Skytech Crystal CRYSTAL-2357-B-AM vs Apple Mac Studio M3 Ultra
Skytech Crystal CRYSTAL-2357-B-AM 2025, Intel i5 14400F, 32GB, 1TB SSD, RTX 5050, Black
Apple Mac Studio M3 Ultra 2025, 96GB, 1TB SSD, Silver
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 M3 Ultra 2025, 96GB, 1TB SSD, Silver
Users are overwhelmingly positive about this Mac, calling it a powerhouse and the best value for power users. They praise its multicore performance, GPU capabilities, and ability to handle demanding tasks like video editing and development without issues. The M3 Ultra is seen as a better value than the M4 Max, especially when configured with more memory.
Pros
- Powerful multicore performance
- Great GPU value
- Handles demanding tasks
- Fast exports
- Reliable and stable
Cons
- Single-core performance not noticeably fast
- Potential competition from M4 Max
Scores
Specifications
| Skytech Crystal CRYSTAL-2357-B-AM | Apple Mac Studio M3 Ultra | |
|---|---|---|
| Processor | ||
| CPU* | Intel Core i5 14400F | Apple M3 Ultra★ |
| CPU Multi-Core Score | ||
| Cores | 10 | 28★ |
| Frequency | 2.5 GHz | 3.5 GHz★ |
| L3 Cache | 20 MB★ | — |
| Graphics | ||
| GPU* | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5050 8GB GDDR6 | Apple M3 Ultra 60-core★ |
| GPU Benchmark Score | ||
| Type | discrete | integrated★ |
| VRAM | 8 GB★ | — |
| VRAM Type | GDDR7 | System Shared |
| Memory & Storage | ||
| RAM | 32 GB | 96 GB★ |
| RAM Generation | DDR5★ | — |
| Storage 1 | 1 TB | 1 TB |
| Storage 1 Type | NVMe SSD★ | SSD |
| Build | ||
| Form Factor | mid-tower | sff |
| PSU | 650W★ | — |
| Weight | 13.24 kg | 3.64 kg |
| Connectivity | ||
| USB-C Ports | — | 6★ |
| USB Ports | 2 | 2 |
| Thunderbolt | — | Thunderbolt 5 x 6 |
| HDMI | 1x HDMI | 1x HDMI |
| DisplayPort | 1x Display Port | 0 |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 5 | Wi-Fi 6★ |
| Bluetooth | — | Bluetooth |
| Ethernet | — | Gigabit Ethernet |
| 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 M3 Ultra 2025, 96GB, 1TB SSD, Silver
- Strong cpu (100th percentile)100th %ile
- Strong reliability (99th percentile)99th %ile
- Strong ram (96th percentile)96th %ile
- Strong user sentiment (95th percentile)95th %ile
Verdict
Scores 100 overall, wins 7 of 8 usage categories and 10 of 26 specs.