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Apple's M4 Max chip is the fastest single-core performer in consumer computing

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Re: Apple's M4 Max chip is the fastest single-core performer in consumer computing

#111

Post by LorenDB »

nottorp wrote: post #87
LorenDB wrote: post #40

How many people does this actually affect? Gamers are better off with AMD X3D chips, and most productivity workloads need good multicore performance. Obviously MR is great silicon and I don't want to downplay that, but I'm not sure that best singlecore performance is an overly useful metric for the people who need performance.

> Gamers are better off with AMD X3D chips Yeah but then you'd have to use Windows. I'd rather just play whatever games can be emulated and take the performance penalty. It helps that most AAAs put me to sleep...

There's nothing stopping you from using Linux.

Re: Apple's M4 Max chip is the fastest single-core performer in consumer computing

#112

Post by zamadatix »

zeroonetwothree wrote: post #47
t-sauer wrote: post #33

Earlier quoted context omitted.

As far as I can tell those are all scroes from overclocked CPUs.

https://browser.geekbench.com/v6/cpu/7531877 doesn't seem to be

Geekbench doesn't really give accurate information (or enough of it) in the summary report to make that kind of conclusion for an individual result. The one bit of information it does reliably give, memory frequency, says the CPU's memory controller was OC'd to 7600 MT/s from the stock 5600 MT/s so it feels safe to say that number with 42% more performance than the entry in the processor chart also had some other tweaks going on (if not actual frequency OCs/static frequency locks then exotic cooling or the like). The main processor chart https://browser.geekbench.com/processor-benchmarks which will give you a solid idea of where stock CPUs rank - if a result has double digit differences from that number assume it's not a stock result.

E.g. this is one of the top single core benchmark result for any Intel CPU https://browser.geekbench.com/v6/cpu/5568973 and it claims the maximum frequency was stock as well (actually 300 MHz less than thermal velocity boost limits if you count those).

Re: Apple's M4 Max chip is the fastest single-core performer in consumer computing

#114

Post by huijzer »

carlgreene wrote: post #11
post_break wrote: post #8

What's crazy is that the M4 Pro is in the Mac mini, something so tiny can handle that chip. The Mac Studio with the M4 Max will be awesome but the Mini is remarkable.

I am still astounded the huge change moving from an Intel Mac to an Apple Silicon Mac (M1) has had in terms of battery performance and heat. I don't think i've heard the fans a single time I've had this machine and it's been several years. Nor have I had any desire to upgrade.

> I don't think i've heard the fans a single time I've had this machine and it's been several years.

Yes I agree. I sometimes compile LLVM just to check whether it all still works. (And of course to have the latest LLVM from main ready in case I need it. Obviously.)

Re: Apple's M4 Max chip is the fastest single-core performer in consumer computing

#115

Post by hu3 »

selectodude wrote: post #70
eigenspace wrote: post #52

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm not skeptical of Apple's M-series chips. They have proven themselves to be quite impressive and indeed quite competitive with traditional desktop CPUs even at very low wattages. I'm skeptical of Geekbench being able to indicate that this specific new processor is robustly faster than say a 9950x in single-core workloads.

It's robustly faster at the things that Geekbench is measuring. You can find issue with the test criteria (measures meaningless things or is easy to game) but the tests themselves are certainly sound.

> You can find issue with the test criteria (measures meaningless things or is easy to game).

That's exactly their point.

Re: Apple's M4 Max chip is the fastest single-core performer in consumer computing

#116

Post by grahamj »

fnikacevic wrote: post #39
grahamj wrote: post #31

So Ultra used to be the max but now Max is max… until Ultra goes past the max and Max is no longer the max. Until the next Max that goes beyond Ultra!

Can't wait until there's an M4 Ultramax too!

Will that me the maximum Ultra or the Ultimate Max?

Re: Apple's M4 Max chip is the fastest single-core performer in consumer computing

#118

Post by hu3 »

nottorp wrote: post #87
LorenDB wrote: post #40

How many people does this actually affect? Gamers are better off with AMD X3D chips, and most productivity workloads need good multicore performance. Obviously MR is great silicon and I don't want to downplay that, but I'm not sure that best singlecore performance is an overly useful metric for the people who need performance.

> Gamers are better off with AMD X3D chips Yeah but then you'd have to use Windows. I'd rather just play whatever games can be emulated and take the performance penalty. It helps that most AAAs put me to sleep...

> Yeah but then you'd have to use Windows.

Why? Linux gaming has been great since Wine.

Even better now with Valve investment.

Surely leagues better than gaming with macOS.

Re: Apple's M4 Max chip is the fastest single-core performer in consumer computing

#119

Post by moffkalast »

fnikacevic wrote: post #39
grahamj wrote: post #31

So Ultra used to be the max but now Max is max… until Ultra goes past the max and Max is no longer the max. Until the next Max that goes beyond Ultra!

Can't wait until there's an M4 Ultramax too!

Until there's an Ultramax+ Pro 2

Re: Apple's M4 Max chip is the fastest single-core performer in consumer computing

#120

Post by philistine »

mortenjorck wrote: post #27
post_break wrote: post #8

What's crazy is that the M4 Pro is in the Mac mini, something so tiny can handle that chip. The Mac Studio with the M4 Max will be awesome but the Mini is remarkable.

Indeed, the $1599 M4 Pro Mac mini beats the current $3999 M2 Ultra Mac Studio on GeekBench 6 multi-core: https://www.macrumors.com/2024/10/31/m4-pro-chip-benchmark-r...

Back in the early 90s, when Apple was literally building their first product line with the Mac, they would come out with their second big honking powerhouse Mac: the Macintosh IIx. It blew everything out of the water. Then they would come out with their next budget all-in-one machine. But computing was improving so fast, with prices for components dropping so quickly, that the Macintosh SE/30 ended up as impressive as the Macintosh IIx with a much lower price. That's how the legend of the SE/30 was born, turning it into the best Mac ever for most people.

With how fast and impressive the improvements are coming with the M-series processors, it often feels like we're back in the early 90s. I thought the M1 Macbook Air would be the epitome of Apple's processor renaissance, but it sure feels like that was only the beginning. When we look historically at these machines in 20 years, we'll think of a specific machine as the best early Apple Silicon Mac. I don't think that machine is even out yet.

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