Apple’s unannounced but almost certainly authentic M2 Max benchmarks geekbench results (opens in new tab)shows a 12-core processor running at 3.54 GHz and backed by 96 GB of RAM. If Geekbench’s run is accurate, the chip rumored to be used in his upcoming MacBook Pro and Mac Studio models will perform slightly better than the existing M1 Max.
Geekbench 5 results are for a “Mac14,6” computer running unreleased macOS 13.2 software. Manage 1,853 single-core scores and 13,855 multi-core scores.If accurate, as an 8-core M2 MacBook Pro, this is a bit disappointing hit (opens in new tab) 1,899 on the same single-core benchmark. However, the higher core count of the M2 Max machine gives him an edge in the multi-core rankings, with the M1 scoring him at 8,737 (5,000 points behind). However, all M-class Macs have beaten Intel iMacs since 2020, and his Core i7-10700K in that machine is his 3.8 GHz. score (opens in new tab) 1,250 in single-core tests and 8,157 in multi-core tests.
A report from Taiwan Digi Times (opens in new tab) Apple claims to move from the M2’s current 5nm TMSC process to the M2 Pro’s 3nm node. Of course, Apple hasn’t announced this development, but TSMC’s manufacturing capacity was reportedly booked by Apple for the summer.
The previous generation M1 chip was eventually available in four forms: Vanilla, Pro, Max and Ultra, with higher-level chips featuring more cores and more powerful GPUs. Mac minis, iMacs, MacBook Airs, some of his MacBook Pros, and iPad Pros have the basic chip, but most MacBook Pros come with a choice of M1 Pro or M1 Max. (opens in new tab)in the new Mac Studio (opens in new tab) Specifications can be upgraded with M1 Ultra (opens in new tab), which is two M1 Pro chips stuck together. The M1 has either 8 or 10 CPU cores, but the difference between the chips is mainly expressed in the number of GPU cores and amount of RAM in the package.
It is not unreasonable to expect M2 to follow the same route. So far, the M2 has only been seen on the 2022 MacBook Air. (opens in new tab) With a single MacBook Pro model (and iPad Pro), processors are expected to permeate the entire range of Mac computers, perhaps even the Mac Pro, which is still in the Intel-only zone.
