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An Update on Apple M1/M2 GPU Drivers

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Re: An Update on Apple M1/M2 GPU Drivers

#161

Post by user_7832 »

david-gpu wrote: post #141
dtquad wrote: post #39

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The graphics pipeline in modern GPUs are mostly a thin low-level Vulkan/Metal-like layer on top of a massively parallel CUDA-like compute architecture. It's basically all emulated. One of the reasons GPU manufacturers are unwilling to open source their drivers is because a lot of their secret sauce actually happens in software in the drivers on top of the massively parallel CUDA-like compute architecture.

As a former insider, this is NOT remotely how I would describe reality. I have signed NDAs and don't feel comfortable going into any detail, other than saying that there is a TON going on inside GPUs that is not "basically all emulated".

Maybe a tall ask, but have you considered writing down all your experiences into a book, and release it after all NDAs expire? I’d love to read more about low level hardware and the behind the scenes stuff involved. I’m sure you’ve got a lot of good stories.

Re: An Update on Apple M1/M2 GPU Drivers

#162

Post by dm319 »

throw88888 wrote: post #155
TrainedMonkey wrote: post #152

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Underrated point, maybe it's aluminum unibody or more stable OS, but in my experience average MBP lifetime is meaningfully higher compared to a windows machine. My longest lasting windows machine was T400 Thinkpad which lasted 5 years before Core 2 Duo architecture stopped being able to keep up. It got replaced with HP Envy with great specs but made out of plastic which barely lasted 1.5 years before screen fell off…

If you replaced the T400 because it felt slow, maybe it’s just a software/OS issue. The hardware on Thinkpad T-models should last longer than just 5 years in general. My daily-driver laptop at home is a T420 from 2011 with a Core 2 Duo, SSD and 8GB RAM. Works fine still. I run Linux + OpenBox, so it is a somewhat lightweight setup to be fair.

My daughter just asked me for the 'tiny' laptop. She has taken my Thinkpad X60 which runs linux mint. It's getting on for 20 years old soon!

Re: An Update on Apple M1/M2 GPU Drivers

#163

Post by bhouston »

throw88888 wrote: post #155
TrainedMonkey wrote: post #152

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Underrated point, maybe it's aluminum unibody or more stable OS, but in my experience average MBP lifetime is meaningfully higher compared to a windows machine. My longest lasting windows machine was T400 Thinkpad which lasted 5 years before Core 2 Duo architecture stopped being able to keep up. It got replaced with HP Envy with great specs but made out of plastic which barely lasted 1.5 years before screen fell off…

If you replaced the T400 because it felt slow, maybe it’s just a software/OS issue. The hardware on Thinkpad T-models should last longer than just 5 years in general. My daily-driver laptop at home is a T420 from 2011 with a Core 2 Duo, SSD and 8GB RAM. Works fine still. I run Linux + OpenBox, so it is a somewhat lightweight setup to be fair.

> My daily-driver laptop at home is a T420 from 2011 with a Core 2 Duo, SSD and 8GB RAM. Works fine still.

I am not sure I would be productive with that. Any Core 2 Duo is 10x slower single core and 20x slower multi-core than a current generation laptop CPU at this point.

Eg: https://browser.geekbench.com/v6/cpu/compare/8588187?baselin...

I think it would mostly be good as an SSH terminal, but doing any real work locally on it seems frankly unfeasible.

Re: An Update on Apple M1/M2 GPU Drivers

#164

Post by Sakos »

TrainedMonkey wrote: post #152
Cthulhu_ wrote: post #142

Earlier quoted context omitted.

One thing I noticed in the M4 macbook announcement comments was how many people were happy with their M1 laptop, and second, how many people kept their Macbooks for nearly a decade; these devices are built to last, and I applaud long-term support from Apple itself and the Linux community. Second, since it's open source, Apple themselves are probably paying attention; I didn't read the whole thing because it's going o…

Underrated point, maybe it's aluminum unibody or more stable OS, but in my experience average MBP lifetime is meaningfully higher compared to a windows machine. My longest lasting windows machine was T400 Thinkpad which lasted 5 years before Core 2 Duo architecture stopped being able to keep up. It got replaced with HP Envy with great specs but made out of plastic which barely lasted 1.5 years before screen fell off…

I have a T420 with a Core i5 2500 in great condition which still runs great on Windows 11. Core 2 Duo just didn't have the performance to have longevity. Sandy Bridge and later really do. Windows devices last for ages and it's really weird pretending this is an Apple only thing.

Re: An Update on Apple M1/M2 GPU Drivers

#165

Post by duxup »

Cthulhu_ wrote: post #142
whitehexagon wrote: post #128

What I really respect is the dedication to completing support for the M1/M2. Too many projects get dropped the moment the next shiny ray-traced toy comes along. I know this type of work can be challenging to say the least. My own dabble with Zig and Pinephone hardware drivers reminded me of some of the pain of poorly documented hardware, but what a reward when it works. My own M1 was only purchased because of this pr…

One thing I noticed in the M4 macbook announcement comments was how many people were happy with their M1 laptop, and second, how many people kept their Macbooks for nearly a decade; these devices are built to last, and I applaud long-term support from Apple itself and the Linux community. Second, since it's open source, Apple themselves are probably paying attention; I didn't read the whole thing because it's going o…

People talk about Apple prices being higher but the longevity of their devices really erases that price difference for me.

I still have an old iPhone 8 that I test with that runs well, I’ve had numerous Android devices die in that timeframe, slow to a crawl, or at best their performance is erratic.

Re: An Update on Apple M1/M2 GPU Drivers

#168

Post by mjangle1985 »

Cthulhu_ wrote: post #142
whitehexagon wrote: post #128

What I really respect is the dedication to completing support for the M1/M2. Too many projects get dropped the moment the next shiny ray-traced toy comes along. I know this type of work can be challenging to say the least. My own dabble with Zig and Pinephone hardware drivers reminded me of some of the pain of poorly documented hardware, but what a reward when it works. My own M1 was only purchased because of this pr…

One thing I noticed in the M4 macbook announcement comments was how many people were happy with their M1 laptop, and second, how many people kept their Macbooks for nearly a decade; these devices are built to last, and I applaud long-term support from Apple itself and the Linux community. Second, since it's open source, Apple themselves are probably paying attention; I didn't read the whole thing because it's going o…

I still have an M1 Air. I love it.

I considered upgrading but it’s hard to care to cause my M1 is just so good for what I need it for.

Re: An Update on Apple M1/M2 GPU Drivers

#169

Post by exe34 »

duxup wrote: post #165
Cthulhu_ wrote: post #142

Earlier quoted context omitted.

One thing I noticed in the M4 macbook announcement comments was how many people were happy with their M1 laptop, and second, how many people kept their Macbooks for nearly a decade; these devices are built to last, and I applaud long-term support from Apple itself and the Linux community. Second, since it's open source, Apple themselves are probably paying attention; I didn't read the whole thing because it's going o…

People talk about Apple prices being higher but the longevity of their devices really erases that price difference for me. I still have an old iPhone 8 that I test with that runs well, I’ve had numerous Android devices die in that timeframe, slow to a crawl, or at best their performance is erratic.

my mid 2012 MacBook air refuses to die.

Re: An Update on Apple M1/M2 GPU Drivers

#170

Post by attendant3446 »

Cthulhu_ wrote: post #142
whitehexagon wrote: post #128

What I really respect is the dedication to completing support for the M1/M2. Too many projects get dropped the moment the next shiny ray-traced toy comes along. I know this type of work can be challenging to say the least. My own dabble with Zig and Pinephone hardware drivers reminded me of some of the pain of poorly documented hardware, but what a reward when it works. My own M1 was only purchased because of this pr…

One thing I noticed in the M4 macbook announcement comments was how many people were happy with their M1 laptop, and second, how many people kept their Macbooks for nearly a decade; these devices are built to last, and I applaud long-term support from Apple itself and the Linux community. Second, since it's open source, Apple themselves are probably paying attention; I didn't read the whole thing because it's going o…

I have the opposite experience. Apple is incredibly difficult and expensive to repair. But I have been pleasantly surprised by the longevity and repairability of ThinkPads. I like those Apple M processors, but I know where I'm spending my money.
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