How wasteful is Apples M1 Pro and Max Strategy?

[NT1440]

I think what we have here is a fundamental misunderstanding of the manufacturing process. TSMC tells you what their yield is for each node in their earnings calls, they’re actually getting better yield on this process than they were on the previous one. If they weren’t hitting that mark on Apple’s production runs the entire process wouldn’t have been certified to actually go into production in the first place.

 

[jjcs]

It's funny how even companies that rely on climate concern as the central marketing tenant of their business are some of the biggest polluters.

That's because its just marketing.

 

[chabig]

We’re still in a chip shortage and Apple has gone down the worst approach for chip yields.

I don't think anyone outside Apple or TSMC knows what their yields are.

Edit: I just saw NT1440's post.

 

[Fomalhaut]

I wouldn't surprised if binned max and pro is used for regular m1 Mac

Highly unlikely. Have you seen the size difference? It would require a massive physical layout design change.

https://www.cnet.com/a/img/m9ntD2D8NJZbRsJEIVXQK1vpdRQ=/2021/10/18/102378e9-b766-4097-a1db-9d48d799097a/apple-m1-family-dies.png

 

[lclev]

So I have now read all the post to date. I find it interesting the poll does not allow for the option "not wasteful if/when they recycle."

I did a quick search and found several companies that buy scrap silicon of all kind. I am willing to bet all chip makers sell the scrap - it boosts the bottom line after all. But if you want to discuss the issue of the chemicals used to reclaim the silicon and how dangerous those chemicals are to the environment - that is a whole different box of problems.

can rejected silicon chips be recycled at DuckDuckGo

duckduckgo.com

 

[Ballgag]

I heard intel was using binned M1 in the new i10

 

[J.Gallardo]

Wasteful compared to a more traditional approach to computer construction, meaning separate RAM, CPU, GPU and I/O controller vs Apple single massive silicon chip. I believe the RAM might be separate chips they add to the M1 package. But still if the entire chip is a loss because some issue you can’t fix by turning off a CPU/GPU core you lose the entire chip. That is the waste I’m talking about. Apple strategy to create a massive single chip leads to greater overall waste.

…But, if this is reasonable… every step-up at integrating components on chips is being losing modularity and producing waste!!
Just use an objective reference to measure the waste: money.
Apple can sell a cheaper but more powerful computer with their own SOC than using Intel and modularity. Were goes the waste?
Cheaper, faster, colder, more power efficient. And even able to waste more yield area when manufacturing? I would consider this a nice technical and economic advance.

 

[Fomalhaut]

I heard intel was using binned M1 in the new i10

You forgot the "/s" in your post

 

[McMiner]

I think what we have here is a fundamental misunderstanding of the manufacturing process. TSMC tells you what their yield is for each node in their earnings calls, they’re actually getting better yield on this process than they were on the previous one. If they weren’t hitting that mark on Apple’s production runs the entire process wouldn’t have been certified to actually go into production in the first place.

I agree. I think what the OP failed to mention, or changed throughout the discussion, was his negative connotation, not the M1 Pro, but SoC's being mass produced. SoC's are still built as different individual components put together on a single chip. Meaning, waste should really be no different than the typical binning process. I am excited to see if Intel is able to catchup. Apple haters fail to recognize that competitive nature is going to directly result in increased innovation for them as well. Truthfully, as an M1 Pro owner and longtime Apple supporter, I hope that Intel is able to develop something faster and more efficient with their 4nm "efforts", pushing Apple even further!

Push & *PULL*

 

[Marshall73]

M1 chips are graded then put into various devices from iPads to iMacs. I’m guessing their usable yields are pretty good.