The new M3 Pro MacBook starts with 18 GB RAM. I wonder what the chip configuration is. 3 x 6 GB?
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M3 Pro MacBook Pro starts with 18 GB RAM
- Thread starter EugW
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I suspect that is exactly it. They also have a 36GB configuration (3 x 12GB?). And, if I am reading correctly, these only seem to be available on binned configurations (14 CPU vs 16 CPU).
I'm going to be honest, Apple sticking with 8GB of base RAM on the M3 models but increasing base RAM on the M3 Pro models is a huge disappointment for me. This pretty much confirms at that Apple is really just purposely upselling the 16GB upgrade.
Glad they got rid of the touch-bar MacBook Pro and made the line for streamlined, but they could've at least increased the base RAM by a little bit. Same with the iMac.
Glad they got rid of the touch-bar MacBook Pro and made the line for streamlined, but they could've at least increased the base RAM by a little bit. Same with the iMac.
Upsells are what drive business performance and helps ensure Apple can continue investing in new product innovation that we all enjoy. The last thing this industry needs is Apple going bust.
I don't think 12 GB is necessary yet for consumer entry level, as both my wife (2017 MBA Monterey) and my daughter (2015 MBP Monterey) are perfectly fine with 8 GB. However, I suspect we'll start seeing 12 GB base in a couple of years.
Same goes with 256 GB base storage. Both of them had 128 GB which I upgraded to 256 GB with OEM Apple Samsung SSDs. The upgrade was necessary for my wife, but not for my daughter. Neither need 512 GB.
OTOH, for my M1 Mac mini I have 16 GB RAM with 1 TB internal SSD plus 3 TB external over two USB-C SSDs, plus another 4 TB Time Machine hard drive, for a total of 8 TB.
EDIT:
Oh I just realized you may be talking about the M3 MacBook Pro and not the M3 iMac. Yeah, for the M3 MacBook Pro, it should start with 12 GB, given it's called a "Pro" machine. But then again, if they keep 8 GB on the iMac, I suspect they would want to keep 8 GB on the M3 MBP too, for SoC design reasons. So maybe we'll have to wait until M4 in 2025 for the upgrade to 12 GB across the board, including for the MB Air.
Same goes with 256 GB base storage. Both of them had 128 GB which I upgraded to 256 GB with OEM Apple Samsung SSDs. The upgrade was necessary for my wife, but not for my daughter. Neither need 512 GB.
OTOH, for my M1 Mac mini I have 16 GB RAM with 1 TB internal SSD plus 3 TB external over two USB-C SSDs, plus another 4 TB Time Machine hard drive, for a total of 8 TB.
EDIT:
Oh I just realized you may be talking about the M3 MacBook Pro and not the M3 iMac. Yeah, for the M3 MacBook Pro, it should start with 12 GB, given it's called a "Pro" machine. But then again, if they keep 8 GB on the iMac, I suspect they would want to keep 8 GB on the M3 MBP too, for SoC design reasons. So maybe we'll have to wait until M4 in 2025 for the upgrade to 12 GB across the board, including for the MB Air.
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Fair enough. Since we didn't get it this time around though, as mentioned maybe with M4 in 2025. This would follow Apple's usual pattern of saving some of the good feature upgrades for a later date. This time the entry level MacBook Pro got a new form factor, and then next time they may get a memory upgrade too to 12 GB, with support up to 24 GB max.
I think it's probably a single module of memory. That would make sense to reduce manufacturing costs.
SK Hynix announced 18GB mobile DRAM a while ago:
news.skhynix.com
The specs of the RAM tie up with those quoted in the following article for the M2: 'In addition, Apple uses LPDDR5 RAM modules clocked at 6400 MHz in the M2 series to supply data at astonishing speeds.'
www.makeuseof.com
SK Hynix announced 18GB mobile DRAM a while ago:
SK hynix Starts Mass-production of LPDDR5 Mobile DRAM with Industry’s Largest Capacity - SK hynix Newsroom
Seoul, March 8, 2021 SK hynix Inc. (or “the Company”, www.skhynix.com) announced that it has started mass-production of 18GB (gigabyte) LPDDR5 mobile DRAM, which offers the largest capacity in the industry. This product will be equipped in premium smartphones to support an optimal environment...
news.skhynix.com
The specs of the RAM tie up with those quoted in the following article for the M2: 'In addition, Apple uses LPDDR5 RAM modules clocked at 6400 MHz in the M2 series to supply data at astonishing speeds.'
What Is Unified Memory on Your Mac and How Does It Work?
Learn how Apple's unified memory differs from traditional RAM.
www.makeuseof.com
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Apple is the worlds biggest cash generating machine.
They had c $100 billion in profits last year.
Not ripping me off by trying to charge £200 for 8GB of RAM won't make them "go bust" or stop them making new products.
I think it's probably a single module of memory. That would make sense to reduce manufacturing costs.
SK Hynix announced 18GB mobile DRAM a while ago:
SK hynix Starts Mass-production of LPDDR5 Mobile DRAM with Industry’s Largest Capacity - SK hynix Newsroom
Seoul, March 8, 2021 SK hynix Inc. (or “the Company”, www.skhynix.com) announced that it has started mass-production of 18GB (gigabyte) LPDDR5 mobile DRAM, which offers the largest capacity in the industry. This product will be equipped in premium smartphones to support an optimal environment...
The specs of the RAM tie up with those quoted in the following article for the M2: 'In addition, Apple uses LPDDR5 RAM modules clocked at 6400 MHz in the M2 series to supply data at astonishing speeds.'
What Is Unified Memory on Your Mac and How Does It Work?
Learn how Apple's unified memory differs from traditional RAM.
A single chip wouldn’t provide the bandwidth stated in Apple specs. Besides, we already know it’s 3 DRAM chips surrounding the M3 Pro.
Thanks for the clarification.
All the more disappointing that they didn't go up to 12GB for the M3 if they're using 6GB modules in the M3 Pro.
There's an article on Anandtech about the new processors:
Apple Announces M3 SoC Family: M3, M3 Pro, and M3 Max Make Their Marks
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Sliding down a slippery slope is insanely difficult to traipse back up. Don't take anything for granted.
