Are you aware that he has his sources? Do you think he would work in Bloomberg and so many people would read him if there was no substance there?
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Mac Studio With M4 Max and M3 Ultra Chips Could Launch This Week
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Should just call it M3 Super Ultra Pro Max…
Why are they releasing an M3 chip in 2025?
Why are they releasing an M3 chip in 2025?
This would be an update that actually matters, unlike updating the iPad Air or MacBook Air with iterative chips when both devices are more than fast enough for their use cases.
As mentioned by a few people now rumours need to actually have a basis, and Gurman has been incredibly unreliable in doing so lately.
Also what’s the point of introducing the M3 Ultra like a year and a half after the rest of the lineup? M4 is almost at its end now.. why revive a long gone lineup
You’re correct that he has Bloomberg sources; but how often does he actually cite them?
The overwhelming majority of the time we’re given conjecture, pure and simple. I think / I believe / It makes sense that / They could / I suspect, and the rest of this nonsense.
So literal definition of a rumor.
rumour : a statement or report current without known authority for its truth
(https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rumor)
If you dislike what he writes so much, why are you reading it? I don't get it.
Even if true, that has never stopped Gurman from being wrong in the past.
Let me introduce you to commercial media...
I'm on a top-spec M2 Ultra for 3D graphics/rendering. To make it worth while upgrading, it HAS to be an M4 Ultra chip. Even an M4 Max is practically a side grade.
Then why are you spamming the page with complaints? You should be happy.
M3 was very expensive to make, its the reason the stepped up with M4 using TMSC newest manufacturing proces. Its also the reason they removed the UltraFusion, cause there is no such chip, except for the prototype.
So many of these rumor-mongers have no real expertise in information systems, electronics, or even manufacturing.
If there is a new "Ultra" SoC coming, then Apple will use whatever TSMC has to offer at the time.
Currently, TSMC has been pushing their 3DFabric capabilities for some time. Apple may be able to use that to put the slower-clock, larger (transistor) device items such as the I/O and memory controllers underneath the layer that has the E and P cores and GPU cores and NPU. All seems to me as being a thermal challenge but perhaps TSMC can do it. Such a design would let Apple up the core count a bit without making the die larger (in area).
Or... Apple could have a whole new design... or, there is no new "Ultra" SoC.
If there is a new "Ultra" SoC coming, then Apple will use whatever TSMC has to offer at the time.
Currently, TSMC has been pushing their 3DFabric capabilities for some time. Apple may be able to use that to put the slower-clock, larger (transistor) device items such as the I/O and memory controllers underneath the layer that has the E and P cores and GPU cores and NPU. All seems to me as being a thermal challenge but perhaps TSMC can do it. Such a design would let Apple up the core count a bit without making the die larger (in area).
Or... Apple could have a whole new design... or, there is no new "Ultra" SoC.
It’s not spamming, my comments are just as valid as anyone else’s, and I’m very happy. In fact now that I’ve made myself a cheese and ham sandwich I’m extremely happy. (Thanks for asking)
M3 Ultra - not a chance.
If the Ultra remains the “linking” of the Max, it’ll be the 4.
If it is something different, why call it M3 Ultra?
If the Ultra remains the “linking” of the Max, it’ll be the 4.
If it is something different, why call it M3 Ultra?
Does the M3 have Ray Tracing?
I imagine the Max Studio sells far better than the Ultra Studio, but I think this would make it even more so with an older Ultra chip on the SKU. I wonder what the cost for the older Ultra will be. They are probably trying to get rid of the M3 Max inventory.
I imagine the Max Studio sells far better than the Ultra Studio, but I think this would make it even more so with an older Ultra chip on the SKU. I wonder what the cost for the older Ultra will be. They are probably trying to get rid of the M3 Max inventory.
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M3 isn't obsolete. Apple is today releasing a iPad Air with an M3... how is it obsolete when it is in a new product? It is not a maximum bragging rights option , but obsolete (no support , won't get software updates) ... nope.
It makes sense if Apple is trying to squeeze more revenues out of the R&D development costs for the M3 Max. The M3 Max only ran for a year in the MBP 14/16". And then it gets to go where? Apple develops this substantively large chip and then throws it away after 12 months?
Nobody does that for relatively large dies. Nvidia came out with their new data center chips but didn't stop selling the old ones.
Similar reason why the Mac Studio and Mac Pro floating on for extended period of time after MBP 14/16" jumped off the M2 ... somewhere for maximum sized M2 dies to go to recoup more of the investment.
It would be awkward. But it does make some sense if trying to save money on chip costs. ( and if Apple has more N3B wafers to soak up on their TSMC contract. ) . The M4 Max is typically no where near 2x as fast as a M3 Max. The M1 and M2 has large gaps but the M4 is better , but not by a HUGE amount. Twice as many CPUs/GPUs/NPUs/video encode/decode the M3 would have an advantage for folks who mainly needed highly parallelized , larger workloads.
If the M3 Ultra was 'brand new" die like suggested, then no. It doesn't make much sense. That single die solution from "Max Tech"... that is worse than Gurman as far as accuracy goes. Only if the production costs were vastly cheaper than two dies and Apple could substantive lower the Ultra Studio costs. I doubt that is true (but depends upon the costs of InFo-LSI packaging costs and defect overhead. )
And as mentioned if delay a Mac Pro to Fall and roll out M4 Ultra on that they'll have the product gap between two products folks have grumbled about. When Studio gets M5 Max / M4 Ultra the Mac Pro goes M5 Ultra . Rinse and repeat .
There have been rumors that "M3 Ultra" would be it's own dedicated SoC and not two M3 Max using the Ultrafusion connector. That the M3 Max does not have the Ultrafusion connector is likely the basis for this speculation, though it is not beyond the realm of possibility Apple could add the UFC to the M3 Max to create a "traditional" M3 Ultra.
All of the above being said, it makes little sense for Apple to have delayed M3 on the Studio to now if they have an M3 Ultra (either as a unique SoC or as a dual-Max) when M4 is now available and is a not-insignificant upgrade from M3.
Gurman has a lot of sources in the supply chain and those sources only know what they see and have little to no context as to why such things exist. So I would not be surprised if Apple has worked on a dedicated "Ultra" SoC using the M3 as a base that just did not work out as a shippable product (as we have heard happened with the "extreme" version of the M1 and M2).
All of the above being said, it makes little sense for Apple to have delayed M3 on the Studio to now if they have an M3 Ultra (either as a unique SoC or as a dual-Max) when M4 is now available and is a not-insignificant upgrade from M3.
Gurman has a lot of sources in the supply chain and those sources only know what they see and have little to no context as to why such things exist. So I would not be surprised if Apple has worked on a dedicated "Ultra" SoC using the M3 as a base that just did not work out as a shippable product (as we have heard happened with the "extreme" version of the M1 and M2).
M4 Max is enough for me - my budget is stretching just for that, it'll positively snap in two for an Ultra. 🤣
M5 Max would be better, thought!
M5 Max would be better, thought!