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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

#441

Earlier quoted context omitted.

took at look at these benchmarks. they appear to be using some extremely antiquated code, and workloads, that do not take advantage of any of the advanced features and instruction introduced over the past 15-20 years in the x86-64 architecture. additionally, the only updates they appear to have made in the last 5+ years involve optimizing the suite for Apple chips. thus, it leaves out massive parts of modern computin…

Does optimising the tests towards one architecture seem like a fair way of testing?

It's optimizing as in previously it had far less attention.

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

#442
post #424

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Apple's marketing is comparing this season's M4s to M1s and even two generations of Intel ago. The 2x or 4x numbers suggests they are targeting and catering to this longer cycle where subliminally suggested updates are remarkably better, rather than suggesting an annual treadmill even though each release is "our best ever".

Yeah they did this last year and before. It’s super annoying. I’d say it’s super stupid, but I’m sure from a marketing point of view it isn’t. I was going to say why not compare it to something older! 100000x faster than a pc-xt!

I mean, most people don't buy a new phone each year, let alone something as expensive as a laptop. They are probably still targeting Intel Mac, or M1 users for the most part.

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

#443

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> The only good comparison is to judge a variety of real world programs compiled for each architecture, and run them. I'm guessing that you don't realize that you are describing SPEC? It's been around since the days when every workstation vendor had their own bespoke CPU design and it literally takes hours to run the full set of workloads. From the same Anandtech article linked above: > SPEC CPU 2017 is a series of s…

took at look at these benchmarks. they appear to be using some extremely antiquated code, and workloads, that do not take advantage of any of the advanced features and instruction introduced over the past 15-20 years in the x86-64 architecture. additionally, the only updates they appear to have made in the last 5+ years involve optimizing the suite for Apple chips. thus, it leaves out massive parts of modern computin…

> the only updates they appear to have made in the last 5+ years involve optimizing the suite for Apple chip

How do you theorize that generic C or C++ code that you compile using GCC has been "optimized for an Apple chip"?

Feankly, it's impossible to take any of this comment seriously.

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

#444
post #118

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> 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.

Sir, you are not a real gamer(tm) either. Use a puny alternative OS and lose 3 fps, Valve support or not? Unacceptable! As for Linux, I abandoned it as the main GUI OS for Macs about 10 years ago. I have linux and windows boxes but the only ones with displays/keyboards are the macs and it will stay that way.

It is definitely not a given you lose FPS on Linux. It is not uncommon for games to give better FPS on Linux. It will all end up depending on the exact games you want to play.

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

#445
post #278

Earlier quoted context omitted.

M3 Pro user here, agree with the same points. It's nice to be able to actually have your laptop on your lap, without burning your legs.

you still shouldn't have it on your lap though. it's bad for your posture.

Not for everyone. It turns out by following standard ergonomic guidelines I was doing more damage. I have to actually look way down at monitors, even on my desk. It has to be well below eye height, basically slammed.

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

#446
post #427

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Maybe the desktops, but the laptops were always nigh-unusable for my workloads (nothing special, just iOS dev in Xcode). The fans would spin up to jet takeoff status, it would thermal throttle, and performance would nosedive. The M1 Pro was a revelation.

There was a really annoying issue with a lot of the intel MacBooks where due to the board design one of the two power sockets would cause them to run quite a bit hotter.

Yeah I remember that, I posted a YouTube video complaining about it 6 years ago, before I could find any other references to the issue online. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rox2IfViJLg

That would cause it to throttle even when idle! But even on battery or using the right-hand ports, under continuous load (edit-build-test cycles) it would quickly throttle.

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

#447
post #427

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There was a really annoying issue with a lot of the intel MacBooks where due to the board design one of the two power sockets would cause them to run quite a bit hotter.

Yeah I remember that, I posted a YouTube video complaining about it 6 years ago, before I could find any other references to the issue online. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rox2IfViJLg That would cause it to throttle even when idle! But even on battery or using the right-hand ports, under continuous load (edit-build-test cycles) it would quickly throttle.

Oh yeah, I'm very aware. My work machine was a 2015 MBP until about 6 months ago. It was really bad towards the end.

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

#448

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It’s more like Apple fronts the cash for TSMC’s latest node. But regardless, in what way does that detract from their chips being class-leading at release?

Because the others can't use that node, there are no others in that same class. If there was a race, but one person is on foot, and the other is in a car, it's not surprising if the person in the car finishes first.

I have some sympathy with this view because it's in no way mass market.

Nevertheless, product delivery is a combination of multiple things of which the basic tech is just one component.

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

#449
post #118

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> 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.

Sir, you are not a real gamer(tm) either. Use a puny alternative OS and lose 3 fps, Valve support or not? Unacceptable! As for Linux, I abandoned it as the main GUI OS for Macs about 10 years ago. I have linux and windows boxes but the only ones with displays/keyboards are the macs and it will stay that way.

That explains your comment then, lots of things changed from 10 years ago and gaming on Linux is pretty good now. The last games you can't play are the ones with strong anti-cheats basically. You can't compare that to the Mac situation where you can't play anything.

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

#450

All I want is a top of the line MBP, with all it’s performance and insane battery life, but running a Linux distro of my choice :(

These things are so fast that you can run a virtual Linux without even noticing performance issues.
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