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Apple unveils M3, M3 Pro, and M3 Max

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Re: Apple unveils M3, M3 Pro, and M3 Max

#561

Post by jug »

polishTar wrote: post #195
kivlad wrote: post #160

A few things I noticed, as I'm seeing the variety of SKUs becoming more complex. - Note that memory bandwidth is down. M2 Pro had 200GB/s, M3 Pro only has 150GB/s. M3 Max only has 400GB/s on the higher binned part. - Just like the low-spec M3 14" has one fewer Thunderbolt port, it also doesn't officially support Thunderbolt 4 (like M1/M2 before it) - The M3 Pro loses the option for an 8TB SSD. Likely because it was a…

In addition to the reduced memory bandwidth, the M3 pro also loses 2 performance cores for only 2 more efficiency cores. M2 pro: 8 performance cores + 4 efficiency cores. M3 pro: 6 performance cores + 6 efficiency cores. Not a great trade... I'm not sure the M3 pro can be considered an upgrade

This makes going Mac Mini M2 Pro over iMac M3 feel real compelling. The respective prices of these models are in fact the same, so if you happen to have a good monitor already... (also the iMac M3 curiously doesn’t even have a Pro option.)

Re: Apple unveils M3, M3 Pro, and M3 Max

#562

Post by upon_drumhead »

bischofs wrote: post #81

They kept mentioning performance relative to intel Macs which makes me think there is a large cohort of people sticking to their x86 rigs due to compatibility. Being able to run an x86 linux or windows VM is still a requirement for me.

https://mac.getutm.app runs just fine with x86 linux vms. I'm running a few ubuntu ones as we speak. It's painless and quite reasonably speedy.

Re: Apple unveils M3, M3 Pro, and M3 Max

#564

Post by jug »

elif wrote: post #196
internet2000 wrote: post #158

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I imagine the amount of people upgrading from an M2 Mac will be close to 0, while there's a lot of Intel stragglers out there.

I think the point is more that "is it worth buying this new m3 or should I buy a secondhand m2 for half the price?"

Or should I buy a brand new M2 Mac Mini for half the price of iMac M3 if I already own a monitor. Or a M2 Pro for the same price where iMac M3 doesn’t even have a counterpart.

Re: Apple unveils M3, M3 Pro, and M3 Max

#565

Post by bredren »

brendannee wrote: post #386

Which M3 configuration is the best price/performance option for an average developer? Is there an obvious best choice?

Not that I can see. I spec’d this:

SoC: 11-core CPU, 14-core GPU, 16-core NE Memory: 18 GB Disk Space: 1 TB SSD Power: 70 Watt Price: $2199

I personally would go for the 36GB Ram on this, bump the processor to the 12/18 core set and go for 2TB drive but the price skyrockets with these additions.

FWIW, MBA M2 fully loaded is a very sound laptop.

Re: Apple unveils M3, M3 Pro, and M3 Max

#566

Post by jnsaff2 »

Whats the point of re-parroting Apple PR and include: "the most advanced x" for each new generation something Apple?

I get it that they must say it but for the rest of us it's pretty obvious that they would say and it would make sense to develop something that will be less advanced than the stuff you already have.

You might make different trade offs but you surely would not do whatever the equivalent of de-growth be in computing.

Re: Apple unveils M3, M3 Pro, and M3 Max

#568

Post by aurareturn »

iAMkenough wrote: post #296
sosodev wrote: post #85

What's the deal with "dynamic caching"? I wish they would have talked about it more. It sounds like they're reducing memory allocations by only allocating what is actually needed.

You got it. Instead of letting software developers allocate a static cache with overhead that eats a little into the unified memory, the Mac gets to decide how to dynamically allocate and release cache for graphics. They said it would be "transparent to developers," but not really sure what that means exactly.

I take "transparent to developers" as something developers don't have to worry about. It's done automatically.

Re: Apple unveils M3, M3 Pro, and M3 Max

#569

Post by sgt »

paustint wrote: post #290
coverband wrote: post #241

And still starting at 8GB of RAM… Disappointed.

Seriously.... My 16gb MacBook pro M1 work machine runs out of memory constantly. I had a MacBook air 8gb and it was useless, it would freeze constantly and have crackly audio. I found that 24GB ram is really the minimum that is usable on M-series when doing any type of basic work. Likely an output of so many electron based apps which are memory hungry, but if the memory is supposedly "really fast" then I would expect…

I'm on 16GB which seems plenty - running many JetBrain's IDE's at the same time, browsers, VM's etc. I know people with the 8GB version and they are fine too. Could be that your machine is faulty somehow and that it's not the RAM but something else.

Re: Apple unveils M3, M3 Pro, and M3 Max

#570

Post by lostlogin »

giantrobot wrote: post #419
boomfunky wrote: post #267

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Apple signed a deal with TSMC to purchase nearly all of their available 3nm chips for the next year. Ethical or not, they positioned themselves to ensure almost no competitors could develop on 3nm until they did first since no fab on earth has the scale of TSMC. They could ride this plan for years if it pays them.

How is Apple buying all the production slots for a process in any way unethical? It's not like they're buying them and then burying the chips in a landfill. They paid TSMC's asking price for production slots. AMD or Intel could have bought those same slots but didn't. TSMC has limited capacity at 3nm, it was up for sale, Apple bought it. Where's the ethics question?

I’ve seen argument for ‘business ethics’ before from the losing side. It’s sometimes part of a media campaign. It’s likely cheaper than legal action.
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