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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

#61

Post by bhouston »

This confuses me because I thought all of the Mx series chips in the same generation ran at the same speed and has the same single-core capabilities?

The main thing that caused differential single-core CPU performance was just throttling under load for the devices that didn't have active cooling, such as the MacBook Air and iPad Pros.

Based on this reasoning, the M4, M4 Pro and M4 Max in active cooled devices, the MacBook Pro and Mac Mini, should have the same single-core performance ratings, no?

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

#62

Post by iJohnDoe »

asmvolatile wrote: post #43

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 :(

Agreed, but probably getting a Lenovo Legion will be your best bet in the near term.

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

#63

Post by paol »

hanniabu wrote: post #6

Good enough to be used for gaming? Really want Apple to get into that because dealing with Windows sucks.

Well we're about to find out now that CDPR have announced Cyberpunk 2077 will get a native Metal port. I for one am extremely curious with the result. Apple have made very lofty claims about their GPU performance, but without any high-end games running natively, it's been hard to evaluate those claims.

That said, expectations should be kept at a realistic level. Even if the M4 has the fastest embedded GPU (it probably does), it's still an embedded GPU. They aren't going to be topping any absolute performance charts.

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

#64

Post by eigenspace »

whynotminot wrote: post #7
eigenspace wrote: post #4

I'll admit to some reflexive skepticism here. I know GeekBench at least used to be considered an entirely unserious indicator of performance and any discussion relating to its scores used to be drowned out by people explaining why it was so bad. Do those criticisms still hold? Are serious people nowadays taking Geekbench to be a reasonably okay (though obviously imperfect) performance metric?

You’re not the only one — but just curious where this skepticism comes from. This is M 4 — Apple has now made four generations of chips and each one were class leading upon release. What more do you need to see?

If that's all we cared about we wouldn't be discussing a Geekbench score in the first place. The OP could have just posted the statement without ever mentioning a benchmark.

I was just curious if people had experience with how reliable Geekbench has been at showing relative performance of CPUs lately.

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

#65

Post by jsheard »

bhouston wrote: post #61

This confuses me because I thought all of the Mx series chips in the same generation ran at the same speed and has the same single-core capabilities? The main thing that caused differential single-core CPU performance was just throttling under load for the devices that didn't have active cooling, such as the MacBook Air and iPad Pros. Based on this reasoning, the M4, M4 Pro and M4 Max in active cooled devices, the Ma…

It might be down to the memory latency, the base M4 uses LPDDR5X-7500 while the bigger models use LPDDR5X-8533. I think that split is new this generation, and the past gens used the same memory across the whole stack.

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

#66

Post by ceejayoz »

zeroonetwothree wrote: post #45
ceejayoz wrote: post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Are those production results? https://browser.geekbench.com/v6/cpu/1962935 says it was running at 13.54 GHz. https://browser.geekbench.com/v6/cpu/4913899 looks... questionable.

https://browser.geekbench.com/v6/cpu/7531877 seems fine?

It seems to be a pretty large outlier. https://browser.geekbench.com/processors/intel-core-i7-13700...

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

#69

Post by _mlbt »

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.

It still blows my mind how infrequently I have to charge my M3 Pro MacBook Pro. It is a complete game changer.

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

#70

Post by selectodude »

eigenspace wrote: post #52
ceejayoz wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'd be reflexively skeptical if I didn't have a M1 Mac. It really is something.

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.
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