eDRAM in new 2020 MBP?

[darkmatter343]

The previous 8th Gen MBP's from 2019 had 128mb of eDRAM for the Intel Iris Plus Graphics, however I can't find any information on how much if any the new 2020 MBP's have. I've looked at the Wikipedia pages for both the list of i5 chips, the list of Intel Graphics (which has the previous Iris Plus 645/655 with 128mb), and Wiki page for MacBook Pros which again lists the previous 2019 with eDRAM but nothing for the 2020.

Also Apple's own tech specs list the following, so do we have any idea?

 

[Tekguy0]

The new MBPs and MBAs do not have eDRAM. Intel (unfortunately) does not offer it anymore. The last series to have it was 8th gen for U-series, and 6th gen for H-series chips.

 

[darkmatter343]

The new MBPs and MBAs do not have eDRAM. Intel (unfortunately) does not offer it anymore. The last series to have it was 8th gen for U-series, and 6th gen for H-series chips.

Why would they cut it out? Cost? It greatly enhances the performance, unless they made that decision because the ram speed is now almost double in speed and using LPDDR4.

 

[Tekguy0]

Why would they cut it out? Cost? It greatly enhances the performance, unless they made that decision because the ram speed is now almost double in speed and using LPDDR4.

They may have done it to reduce costs, or if it was difficult to fabricate. Either way, it is disappointing indeed.

 

[Mattyman]

The stats still suggest graphics to be better than the last quad core.

 

[darkmatter343]

The stats still suggest graphics to be better than the last quad core.

That's because it's graphics core count has increased from 384:48:6 in the previous Intel Iris 645/655, to 512:64:8 in the new Intel Iris Graphics in the 2020 i5. The 2020 MacBook Air's use a Graphics Core config of 384:48:6.

Also, the Graphics memory bandwidth has increased from 38.4 GB/s to 59.7 GB/s but that's due to Apple now using LPDDR4 @3733MHz vs DDR3 @2133MHz in the older 2019 MB's.

 

[playtech1]

Also, the Graphics memory bandwidth has increased from 38.4 GB/s to 59.7 GB/s but that's due to Apple now using LPDDR4 @3733MHz vs DDR3 @2133MHz in the older 2019 MB's.

I think you have hit the nail on the head - if the eDRAM cache was a solution to slow memory access then it becomes less useful as the memory gets faster. Perhaps the performance gains did not justify the extra cost this time around?

Of course, it could simply be a business decision due to Intel being less flexible or Apple being less demanding. But given that Apple pushed Intel to produce custom CPUs with better than normal graphics for the MBA, I feel that Apple could have pushed for something extra here if it was possible and not prohibitively expensive.

 

[darkmatter343]

I think you have hit the nail on the head - if the eDRAM cache was a solution to slow memory access then it becomes less useful as the memory gets faster. Perhaps the performance gains did not justify the extra cost this time around?

Of course, it could simply be a business decision due to Intel being less flexible or Apple being less demanding. But given that Apple pushed Intel to produce custom CPUs with better than normal graphics for the MBA, I feel that Apple could have pushed for something extra here if it was possible and not prohibitively expensive.

Yeah, with the combination of faster memory resulting in more bandwidth, along with a higher graphics core count, that probably pushed the graphics performance way past the previous Iris with eDRAM. Still... sure would have been sweet to have faster memory, higher graphics core count, AND eDRAM as a bonus 😁

 

[littlepud]

It's probably an Intel thing. They likely cut out the eDRAM to reduce die size and get to an acceptable yield at (the problematic) 10nm process node.