Apple Unveils New M3, M3 Pro, and M3 Max Processors on TSMC 3nm

[Fouquin]

Apple today announced M3, M3 Pro, and M3 Max, three chips featuring groundbreaking technologies that deliver dramatically increased performance and unleash new capabilities for Mac. These are the first personal computer chips built using the industry-leading 3-nanometer process technology, allowing more transistors to be packed into a smaller space and improving speed and efficiency. Together, M3, M3 Pro, and M3 Max show how far Apple silicon for the Mac has come since the debut of the M1 family of chips.

The M3 family of chips features a next-generation GPU that represents the biggest leap forward in graphics architecture ever for Apple silicon. The GPU is faster and more efficient, and introduces a new technology called Dynamic Caching, while bringing new rendering features like hardware-accelerated ray tracing and mesh shading to Mac for the first time. Rendering speeds are now up to 2.5x faster than on the M1 family of chips. The CPU performance cores and efficiency cores are 30 percent and 50 percent faster than those in M1, respectively, and the Neural Engine is 60 percent faster than the Neural Engine in the M1 family of chips. And, a new media engine now includes support for AV1 decode, providing more efficient and high-quality video experiences from streaming services. The M3 family of chips continues the tremendous pace of innovation in Apple silicon, and brings massive enhancements and new features to the new MacBook Pro and iMac.



"Apple silicon has completely redefined the Mac experience. Every aspect of its architecture is designed for performance and power efficiency," said Johny Srouji, Apple's senior vice president of Hardware Technologies. "With 3-nanometer technology, a next-generation GPU architecture, a higher-performance CPU, faster Neural Engine, and support for even more unified memory, M3, M3 Pro, and M3 Max are the most advanced chips ever built for a personal computer."

All-New GPU Features Dynamic Caching, Mesh Shading, and Hardware-Accelerated Ray Tracing
The next-generation GPU inside the M3 family of chips represents the largest leap forward in graphics architecture for Apple silicon. It features Dynamic Caching that, unlike traditional GPUs, allocates the use of local memory in hardware in real time. With Dynamic Caching, only the exact amount of memory needed is used for each task. This is an industry first, transparent to developers, and the cornerstone of the new GPU architecture. It dramatically increases the average utilization of the GPU, which significantly increases performance for the most demanding pro apps and games.

With the M3 family of chips, hardware-accelerated ray tracing comes to the Mac for the first time. Ray tracing models the properties of light as it interacts with a scene, allowing apps to create extremely realistic and physically accurate images. This, along with the new graphics architecture, allows pro apps to deliver up to 2.5x the speed of the M1 family of chips. Game developers can use ray tracing for more accurate shadows and reflections, creating deeply immersive environments. Additionally, the new GPU brings hardware-accelerated mesh shading to the Mac, delivering greater capability and efficiency to geometry processing, and enabling more visually complex scenes in games and graphics-intensive apps. This breakthrough GPU architecture enables all of these enhancements and features while maintaining Apple silicon's legendary power efficiency. In fact, the M3 GPU is able to deliver the same performance as M1 using nearly half the power, and up to 65 percent more performance at its peak.

A Faster and More Efficient CPU
The next-generation CPU in M3, M3 Pro, and M3 Max features architectural improvements to the performance and efficiency cores. The performance cores are up to 30 percent faster than those in the M1 family, so tasks like compiling and testing millions of lines of code in Xcode are even faster, and musicians can use hundreds of audio tracks, plug-ins, and virtual instruments in Logic Pro. The efficiency cores are up to 50 percent faster than the efficiency cores in M1, so everyday tasks are faster than ever, while allowing the system to maximize battery life. Together, these cores create a CPU that delivers the same multithreaded performance as M1 using as little as half the power, and up to 35 percent more performance at peak power.



Unrivaled Unified Memory Architecture, up to 128 GB
Each chip in the M3 family features a unified memory architecture, a hallmark of Apple silicon. This delivers high bandwidth, low latency, and unmatched power efficiency. Having a single pool of memory within a custom package means all of the technologies in the chip can access the same data without copying it between multiple pools of memory, further improving performance and efficiency, and reducing the amount of memory a system requires for the majority of tasks. Additionally, support for up to 128 GB of memory unlocks workflows previously not possible on a laptop, such as AI developers working with even larger transformer models with billions of parameters.



Custom Engines for AI and Video
M3, M3 Pro, and M3 Max also have an enhanced Neural Engine to accelerate powerful machine learning (ML) models. The Neural Engine is up to 60 percent faster than in the M1 family of chips, making AI/ML workflows even faster while keeping data on device to preserve privacy. Powerful AI image processing tools, like noise reduction and super resolution in Topaz, get even faster. Scene edit detection in Adobe Premiere and Smart Conform in Final Cut Pro also see a boost in performance.

All three chips in the M3 family also have an advanced media engine, providing hardware acceleration to the most popular video codecs, including H.264, HEVC, ProRes, and ProRes RAW. And for the first time, the media engine supports AV1 decoding, enabling power-efficient playback of streaming services to further extend battery life.

M3: Phenomenal Performance for the Most Popular Systems
M3 features 25 billion transistors—5 billion more than M2. It has a 10-core GPU featuring the next-generation architecture that is 65 percent faster than M1 for graphics performance. Games like Myst have incredibly realistic lighting, shadows, and reflections. M3 has an 8-core CPU, with four performance cores and four efficiency cores, that is up to 35 percent faster than M1 for CPU performance. And it supports up to 24 GB of unified memory.

M3 Pro: For Users Who Need Even More Performance
M3 Pro consists of 37 billion transistors and an 18-core GPU, delivering extremely fast performance when working on more graphics-intensive tasks. The GPU is up to 40 percent faster than M1 Pro. Support for unified memory goes up to 36 GB, enabling larger projects to be tackled on MacBook Pro when users are on the go. The 12-core CPU design has six performance cores and six efficiency cores, offering single-threaded performance that is up to 30 percent faster than M1 Pro. Actions like stitching together and manipulating enormous panoramic photos in Adobe Photoshop are faster than ever with M3 Pro on the new MacBook Pro.

M3 Max: A Tremendous Leap in Performance for the Most Demanding Pro Workloads
M3 Max pushes the transistor count up to 92 billion and takes pro performance to the next level. The 40-core GPU is up to 50 percent faster than M1 Max, and support for up to 128 GB of unified memory allows AI developers to work with even larger transformer models with billions of parameters. The 16-core CPU features 12 performance cores and four efficiency cores, achieving astonishing performance that's up to 80 percent faster than M1 Max. And with two ProRes engines, M3 Max makes video post-production work on even the highest-resolution content fast and fluid, whether using DaVinci Resolve, Adobe Premiere Pro, or Final Cut Pro. M3 Max is designed for pros needing the highest performance available in a MacBook Pro with industry-leading battery life in a pro laptop.

Better for the Environment
The power-efficient performance of M3, M3 Pro, and M3 Max helps the new MacBook Pro and iMac meet Apple's high standards for energy efficiency, and helps the new MacBook Pro achieve the longest battery life ever in a Mac—up to 22 hours. This results in less time needing to be plugged in and less energy consumed over its lifetime.

View at TechPowerUp Main Site

 

[gmn 17]

M3 max go apple go apple

 

[TheinsanegamerN]

So, the M3 pro has 1 less GPU core then the M2 pro (19 VS 18). Seems a step backwards. With the M3 max increasing to 40 cores, why no 20 core pro?

 

[Chry]

So, the M3 pro has 1 less GPU core then the M2 pro (19 VS 18). Seems a step backwards. With the M3 max increasing to 40 cores, why no 20 core pro?

Creating technology is expensive, but manufacturing it, is not. It probably costs Apple the same amount of money to manufacture these different chips. So since every $ in the price above manufacturing&etc costs is profit - Apple is much more interested in getting as much $$ from a single purchase as possible. So they make the higher-end items much more appealing, while keeping the lower-end ones for those who simply can't afford the highest-end.

 

[mama]

I have learned to be cautious of Apple hyperbole. Let's see it in action before accepting their claims of performance.

 

[unwind-protect]

16 core 16" looking delicious. Did they mention how many performance cores are in there?

 

[kondamin]

Again with the 8GB/256GB base model devices.
it would have cost them $5 to make the devices decent from the get go.

 

[Super Firm Tofu]

16 core 16" looking delicious. Did they mention how many performance cores are in there?

The 16-core CPU features 12 performance cores and four efficiency cores

 

[Chaitanya]

Again with the 8GB/256GB base model devices.
it would have cost them $5 to make the devices decent from the get go.

Base model does have 8GB of RAM but this time around Apple seems to have killed 256GB storage option with base storage being 512GB. In general though Laptops with anything less than 16GB of RAM(non user upgradable) are a eWaste and given how even storage is non-user upgradable anything from CrApple should be avoided like a plague.

Edit: Just checked prices and Crapple wants $1599 for base 14" Macbook Pro that comes with base M3 and 8GB of "unified" memory and 512GB SSD and additional $200 just to add another 512GB of storage and still fanboys will justify this daylight robery for eWaste.

 

[QUANTUMPHYSICS]

With Apple, it's like I already know exactly what to expect: XX% faster... blah blah blah.

Skip this generation and wait till M4 and you'll be XX% faster than M3.

I can't imagine anyone right now who has an M2 and is thinking: "man, this thing is slow and I could go for a 13% speed boost".

 

[wolf]

I am keen to see how these perform with the translation kit (I forget what it's called) to get games running on macbooks, there's some good uplifts mentioned here. Having said that I don't use a Mac and don't see myself wanting one, so it's mostly interest from a competition standpoint.

 

[JohH]

M3 Pro seems like a downgrade from M2 Pro. 256-bit memory interface reduced to 192-bit, 2 performance cores are replaced by efficiency cores, and 1 GPU core is removed.
With improved clock rates and/or IPC it is probably "just as good" but that's not "scary fast".

 

[evernessince]

Their charts numbers are definitely exaggerated. M2's CPU is barely faster than the M1, let alone the 15-20% the chart is claiming. If the level of exaggeration is consistent it would leave me to believe there's again hardly any uplift in regards to the CPU. The GPU features read off as if Apple is still catching up to 2 generation old Nvidia features.

I assume the power savings numbers are also exaggerated, 65% and they didn't mention a new architecture indicates they are likely only seeing power reduction from the node shrink and some revisions. I'd place it in the ballpark of 30% or less, which is still a nice uptick.

 

[azrael]

So Apple has bought itself exclusive (for now) access to TSMC's 3nm process. Not really something to brag about. As for the chips themselves, they're probably fine. They're just used in an eco system that absolutely doesn't mean anything to me.

 

[kondamin]

Base model does have 8GB of RAM but this time around Apple seems to have killed 256GB storage option with base storage being 512GB. In general though Laptops with anything less than 16GB of RAM(non user upgradable) are a eWaste and given how even storage is non-user upgradable anything from CrApple should be avoided like a plague.

Edit: Just checked prices and Crapple wants $1599 for base 14" Macbook Pro that comes with base M3 and 8GB of "unified" memory and 512GB SSD and additional $200 just to add another 512GB of storage and still fanboys will justify this daylight robery for eWaste.

The iMac is Crippled with 8/256

 

[Chaitanya]

The iMac is Crippled with 8/256

Atleast with Macbook "Pro" its crippled with 8/512.

 

[dyonoctis]

Base model does have 8GB of RAM but this time around Apple seems to have killed 256GB storage option with base storage being 512GB. In general though Laptops with anything less than 16GB of RAM(non user upgradable) are a eWaste and given how even storage is non-user upgradable anything from CrApple should be avoided like a plague.

Edit: Just checked prices and Crapple wants $1599 for base 14" Macbook Pro that comes with base M3 and 8GB of "unified" memory and 512GB SSD and additional $200 just to add another 512GB of storage and still fanboys will justify this daylight robery for eWaste.

I agree with the SSD, and the base model, but once you reach 64GB, Apple get into a "we know what we have" position. There's not a single windows laptop out there that offer as much ram+vram for the people who need it, especially not in a package that small and with that much battery life, and that's still fast unplugged. As long as the PC will not be able to provide a 1:1 equivalent, Apple will keep their insane margins on memory.

And until camm become the new standard for laptops, user upgradable memory will be slow and limit what we can expect from APUs, sodimms reached their limits

 

[unwind-protect]

And until camm become the new standard for laptops, user upgradable memory will be slow and limit what we can expect from APUs, sodimms reached their limits

What is camm?

 

[Solaris17]

I have learned to be cautious of Apple hyperbole. Let's see it in action before accepting their claims of performance.

I like how they only compare it to M1. I would like to go find the M2 press release and see what the performance claims were then

 

[dyonoctis]

What is camm?

a new connector that allow faster memory, more density, while taking up less vertical space
SO-DIMM laptop RAM form-factor to soon be replaced with Dell-developed CAMM standard - NotebookCheck.net News

 

[Lew Zealand]

The iMac is Crippled with 8/256

Hoo boy, the iMac is crippled farrrr more than that! Like WTF-crippled.

You can get an M3, M3 Pro, M3 Max in the 14" MacBook Pro. With a 40-core GPU option. The small laptop.

You can only get an M3 in the iMac. 10-core GPU max. In the desktop. The thing that has lotsa space for more cooling or whatnot and a decent 4K+ screen. But no, you get only an M3 with perfunctory GPU and no other choices. WTF?

 

[_JP_]

Another processor release by Apple, another slide where they accidentally the benchmarks that were run.

 

[mahirzukic2]

Creating technology is expensive, but manufacturing it, is not. It probably costs Apple the same amount of money to manufacture these different chips. So since every $ in the price above manufacturing&etc costs is profit - Apple is much more interested in getting as much $$ from a single purchase as possible. So they make the higher-end items much more appealing, while keeping the lower-end ones for those who simply can't afford the highest-end.

That is called up-selling and quite literally every company in the world is doing it. Some just do it more (and better or worse depending on which side of the fence you are coming from) than others.

 

[claes]

People here keep complaining about 8GB and, sitting here with a 16GB Air, I regret the upgrade. I've got like 500+ tabs open across two browsers and am streaming three videos with 12 other apps open rn (including docker with 3 Wordpress environments open) and it's as smooth as it was when I opened my first tab. Maybe you need it if you're doing AV production or ML or whatever, but I should've listened to all of the Mac forum and reddit users who said 8GB is plenty.

 

[Lew Zealand]

People here keep complaining about 8GB and, sitting here with a 16GB Air, I regret the upgrade. I've got like 500+ tabs open across two browsers and am streaming three videos with 12 other apps open rn (including docker with 3 Wordpress environments open) and it's as smooth as it was when I opened my first tab. Maybe you need it if you're doing AV production or ML or whatever, but I should've listened to all of the Mac forum and reddit users who said 8GB is plenty.

Likely because you have 16GB.

I don't get your argument, you don't have 8GB you don't know how the same usage pattern would perform with with only 8GB.

But let's assume somehow that's true. Do you keep your expensive tech for 3-7 years? Do you think 8GB will always be enough? You can't upgrade so maybe you'd rather trade it in then and get a new one with 16GB. But even with good resale prices, Macs still have depreciation and that means more money lost with that higher initial cost.

8GB may be enough right now but in 5 years 16GB will be plenty and that's what you want if you're already spending $1500 or more.