MSI Cubi NUC 1MG-295US vs Apple Mac Studio M5 Max
MSI Cubi NUC 1MG-295US 2025, Core 3 100U, 16GB, 500GB SSD, Black
Apple Mac Studio M5 Max, 64GB, 4TB SSD
What Buyers Say
MSI Cubi NUC 1MG-295US 2025, Core 3 100U, 16GB, 500GB SSD, Black
The MSI Cubi NUC 1MG is a compact and quiet mini desktop with excellent connectivity, including dual 2.5GbE LAN, Thunderbolt 4, and HDMI ports. It handles everyday tasks like web browsing, streaming, and office work smoothly, but the Intel Core 3-100U processor can be overwhelmed under heavy loads, and initial setup may involve high CPU usage and bloatware. Upgradability is decent with accessible RAM and storage slots, making it a solid choice for light productivity or home server use.
Pros
- Compact and quiet form factor
- Excellent connectivity (dual 2.5GbE, Thunderbolt 4, HDMI)
- User-upgradable RAM and storage
- VESA mount included
- Good for light productivity and streaming
Cons
- Underpowered processor for heavy tasks
- High CPU usage and bloatware out of the box
- Limited gaming capability
- Slow included NVMe drive
- MSI telemetry and Norton 360 preinstalled
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
| MSI Cubi NUC 1MG-295US | Apple Mac Studio M5 Max | |
|---|---|---|
| Processor | ||
| CPU* | Intel Core 3 100U | Apple M5 Max★ |
| CPU Multi-Core Score | ||
| Cores | 6 | 18★ |
| Frequency | 3.3 GHz★ | — |
| L3 Cache | 10 MB★ | — |
| Graphics | ||
| GPU* | Intel Graphics | Apple (40-Core)★ |
| GPU Benchmark Score | ||
| Type | integrated | integrated |
| VRAM | — | 64 GB★ |
| VRAM Type | — | System Shared |
| Memory & Storage | ||
| RAM | 16 GB | 64 GB★ |
| RAM Generation | DDR5 | DDR5 |
| Storage 1 | 500 GB | 4 TB★ |
| Storage 1 Type | NVMe SSD | NVMe SSD |
| Build | ||
| Form Factor | mini | mini |
| PSU | 120W | 480W★ |
| Weight | 0.63 kg | 2.70 kg |
| Connectivity | ||
| USB-C Ports | 2 | 6★ |
| USB Ports | 4★ | 2 |
| Thunderbolt | Thunderbolt 4 x 2 | Thunderbolt 5 x 4 |
| HDMI | 2 x HDMI | 1x HDMI 2.1 |
| DisplayPort | 0 | — |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6E | Wi-Fi 7★ |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.4★ | Bluetooth 6.0 |
| Ethernet | 2.5GbE | 10GbE |
| System | ||
| OS | Windows 11 Home | macOS |
Pros & Cons
MSI Cubi NUC 1MG-295US 2025, Core 3 100U, 16GB, 500GB SSD, Black
- Strong social proof (96th percentile)96th %ile
- Strong port selection (76th 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 8 of 8 usage categories and 11 of 26 specs.