Discussion Apple Silicon SoC thread

[Eug]

M1
5 nm
Unified memory architecture - LP-DDR4
16 billion transistors

8-core CPU

4 high-performance cores
192 KB instruction cache
128 KB data cache
Shared 12 MB L2 cache

4 high-efficiency cores
128 KB instruction cache
64 KB data cache
Shared 4 MB L2 cache
(Apple claims the 4 high-effiency cores alone perform like a dual-core Intel MacBook Air)

8-core iGPU (but there is a 7-core variant, likely with one inactive core)
128 execution units
Up to 24576 concurrent threads
2.6 Teraflops
82 Gigatexels/s
41 gigapixels/s

16-core neural engine
Secure Enclave
USB 4

Products:
$999 ($899 edu) 13" MacBook Air (fanless) - 18 hour video playback battery life
$699 Mac mini (with fan)
$1299 ($1199 edu) 13" MacBook Pro (with fan) - 20 hour video playback battery life

Memory options 8 GB and 16 GB. No 32 GB option (unless you go Intel).

It should be noted that the M1 chip in these three Macs is the same (aside from GPU core number). Basically, Apple is taking the same approach which these chips as they do the iPhones and iPads. Just one SKU (excluding the X variants), which is the same across all iDevices (aside from maybe slight clock speed differences occasionally).

EDIT:



M1 Pro 8-core CPU (6+2), 14-core GPU
M1 Pro 10-core CPU (8+2), 14-core GPU
M1 Pro 10-core CPU (8+2), 16-core GPU
M1 Max 10-core CPU (8+2), 24-core GPU
M1 Max 10-core CPU (8+2), 32-core GPU

M1 Pro and M1 Max discussion here:

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M1 Ultra discussion here:

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M2 discussion here:

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Second Generation 5 nm
Unified memory architecture - LPDDR5, up to 24 GB and 100 GB/s
20 billion transistors

8-core CPU

4 high-performance cores
192 KB instruction cache
128 KB data cache
Shared 16 MB L2 cache

4 high-efficiency cores
128 KB instruction cache
64 KB data cache
Shared 4 MB L2 cache

10-core iGPU (but there is an 8-core variant)
3.6 Teraflops

16-core neural engine
Secure Enclave
USB 4

Hardware acceleration for 8K h.264, h.264, ProRes

M3 Family discussion here:

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M4 Family discussion here:

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[Eug]

In my case, it turned out 10 GigE would have meant a 2 week delay so it solidified decision not to get it. I don't have ANY equipment above Gigabit anyway.

View attachment 110625

This Canadian edu order is CA$1394, which is currently US$969.69. For edu in the US, it's US$1079, or about 11% more expensive.

Regular retail in Canada is CA$1549 (US$1113.46) or US$1199 in the US, about 8% more expensive.

My internet service provider is now giving me a modem with 2.5 Gbps. So I caved and upgraded the Mac mini to 10 GigE. Apparently my CAT5e should be able to support 5 Gbps, and if not, definitely 2.5 Gbps.



That $1506.50 is, or about US$1082.76. US edu pricing is $1169, or about 8% more.

 

[poke01]

s

My internet service provider is now giving me a modem with 2.5 Gbps. So I caved and upgraded the Mac mini to 10 GigE. Apparently my CAT5e should be able to support 5 Gbps, and if not, definitely 2.5 Gbps.

View attachment 110699

That $1506.50 is, or about US$1082.76. US edu pricing is $1169, or about 8% more.

This time around Macs are cheaper everywhere. It’s the same in Australia, cheaper than M3. Especially the Macbook Pros. Apple went overboard with M3 and finally came to senses and prices are much more reasonable, even retail ones.

For example, 14” MacBook M3 8GB costed $2699. Now it’s $2499 with M4 16GB and Thunderbolt 4. The M3 generation sucked in terms of pricing. EDU discount brings it $2225 or 10% off sales which are common at JB-Hi-Fi, $2250. Much better than any Lunar Lake laptop. Apple will sell a lot these MacBooks and even the base Mac minis over the holidays.

 

[Glo.]

Why is upgrade from M4 Mac Mini with 24 GB and 512 GB to M4 Pro Mac mini with the same amount of RAM and SSD costing 400$, but upgrade from M4 MBP with 24 GB RAM, and 512 GD SSD to M4 Pro MBP with the same amount of RAM and SSD only 200$ extra?

 

[Doug S]

Saw a link to an interesting bit of speculation about the M4P/M4M business

He makes a compelling argument that based on the diagrams Apple provided (which as he says have been truthful about the important details even if they aren't die photos) that M4P is two clusters of 5, and M4M is three clusters of 4.

He's convinced me, that's where I'd place my money if I had to bet. Obviously implies separate dies if Apple's diagrams continue to be truthful.

 

[jdubs03]

My internet service provider is now giving me a modem with 2.5 Gbps. So I caved and upgraded the Mac mini to 10 GigE. Apparently my CAT5e should be able to support 5 Gbps, and if not, definitely 2.5 Gbps.

View attachment 110699

That $1506.50 is, or about US$1082.76. US edu pricing is $1169, or about 8% more.

This is quite a compelling spec. I’m more on the fence than ever about this is exact setup.

My main issues:
-my monitors and keyboard are usb type a (I know.. adapter).
- I’m HDMI’d into my TV.

 

[StinkyPinky]

Why is upgrade from M4 Mac Mini with 24 GB and 512 GB to M4 Pro Mac mini with the same amount of RAM and SSD costing 400$, but upgrade from M4 MBP with 24 GB RAM, and 512 GD SSD to M4 Pro MBP with the same amount of RAM and SSD only 200$ extra?

I don't see this at all. In fact, there is no cpu upgrade options on the M4 minis on the US website.

 

[Eug]

Why is upgrade from M4 Mac Mini with 24 GB and 512 GB to M4 Pro Mac mini with the same amount of RAM and SSD costing 400$, but upgrade from M4 MBP with 24 GB RAM, and 512 GD SSD to M4 Pro MBP with the same amount of RAM and SSD only 200$ extra?

I don't see this at all. In fact, there is no cpu upgrade options on the M4 minis on the US website.

Apple's pre-order page has completely separate order options for the M4 and M4 Pro Mac mini. You can't actually "upgrade" from M4 to M4 Pro. You have to choose the M4 Pro up front to configure it.

For the Mac mini:

M4 / 24 GB / 512 GB is US$999 (or $899 edu)
M4 Pro / 24 GB / 512 GB is US$1399 (or $1299 edu)

For the 14" MacBook Pro:

M4 / 24 GB / 512 GB is US$1799 (or $1699 edu)
M4 Pro / 24 GB / 512 GB is US$1999 (or $1849 edu)

I think they just want to keep the pricing high on the M4 Pro Mac mini to justify keeping next year's M4 Max Mac Studio pricing high too. Cuz if the M4 Pro Mac mini were only US$200 more, I probably would have bought it, even though I don't need it.

 

[Glo.]

I think they just want to keep the pricing high on the M4 Pro Mac mini to justify keeping next year's M4 Max Mac Studio pricing high too. Cuz if the M4 Pro Mac mini were only US$200 more, I probably would have bought it, even though I don't need it.

IMO, Apple just wanted to keep the price as high as possible for as little as possible.

BASE M4 Pro Mini, if we go by 200$ price tag for M4 Pro MacBook Pro, vs M4 one should start with 12C CPU, 16C GPU, 24 GB and 1 TB SSD.

Only then it makes sense. Apple is once again ripping their customers, one way or another.

 

[mvprod123]

Mac16,7 - Geekbench

Benchmark results for a Mac16,7 with an Apple M4 Pro processor.

browser.geekbench.com

M4 Pro GB6

 

[mvprod123]

M4 Pro
OpenCL score

Mac16,7 - Geekbench

Benchmark results for a Mac16,7 with an Apple M4 Pro processor.

browser.geekbench.com

 

[The Hardcard]

Saw a link to an interesting bit of speculation about the M4P/M4M business

He makes a compelling argument that based on the diagrams Apple provided (which as he says have been truthful about the important details even if they aren't die photos) that M4P is two clusters of 5, and M4M is three clusters of 4.

He's convinced me, that's where I'd place my money if I had to bet. Obviously implies separate dies if Apple's diagrams continue to be truthful.

The die shots and Geekerwan’s core to core latency for the M3 Max pretty clearly show 2 clusters of 6 cores despite the M3 Max diagram being 3 rows of 4. I don’t think this is a viable path. I still want core latency measurements and die shots.

 

[jdubs03]

Mac16,7 - Geekbench

Benchmark results for a Mac16,7 with an Apple M4 Pro processor.

browser.geekbench.com

M4 Pro GB6

View attachment 110731

Looks like at least in geekbench the M4 Max will score the highest compared to the 285K/9950X.
With two more performance cores I don’t see how it wouldn’t. I’m expecting at least a few thousand points higher.

 

[mvprod123]

M4 Pro
Metal GPU Score (+35% vs M3 Pro)

Mac16,11 - Geekbench

Benchmark results for a Mac16,11 with an Apple M4 Pro processor.

browser.geekbench.com

 

[poke01]

IMO, Apple just wanted to keep the price as high as possible for as little as possible.

BASE M4 Pro Mini, if we go by 200$ price tag for M4 Pro MacBook Pro, vs M4 one should start with 12C CPU, 16C GPU, 24 GB and 1 TB SSD.

Only then it makes sense. Apple is once again ripping their customers, one way or another.

The Macbooks sell in higher volume. The $1999 12 core 24GB is a very good laptop. In 4 months when Best Buy does their $400 off sales. It will be insane value.

I agree the on the M4 Pro Mac mini being priced way too high. For $600 more you get the whole package and its portable. Next M5/6 Pro Mac mini pro needs a $100/$200 price cut

 

[mvprod123]

M4 Pro AI ANE

Mac16,7 - Geekbench

Benchmark results for a Mac16,7 with an Apple M4 Pro processor.

browser.geekbench.com

AI GPU:

Mac16,7 - Geekbench

Benchmark results for a Mac16,7 with an Apple M4 Pro processor.

browser.geekbench.com

AI CPU:

Mac16,7 - Geekbench

Benchmark results for a Mac16,7 with an Apple M4 Pro processor.

browser.geekbench.com