Apple Tests New High-End Macs With M2 Max and M2 Ultra Chips Ahead of WWDC

Apple is testing a pair of new high-end Macs and their accompanying processors ahead of its Worldwide Developers Conference next week, suggesting that it's nearing the release of professional-focused desktop computers. From a report: The company is planning two new Mac models -- labeled internally as Mac 14,13 and Mac 14,14 -- that run the M2 Max processor announced in January and a yet-to-be-unveiled M2 Ultra chip. That second processor would replace the M1 Ultra model currently featured in the Mac Studio, a high-end desktop announced in March 2022. [...]

The first desktop computer in testing is running an M2 Max processor with eight high-performance cores -- components for the most demanding tasks -- as well as four efficiency cores and 30 graphics cores. Those are the same specifications featured in the MacBook Pro with the M2 Max. This particular machine also includes 96 gigabytes of memory and is running macOS 13.4, the version of the Mac operating system that was just released earlier this month. The second machine in testing has what is labeled as an M2 Ultra chip, which the company hasn't yet announced. That component, which sports 24 processing cores, doubles the performance of the M2 Max model. The chip includes 16 high-performance cores and eight efficiency cores, as well as 60 graphics cores. The company is testing it in configurations with 64 gigabytes, 128 gigabytes and 192 gigabytes of memory.

Knowing apples parsimony

[Viol8]

...those memory sizes could actually be the sizes of the SSDs.

Re: Knowing apples parsimony

[Viol8]

Not really the point given the base price of Apple systems.

Re:

[AmiMoJo]

These debates always come down to two things.

1. If you just need the best performance or value, buy an x86 workstation. Threadripper or Xeon.

2. If you need MacOS, buy whatever Apple makes because that's your only "choice".

Re:

[DonkeyG5]

2. If you need MacOS, buy whatever Apple makes because that's your only "choice".

2.1 You can also build yourself a Hackintosh if you think Linux is too easy and works too predictably well or if you are into BSMD.

Re:

[saloomy]

I think Apple's M machines have smoked x86 for a while now, especially in the mobile market.

Re:

[jwhyche]

I think Apple's M machines have smoked x86 for a while now, especially in the mobile market.

Actually, they haven't. I just watched a video on apple m vs x86. In almost every case the M's came in well behind intel chips. The only case they outperformed the x86 was with one class of video editing software. Basically, Apple M's are over price and under performers.

Re:

[AmiMoJo]

Ryzen has been out performing Apple Mx for a couple of generations at least.

On the longevity front the battery life is similar, 20+ hours when doing light tasks like watching video or office. On the performance front a mobile Ryzen part delivers far, far more per watt when pushed.

Re:

[saloomy]

You get what you pay for.

Re:

[DarkRookie2]

So an overly expensive paper lift?

M3 Ultra / M3 Extreme Mac Pros previewed as well?

[Joe_Dragon]

M3 Ultra / M3 Extreme Mac Pros previewed as well?

as M2 may not cut it for the pro next to other pro workstations and just running the studio on m2? to be smoked by an M3 system at the end of the year??

now if the mac pro is just an M2 based system then what will be the point of having the studio???
unless the studio goes M2 Max only and the Ultra is pro only?

Missed naming opportunity

[kmoser]

They missed the chance to name it MK Ultra [wikipedia.org].

Could be worse...

[sconeu]

They could be selling MK ULTRA systems....