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exoticSpice

Suspended
Original poster
Jan 9, 2022
1,242
1,951
Now we all now that M2 is faster but I wanted to compare the competition. I chose Qualcomm SoC as they share the same SoC-like design and are both based on ARM ISA.

Some info on both chips: M2 is on 2nd gen 5nm from TSMC and 8cx Gen 3 is on 5nm from Samsung.

- Performance: This is where M2 shines. M2 Geekbench Single Core: 1930. 8cx Gen 3 Geekbench Single Core: 1112.

*Remember M2 is clocked at 3.5GHz and 8cx Gen 3 is clocked at 3.00GHz.

- RAM support: The M2 supports 24GB LPDRR5 while the 8cx Gen 3 supports up to 32GB LPDDR4X.

- Monitor support: M2 supports one external monitors when in MacBook's. 8cx Gen 3 supports 2 external monitors.

- SSD support: M2 supports 2TB SSD that is soldered. 8cx Gen 3 supports up to 1TB SSD that is user upgradeable as it compatible
with M.2 2242 SSD.

M2 is for sure ahead in performance but 8cx Gen 3 leads in other areas too. When Qualcomm launches Nuvia bases SoC's
Apple will have heated competition to secure top spot in the ARM PC world.
 

Kazgarth

macrumors 6502
Oct 18, 2020
303
836
M2 is for sure ahead in performance but 8cx Gen 3 leads in other areas too. When Qualcomm launches Nuvia bases SoC's
Apple will have heated competition to secure top spot in the ARM PC world.
Depends on who will release their SoC first on TSMC's 3nm. The node shirk alone is a huge gain for any SoC using it.

Nuvia charts were showing around 2000 single core score in GB5, I think M3 with 3nm has no trouble with beating that (it already scores over 1900 with M2 on 5nm).
 
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Xiao_Xi

macrumors 68000
Oct 27, 2021
1,523
953
M2 is on 2nd gen 5nm from TSMC and 8cx Gen 3 is on 5nm from Samsung
Samsung's nodes are worse than TSMC's. Qualcomm has improved the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 impressively by switching to TSMC from Samsung.


 

izzy0242mr

macrumors 6502a
Jul 24, 2009
646
438
Now we all now that M2 is faster but I wanted to compare the competition. I chose Qualcomm SoC as they share the same SoC-like design and are both based on ARM ISA.

Some info on both chips: M2 is on 2nd gen 5nm from TSMC and 8cx Gen 3 is on 5nm from Samsung.

- Performance: This is where M2 shines. M2 Geekbench Single Core: 1930. 8cx Gen 3 Geekbench Single Core: 1112.

*Remember M2 is clocked at 3.5GHz and 8cx Gen 3 is clocked at 3.00GHz.

- RAM support: The M2 supports 24GB LPDRR5 while the 8cx Gen 3 supports up to 32GB LPDDR4X.

- Monitor support: M2 supports one external monitors when in MacBook's. 8cx Gen 3 supports 2 external monitors.

- SSD support: M2 supports 2TB SSD that is soldered. 8cx Gen 3 supports up to 1TB SSD that is user upgradeable as it compatible
with M.2 2242 SSD.

M2 is for sure ahead in performance but 8cx Gen 3 leads in other areas too. When Qualcomm launches Nuvia bases SoC's
Apple will have heated competition to secure top spot in the ARM PC world.
What about efficiency? How much power does 8cx use vs M2 for the same workloads, and how does that translate into battery life (I know harder to compare)?
 

JPack

macrumors G5
Mar 27, 2017
12,696
23,690
Supports 2 external monitors. Probably one of the most important points. Something that all manufacturers should include without feature rationing.
 

mi7chy

macrumors G4
Oct 24, 2014
10,495
11,155
What about efficiency? How much power does 8cx use vs M2 for the same workloads, and how does that translate into battery life (I know harder to compare)?

They target different TDP with Snapdragon 8cx Gen 3 at ~9W while M2 is about double plus some. Qualcomm Nuvia will likely be a closer comparison in TDP.
 

JMacHack

Suspended
Mar 16, 2017
1,965
2,423
Qualcomm launches Nuvia bases SoC's
Apple will have heated competition to secure top spot in the ARM PC world.
Good. We’ve seen what happens when the top dog gets complacent, and I welcome PC ARM chips as well. Anything to get the x86 gamer kiddies to shut the **** up.
 
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