For a Windows power user, the machine sitting under their desk or on their lap is often a carefully spec’d beast, built for demanding tasks like video editing, graphic design, or complex coding. The thought of switching to a Mac can feel daunting – like learning a new language or navigating a foreign city. But with Apple silicon making waves, the question arises: can a MacBook Pro actually replace that familiar Windows workstation?
Lauri Pesur from the Tech Notice channel, a self-proclaimed Windows guy who daily drove a MacBook Pro M4 Max 16-inch with 128GB of RAM for six months, shares his experience, offering invaluable perspective for fellow PC users contemplating the switch. Coming from a HEDT (“high end desktop”) workstation, his journey highlights the transition. (Scroll down the page to watch the video.)
Performance That Challenges Expectations
The biggest question for any power user is performance, and Lauri’s finding here is compelling. He was “absolutely blown away” by the MacBook’s power. He specifically tested it against his editor’s high-end workstation (Intel Core i9-13900K, 128GB DDR5, RTX 4090*) and found the MacBook was faster in exports with the same settings. *Our estimates for such a PC workstation are around the $4-$6k ballpark just like his MacBook Pro M4 Max.
As most enthusiast have discovered, the M4 Max is a serious contender for demanding creative workloads. Crucially, Lauri noted that the same power is available whether the MacBook Pro is plugged in or not, which is a departure from the Windows laptop norm where full performance often requires being tethered to the wall. He reported zero issues running demanding applications like Photoshop, Lightroom, and Premiere Pro – it was “just a breeze”.
Based on our research, here’s how the M4 Max stacks up against the Intel Core i9-13900K.
On an important side note: Yes, Intel is still using the “i9” family name but this new generation of i9s are very different (and are much improved) from the i9s when Apple last used them in 2019. Stay tuned for a more in-depth comparison.
Single Core - M4 Max vs. Intel i9-13900K
Multi Core - M4 Max vs. Intel i9-13900K
Sources: Tom’s Hardware | Geekbench Browser
M4 Max GPU vs NVIDIA: Performance in Perspective
While the M4 Max came out ahead in CPU performance against the i9-13900K, it’s worth noting that GPU comparisons tell a different story. Lauri didn’t cover this in the video but we decided to investigate a bit more on the GPU front.
The RTX 4090 — a desktop-class GPU — still dominates in raw GPU compute and rendering tasks, offering nearly 2–3× higher scores in synthetic benchmarks like Geekbench Compute and 3DMark. However, the M4 Max’s 40-core integrated GPU holds its own remarkably well in the mobile space. Benchmarks show it outperforming many high-end laptop GPUs such as the RTX 4070 Laptop, especially in Apple-optimized environments like Metal and GFXBench.
This makes the M4 Max a standout performer for professionals focused on video editing, motion graphics, and app development, where GPU needs are substantial but within the range of what mobile platforms can deliver. While it may not replace a high-wattage desktop workstation for GPU-intensive 3D or AI workloads, the M4 Max strikes an impressive balance between efficiency and capability — delivering high-end mobile GPU performance in a thin, quiet, and power-conscious form factor.
GPU Benchmark Comparison
| Benchmark | RTX 4090 (Desktop) | RTX 4070 (Laptop) | Apple M4 Max (40-core GPU) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Geekbench 6 Compute | ~316,000 (OpenCL) | ~112,000 – 117,000 | ~116,000 (OpenCL) ~180,000 (Metal) |
| 3DMark Wild Life Extreme | ~85,000 | ~22,000 – 23,000 | ~37,400 |
| GFXBench Aztec Ruins 4K | ~615 FPS | ~230 FPS | ~247 FPS |
| Blender (Classroom Scene) | ~12,000+ | ~5,000 – 6,000 | ~5,200 (Metal) |
Note: Scores may vary depending on test conditions and API used. M4 Max excels on Metal; NVIDIA GPUs peak on CUDA/OpenCL platforms.
Sources
- Geekbench Browser – Official Benchmark Results
- Tom’s Hardware – RTX 4090 Review
- NotebookCheck – RTX 4070 Laptop GPU Benchmarks
- 9to5Mac – M4 Max vs RTX 4090 Analysis
Hardware and Design Wins
Several physical aspects impressed Lauri. The 16-inch display with ProMotion (up to 120Hz) felt like a “pro machine” and offered excellent color accuracy and brightness, though not quite OLED black levels. The larger 16-inch form factor was preferred for screen real estate. The build quality received a perfect 10/10, feeling like a “whole ‘nother level” compared to many Windows devices, with a highly praised minimalistic design.
A potentially significant feature for power users worried about Apple’s storage costs is Thunderbolt 5. Lauri found it a “gamechanger” because, for the first time on a MacBook, you can get external SSD speeds comparable to internal speeds (over 7,000 MB/s) using a Thunderbolt 5 enclosure. This makes using external drives for large project files much more viable. The SD card reader was also noted for providing full, fast speeds, which hasn’t always been his experience on Windows machines.
Unexpected macOS Converts
While a Windows user adapting to macOS has a learning curve, some aspects started to convert Lauri. He found the Command + C/V shortcut for copy/paste became more comfortable for his hand over time compared to Ctrl + C/V. The trackpad and keyboard were described as “absolutely amazing,” “ridiculously good,” and preferred over a mouse in some ways. Perhaps the biggest conversion factor was Time Machine, Apple’s seamless backup feature. Lauri was particularly impressed by the unbelievably simple migration process to a new Mac using a Time Machine backup, calling the Windows migration process a “pain in the backside” by comparison. Other positives included the amazing speakers and fewer update restarts compared to Windows. He also observed that Adobe apps seemed to work better on Mac.
Windows User Roadblocks and Downsides
Despite the positives, several aspects felt like a step backward from a Windows power user’s perspective. Lauri found the lack of automatic window highlighting annoying – you have to click a window to make it active before you can interact with it, which felt time-wasting. The built-in window snapping was considered less intuitive and effective than the Windows + arrow key method. Mapped network drives tended to disconnect upon logging out, requiring a workaround.
Other significant downsides included the “scary expensive” cost, making the device feel fragile. Lauri felt multitasking wasn’t as good as on Windows, experiencing lag when trying to browse or use other apps during heavy rendering tasks, despite having 128GB RAM. The macOS scaling with external monitors was problematic; a 32-inch 4K display had to be run at 1080p for usable text, and proper scaling might require an expensive 5k or 6K display. Fan noise was noticeable under heavy load. He also mentioned the lack of Wi-Fi 7 (only 6E) and the expense and hassle of getting 10GB Ethernet to work effectively with a dock. Finally, 3D performance was considered not as good as on Nvidia cards on Windows, although it is steadily improving on each new generation of Apple silicon.
Reflecting on the Experience
Looking back, Lauri questioned if the M4 Max was overkill for his needs and suggested a cheaper Mac Studio for desk use paired with a MacBook Air for portability might have been a better, more cost-effective solution, particularly as the Mac Studio includes 10GB Ethernet. He regretted the space black color due to fingerprints (preferring silver), and felt 128GB of RAM was overkill, suggesting 64GB would likely be sufficient for many and save money. We checked Apple’s configurato; just reducing the RAM from 128 to 64 GB will save you $800.
For a Windows power user, Lauri’s review shows the MacBook Pro M4 Max offers compelling performance and hardware quality. However, it requires adapting to some quirks of macOS and potentially accepting trade-offs in areas like multitasking during heavy load and external monitor scaling, or investing significantly in specific accessories. The M4 Max is a powerful machine, but one that demands adjusting your workflow and expectations coming from a Windows PC environment.
Watch the full video below…
