Just focus your spending on whatever sized device you need, and the unified memory and onboard storage options that will benefit your workflow.
Oh, and if you work with anything other than graphics, imagery, or video, ignore the GPU options. And even then, it will only arrive after several years of hard use. I’d argue that once you go beyond the 16-core GPU option and into M1 Max territory, you really will need to be pushing that chip incredibly hard every single day to see any kind of meaningful return on your investment. This is all you need to know about the new M1 Pro and M1 Max chips: the law of diminishing returns enters far sooner than ever before.Ī case in point: I don’t need the M1 Max 16-inch MacBook Pro I’ve spent a shed load of cash on. Exporting is a different matter – indeed, four minutes is a long time in the world of creative work and tight deadlines.īut is it worth £1,800? More importantly – who on earth is that 32-core M1 Max chip aimed at? The simplest conclusion So, as far as rendering is concerned, there appear to be practically zero benefits on the table if you opt for the more expensive machine. M1 Max 16-inch MacBook Pro (32-core GPU): 5:36.M1 Pro 14-inch MacBook Pro (14-core GPU): 9:54.M1 Max 16-inch MacBook Pro (32-core GPU): 3:09.M1 Pro 14-inch MacBook Pro (14-core GPU): 3:14.To put each chip to task, I rendered and exported said footage. I recently measured the performance of the base-level 14-inch M1 Pro MacBook Pro and a 32-core GPU M1 Max 16-inch MacBook Pro. This involved a 20 minute piece of 4K footage, shot on my Sony FX3 in 10-bit 4:2:2 colour and at 24fps.
There are, after all, only a couple of cores (eight, at the most) between each option.
The 16-inch version of the MacBook Pro starts at 16-cores of GPU with the M1 Pro and a max (excuse the pun) additional spend of $300 will net you the M1 Max 32-core version – the one I went for.Ĭonfused? I understand why. Feeling flush? Chuck another $200 on top of that, and you’ll end up with 32-cores. However, spend $500 extra, and you’ll suddenly be in M1 Max land and find yourself with a hefty 24-cores of GPU to play with. From there, if you spend an extra $300, you bag yourself the 16-core version. On the 14-inch MacBook Pro, the fewest number of GPU cores you can opt for is 14 in the base level machine on the M1 Pro chip. If you thought choosing between the M1 Pro and M1 Max was difficult, or have spent the last few weeks running around in circles between 16, 32, and 64GB of unified memory, wait until you get stuck into the GPU options. Today, we’re going to focus on the GPU cores, because I think they’re easily the most misunderstood element of the new MacBook Pro – and I’ve rounded on a blindingly-simple conclusion. In fact, it’s damn confusing.įor all Apple’s determination to democratise all of this power and make it as non-geeky as possible, the sheer range of CPUs, GPUs, unified memory options, and chip iterations makes for a perilous buying experience. Receiving a new MacBook Pro is very exciting (unless you experience the same delivery woes as I).īut, buying one? That isn’t exciting, at all.