From what I've read, it sounds like much of ARMv9 is based on the extensions that Apple added to ARMv8. Apple Silicon is already a heavily customized version of the ARM instruction set.
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First M2 Macs Expected to Launch Later This Year Using TSMC's 4nm Chip Process
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From what I've read, it sounds like much of ARMv9 is based on the extensions that Apple added to ARMv8. Apple Silicon is already a heavily customized version of the ARM instruction set.
Yes, each CPU and GPU core will be faster so it will have a higher Single Core benchmark score.
If M2 is based on A16, I would not expect it to be released until after the A16 which means post-iPhone 14 launch.
I mean we'll know for sure when they identify the branding on the CPU cores. If it is Avalanche and Blizzard, it will be A15. If it is something new, then it will be A16.
HobeSoundDarryl
macrumors G5
Only Apple knows... but the consensus belief is that M2 > M1 but not greater than M1 PRO/MAX/ULTRA. It is generally believed M2 will be a little better than M1 (a little faster, a few more cores) much like A15 vs A14.
If it helps, think of PRO/MAX/ULTRA as separate things... more like i5, i7, i9 Macs. In that analogy, base M1 or M2 is an i3 Mac.
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Let it slide. MacRumors is merely stating the source (or one of the sources) of their article as a professional courtesy. I used to get tired of seeing Prosser’s name, so I understand the feeling…I’ve learned to live and let live.
What’s the size difference of M1 compared to A15???
Why do you think Intel has moved many years ago to a design that lets you “fuse” a chip to be an i9 or i7 or i5?
Think again
Fair enough, I am just not liking this new world of “influencers”…
If Gurman is correct that the M2 will be 4nm, I would expect the M2 to be based on the upcoming A16 rather than A15 as has been assumed. If I recall the A15 used an improved 5mn process and the A16 will be the first to jump to 4nm. If I had to guess, Apple plans to refresh each Mac in about a 2 year cycle and each iteration of the M-series SoC's would be based on every other generation of A-series SoC.
I'm really confused about his comment about the iMac Pro as Apple stated pretty clearly that the Mac Pro is the only remaining Mac that needs to transition. Unless they have an Intel iMac Pro forthcoming? But that makes zero sense to me. In hindsight after this event, the iMac Pro seems like is was made as a stop gap until they were ready with their Pro level Apple silicon Macs. Perhaps what he might mean is that there is still a larger iMac in the works. I could see a scenario where when Apple refreshes the iMac with M2, they add a 27" option. Seems like that would be an easy way to increase the average selling price of the iMac. Maybe even offer an M2 Pro chip as an option in the larger iMac, I don't know. Regardless, a forthcoming iMac Pro seems extremely unlikely to me.
My prediction is that we'll see a preview of the Apple silicon Mac Pro at WWDC similar to the 2019 redesign announcement with availability starting in the fall. September will bring the usual new iPhones with a 4nm A16. Then October/November we'll see the first M2 chip Macs. Probably the Mac Mini, 13" Macbook Pro (if they're still keeping it around), and the redesigned Air. Then next spring see the M2 iMac. M2 Macbook Pros in summer/fall of 2023. Etc.
I'm really confused about his comment about the iMac Pro as Apple stated pretty clearly that the Mac Pro is the only remaining Mac that needs to transition. Unless they have an Intel iMac Pro forthcoming? But that makes zero sense to me. In hindsight after this event, the iMac Pro seems like is was made as a stop gap until they were ready with their Pro level Apple silicon Macs. Perhaps what he might mean is that there is still a larger iMac in the works. I could see a scenario where when Apple refreshes the iMac with M2, they add a 27" option. Seems like that would be an easy way to increase the average selling price of the iMac. Maybe even offer an M2 Pro chip as an option in the larger iMac, I don't know. Regardless, a forthcoming iMac Pro seems extremely unlikely to me.
My prediction is that we'll see a preview of the Apple silicon Mac Pro at WWDC similar to the 2019 redesign announcement with availability starting in the fall. September will bring the usual new iPhones with a 4nm A16. Then October/November we'll see the first M2 chip Macs. Probably the Mac Mini, 13" Macbook Pro (if they're still keeping it around), and the redesigned Air. Then next spring see the M2 iMac. M2 Macbook Pros in summer/fall of 2023. Etc.
The rumors are too many at this point, and the success rate is dropping. Basically I do not really care about them anymore.
ARMv9 adds very little that Apple hasn't already addressed with its own extensions.
Maybe. It's not at all unusual to port a physical design from one node to another, though. At AMD we even sometimes designed so that no physical redesign was necessary. This is possible if you know the design rules for the upcoming node ahead of time, and you're willing to create an abstract grid that is the least common denominator of the two. Then all you have to do is mechanically shrink the gds when you are done.
Half the number of cores that are 1 gen better, so I'd guess 50-60%
Those 3 are still very similar chips for the exact same purpose.
Nah. I'm good.
No particular reason they couldn't launch the M2 with A16 cores before the A16 itself is released (or would that be an M2 with M2 cores, and the A16 uses M2 cores ?)
I still think M2 will be based on A15 (Avalanche and Blizzard CPU cores) and I see no reason why Apple and TSMC would not move M2 to 4nm even using the same cores if the process can handle them.
But as I noted above, we'll know when Apple tells us the names of the CPU cores.
Ross Young says that an "Apple Studio Display Pro" is coming at WWDC with MiniLED and ProMotion. I expect it to be $1999 versus $1699 to cover those two technologies.
Marry an ASDP with a Mac Studio and you get an iMac Pro - just in two pieces instead of an All-in-One form factor. And at $4000, it is within spitting distance of the original Intel iMac Pro's price.
Yes, Apple could in theory force an ASDP and MS together in the All-in-One form factor again, but I just see too many drawbacks. Apple crowed how the Mac Studio can fit under an Apple Studio Display so really, it can be effectively an all-in-one machine.
I mean you can probably put the ASD(P) on top of the Mac Studio and use a .5m TB4 cable so there is nothing snaking around the back. And you can save $400 on the tilt- and height-adjustable stand!
Other than Apple likes to showcase new silicon in new iPhones.
Yes, they have launched new silicon in new iPads first (including the A14 iPad Air), but they did so within weeks of the iPhone launch.
Presuming M2 is based on A16, launching it well before iPhone 14 (like at WWDC) means months until iPhone 14 and then Apple can't "wow" us about how amazing A16 is because we'll already know from M2 benchmarks. Even if M2 Macs are ready to go now, I would expect Apple to hold them back, launch iPhone 14 with A16 in September, and then in October launch the A16-based M2 Macs.
That is when you just flip the chip upside down.
Less power to Apple. The new chips are very efficient.
***************
I know some people think the new generation will be the M2. I suspect they will call it the M0 (pronounced M naught.), just because of the arguments it would provoke.
M2!
M nought!
M2!
M nought!!
...
HobeSoundDarryl
macrumors G5
Hmmmm, if we assume one picometer per year, what will chip designers do in the year 3022???
Let's start worrying now. ?
The numbers are marketing fever dreams now, advertising what they expect to be '4 nm equivalent'. Since it's in the realm of marketing, they'll probably go to imaginary units on an imaginary scale.