iBUYPOWER Slate SBA7R97XT02 vs Apple Mac Studio M5 Max
iBUYPOWER Slate SBA7R97XT02 2025, Ryzen 7 9800X3D, 32GB, 2TB SSD, Radeon RX 9070XT, Black
Apple Mac Studio M5 Max, 64GB, 4TB SSD
What Buyers Say
iBUYPOWER Slate SBA7R97XT02 2025, Ryzen 7 9800X3D, 32GB, 2TB SSD, Radeon RX 9070XT, Black
Reviewers are consistently pleased with this iBUYPOWER gaming PC, calling it a great value compared to building from scratch. Performance is strong for 1440p and 4K gaming with smooth frame rates, quiet operation, and effective cooling. The main complaints are the limited 750-watt power supply and somewhat slow RAM, with several users advising there's little room for future upgrades. Customer support received praise for helping resolve a driver issue, and overall the build quality and RGB integration are seen as well-executed.
Pros
- Great value vs. building yourself
- Strong gaming performance (1440p/4K)
- Quiet operation under load
- Effective cooling (GPU <70°C)
- Good build quality and aesthetics
Cons
- Limited 750W PSU with non-modular cables
- Slightly slow RAM
- Fingerprint-prone tempered glass
- Mild pump noise from AIO
- Required driver troubleshooting for some users
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
| iBUYPOWER Slate SBA7R97XT02 | Apple Mac Studio M5 Max | |
|---|---|---|
| Processor | ||
| CPU* | AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D | Apple M5 Max★ |
| CPU Multi-Core Score | ||
| Cores | 8 | 18★ |
| Frequency | 4.7 GHz★ | — |
| L3 Cache | 96 MB★ | — |
| Graphics | ||
| GPU* | AMD Radeon RX 9070XT★ | Apple (40-Core) |
| GPU Benchmark Score | ||
| Type | discrete | integrated★ |
| VRAM | 16 GB | 64 GB★ |
| VRAM Type | GDDR6★ | System Shared |
| Memory & Storage | ||
| RAM | 32 GB | 64 GB★ |
| RAM Generation | DDR5 | DDR5 |
| Storage 1 | 2 TB | 4 TB★ |
| Storage 1 Type | NVMe SSD | NVMe SSD |
| Build | ||
| Form Factor | mid-tower | mini |
| PSU | 850W★ | 480W |
| Weight | 16.33 kg | 2.70 kg |
| Connectivity | ||
| USB-C Ports | 2 | 6★ |
| USB Ports | 9★ | 2 |
| Thunderbolt | — | Thunderbolt 5 x 4 |
| HDMI | 1 x HDMI | 1x HDMI 2.1 |
| DisplayPort | 3 x DisplayPort | — |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi Ready | Wi-Fi 7★ |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Bluetooth 6.0 |
| Ethernet | Gigabit Ethernet | 10GbE |
| System | ||
| OS | Windows 11 Home | macOS |
Pros & Cons
iBUYPOWER Slate SBA7R97XT02 2025, Ryzen 7 9800X3D, 32GB, 2TB SSD, Radeon RX 9070XT, Black
- Strong social proof (96th percentile)96th %ile
- Strong port selection (92nd percentile)92nd %ile
- Strong storage (90th percentile)90th %ile
- Strong gpu (86th percentile)86th %ile
- 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 6 of 8 usage categories and 9 of 26 specs.