ||
| GPU* | Apple (40-Core)★ | Intel UHD Graphics 730 |
| GPU Benchmark Score | ||
| Type | integrated★ | discrete |
| VRAM | 64 GB★ | 2 GB |
| VRAM Type | System Shared | — |
| Memory & Storage | ||
| RAM | 64 GB★ | 16 GB |
| RAM Generation | DDR5★ | DDR4 |
| Storage 1 | 4 TB★ | 256 GB |
| Storage 1 Type | NVMe SSD★ | SSD |
| Build | ||
| Form Factor | mini | tower |
| PSU | 480W★ | 180W |
| Weight | 2.70 kg | — |
| Connectivity | ||
| USB-C Ports | 6★ | — |
| USB Ports | 2 | 8★ |
| Thunderbolt | Thunderbolt 5 x 4 | — |
| HDMI | 1x HDMI 2.1 | HDMI |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 7★ | — |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 6.0 | — |
| Ethernet | 10GbE | Gigabit Ethernet |
| System | ||
| OS | macOS | Windows 11 Home |
Pros & Cons
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
HP 290 G9 2026, Core i3-13100, 16GB, 256GB SSD, UHD 730
- Strong social proof (91st percentile)91st %ile
- Strong reliability (70th percentile)
- Below average storage (13th percentile)13th %ile
- Below average gpu (16th percentile)16th %ile
- Below average ram (32nd percentile)
Pricing
Apple Mac Studio M5 Max, 64GB, 4TB SSD
No current pricing available
HP 290 G9 2026, Core i3-13100, 16GB, 256GB SSD, UHD 730
Verdict
Scores 100 overall, wins 8 of 8 usage categories and 14 of 25 specs.
