The M1 Pro and M1 Max Delivers What Power Users Need
Apple’s M1 processor had an impressive debut in late 2020. It delivered a new microarchitecture to the Macbook line, that is based on the ARM CPU architecture. This is Apple’s transition away from Intel x86 CPUs, which has been the processor of choice since 2006. The initial laptop product line introduced a 13" Macbook Pro that did not require a cooling fan to dissipate heat. This had some analysts baffled, but the data from the thermals proved that this was possible.
What made this possible is the thermal efficiency of the M1 processor, in terms of its performance per watt. This allows the processor to perform more tasks using less power. This is ideal for laptops in order to conserve battery life. Overall, the savings from energy consumption is more green and environmentally friendly. Skeptics doubted that it could match heavy workloads though because of the demand for processing power from CPU-intensive applications. Now comes even more powerful M1 versions.
The New M1s
M1 Pro and M1 Max introduce an system-on-a-chip (SoC) architecture to professional systems. The M1 Max is the higher end between the two chips. These chips have the following features:
- Unified Memory Architecture with increased memory bandwidth and capacity.
- M1 Pro offers up to 200GB/s of memory bandwidth with support for up to 32GB of unified memory.
- M1 Max delivers up to 400GB/s of memory bandwidth and support for up to 64GB of unified memory.
This is an overall improvement to handle memory-intensive tasks, particularly for graphics. This allows graphics professionals like editors to work with content using a laptop more effectively.
The M1 Pro (33.7 billion transistors) and M1 Max (57 billion transistors) have a 10-core CPU, produced using a 5 nm fabrication process. With a smaller transistor size, there is a reduction in the physical space of the chip die, which reduces the cost-per-chip and in turn the cost of the CPU. The M1 Max is currently (as of December 2021), the largest chip Apple has ever built (through partner TSMC).
Graphics Accelerated Performance
Apple dedicated more to graphics in the M1 GPU. They have added more cores to the GPU with faster memory in order to accelerate graphics performance even further. The chips feature enhanced media engines with dedicated ProRes CODEC accelerators that are specifically for professional grade and commercial quality video processing.
M1 Pro has an up to 16-core GPU that is 7x faster than the integrated graphics on the latest 8-core PC laptop chips (per Apple testing). M1 Pro delivers more performance while using up to 70% less power.
The M1 Max is Apple’s answer to the skeptic power users. The 32-core GPU delivers comparable performance to a high-end GPU used on PCs, but consumes up to 40 percent less power. It also has a performance similar to that of the high-end GPUs in PC laptops while using up to 100W less power.
Between the two M1s, the M1 Max is optimized to handle graphics-intensive workflows. This is the flagship processor in the Apple Silicon line up. This boosts performance up to 13x faster for complex timeline rendering in applications like Final Cut Pro.
The M1 Pro and M1 Max can also deliver the same level of graphics performance whether the computer is plugged in or using the battery.
The Heat Question
What is often asked by power users is whether having no active cooling (i.e. fans) is reliable for a high-end system like the M1. This is where skeptics state that it will not be able to process heavy workloads, especially when it comes to professional video production. Perhaps that is not quite accurate.
The M1 processor uses a different way to cool the system down. Rather than using cooling fans, like in most x86 CPU systems, it relies on passive cooling techniques. This makes use of the chassis components to help dissipate heat from the CPU during operation. This is much like how smartphones and tablets (which are also fanless) dissipate heat to keep the system cool.
The M1 is efficient enough in terms of performance to watt to be able to run without producing as much heat as their x86 counterparts. It does not mean it will perform at its peak forever. The returns diminishes over time, as the CPU will throttle down leading to a degradation of performance. With the first generation of M1s (e.g. Macbook Pro 13" late-2020) with sustained use at extreme conditions the time to export and render video takes much longer.
The new M1s like the M1 Max were designed to scale to even higher workloads than the first generation. It makes use of its 10-cores, to balance performance and efficiency. It can deliver the best performance while using the least amount of power. That means it is up to 1.7x faster than the latest 8-core PC laptop chip at the same power level, while achieving the PC chip’s peak performance using up to 70% less power.
The addition of fans for active cooling will be available for the next generation of M1 Macbook Pro series. It may not even need to use the fans, depending on the workload. With less heat generated, fans run quietly and less often, with an amazing battery life for the new Macbook Pro.
Synopsis
The M1 Pro and M1 Max are the most powerful Apple processors as of 2021. These are another example of Apple Silicon, which the tech industry has to keep an eye on. It has already caught the attention of other chip makers like Qualcomm who are also in the SoC space. More importantly it means more competition for Intel, who are already dealing with AMD on the laptop, desktop and server front.
Overall, the new M1 thermal architecture (in the M1 Pro and M1 Max) allows the new MacBook Pros to maintain high performance over extended periods, without overheating or requiring fans to run at higher speeds. The M1 was designed for efficiency in order to run at its best while using less energy and generating less heat. The fans are still there to help distribute air and move the heat away for the most demanding of power users.
