Apple’s M3 Ultra vs M4 Max: Benchmark Tests Reveal Surprising CPU Performance Differences

Posted on by Techpad AI

Apple’s M3 Ultra and M4 Max Mac Studio: A Tale of Two Chips

Apple’s latest Mac Studio announcement has sent shockwaves through the tech community, with the surprise introduction of two different chip families: M3 Ultra and M4 Max. While the company claims that the M3 Ultra is up to twice as fast as the M4 Max in some workloads, benchmark tests reveal a more nuanced story. In this post, we’ll dive into the details of these chips and explore what they mean for customers.

The Benchmark Results

Geekbench 6 tests have given us a glimpse into the performance of the M3 Ultra and M4 Max chips. The high-end M3 Ultra, with its 32-core CPU, scored 3221 in single-core and 27749 in multi-core. While these numbers are impressive, they’re not significantly higher than the scores obtained by the M4 Max chip. The high-end M4 Max, with its 16-core CPU, scored 3921 in single-core and 25650 in multi-core. This means that the M4 Max has faster CPU cores than the M3 Ultra, although the Ultra chip wins in the multi-core comparison by a slim margin of just 8%.

The M3 Ultra’s Limitations

So, why does the M3 Ultra not live up to Apple’s claims of being twice as fast as the M4 Max? One reason is that the M3 series is based on the first generation of the 3 nanometer architecture, which is less efficient than the second generation introduced with the M4 and A18 chips. This likely contributes to the M3 Ultra’s lower single-core performance compared to the M4 Max.

The M4 Max’s Strengths

However, the M4 Max chip has some significant advantages. It can be configured with a GPU of up to 40 cores, whereas the M3 Ultra is available with a GPU of up to 80 cores. This means that the M4 Max will likely excel in graphics-intensive tasks. Additionally, the M4 Max has lower memory bandwidth (500GB/s) compared to the M3 Ultra (800GB/s).

What Does This Mean for Customers?

So, what does this mean for customers? If you need a fast computer for tasks that don’t rely heavily on the GPU, the M4 Max Mac Studio (starting at $1,999) is a great option. You’ll get CPU performance similar to that of the more expensive M3 Ultra version (starting at $3,999). On the other hand, if you’re looking for a computer that can handle graphics-intensive tasks, the M3 Ultra might be the better choice.

The Future of the M4 Ultra

Some speculate that Apple is saving the Ultra variant of the M4 series for a new generation of the Mac Pro, to further differentiate it from the Mac Studio. Only time will tell if this is the case.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Apple’s M3 Ultra and M4 Max Mac Studio chips offer different strengths and weaknesses. While the M3 Ultra may not live up to its claims of being twice as fast as the M4 Max, it still offers impressive performance and a more affordable price point. The M4 Max, on the other hand, excels in graphics-intensive tasks and offers faster CPU cores. Ultimately, the choice between these chips will depend on your specific needs and budget.

Actionable Insights

  • If you need a fast computer for tasks that don’t rely heavily on the GPU, consider the M4 Max Mac Studio.
  • If you’re looking for a computer that can handle graphics-intensive tasks, the M3 Ultra might be the better choice.
  • Keep an eye out for future updates on the M4 Ultra chip, which may be released in a new generation of the Mac Pro.

Summary

Apple’s M3 Ultra and M4 Max Mac Studio chips offer different strengths and weaknesses. While the M3 Ultra may not live up to its claims of being twice as fast as the M4 Max, it still offers impressive performance and a more affordable price point. The M4 Max, on the other hand, excels in graphics-intensive tasks and offers faster CPU cores. Ultimately, the choice between these chips will depend on your specific needs and budget.

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