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Apple M2 Max 30-Core GPU vs Apple M2 Max 38-Core GPU

Apple M2 Max 30-Core GPU

► remove from comparison Apple M2 Max 30-Core GPU

The Apple M2 Max 30-Core-GPU is an integrated graphics card by Apple offering 30 of the 38 cores in the M2 Max Chip.

The graphics card has no dedicated graphics memory but can use the fast LPDDR5-6400 unified memory with a 512 bit bus (up to 400 GBit/s).

The GPU is intended to use Apple Metal 2 API and could still be based on the older PowerVR architectures (last used in the Apple A10). A new feature in the MacBook Pro 14 and 16 of 2023 is the support for HDMI 2.1 and 8k output.

The Apple M2 Pro is manufactured in the second generation 5nm process at TSMC.

Apple M2 Max 38-Core GPU

► remove from comparison Apple M2 Max 38-Core GPU

The Apple M2 Max 38-Core-GPU is an integrated graphics card by Apple offering all 38 cores in the M2 Max Chip.

The graphics card has no dedicated graphics memory but can use the fast LPDDR5-6400 unified memory with a 512 bit bus (up to 400 GBit/s).

Thanks to the additional cores and architectural improvements, the M2 Max GPU should clearly best the old M1 Max GPU with 32 cores and therefore be the fastest iGPU currently available.

The GPU is intended to use Apple Metal 2 API and could still be based on the older PowerVR architectures (last used in the Apple A10). A new feature in the MacBook Pro 14 and 16 of 2023 is the support for HDMI 2.1 and 8k output.

The Apple M2 Max is manufactured in the second generation 5nm process at TSMC. According to the internal powermetrics tool, the GPU uses up to 53.6 Watt (performance mode) and the whole chip (including the CPU) up to 89 Watt.

Apple M2 Max 30-Core GPUApple M2 Max 38-Core GPU
Apple M2 Series
M2 Max 38-Core GPU 38
M2 Max 30-Core GPU 30
M2 Pro 19-Core GPU compare 19 @ 0.44 - 1.4 GHz
M2 Pro 16-Core GPU compare 16
M2 10-Core GPU compare 10 @ 1.4 GHz
M2 8-Core GPU compare 8 @ 1.4 GHz
M2 Max 38-Core GPU 38
M2 Max 30-Core GPU 30
M2 Pro 19-Core GPU compare 19 @ 0.44 - 1.4 GHz
M2 Pro 16-Core GPU compare 16
M2 10-Core GPU compare 10 @ 1.4 GHz
M2 8-Core GPU compare 8 @ 1.4 GHz
Pipelines30 - unified38 - unified
Memory TypeLPDDR5-6400LPDDR5-6400
Shared Memorynono
technology5 nm5 nm
Notebook Sizemedium sizedmedium sized
Date of Announcement17.01.2023 17.01.2023
Power Consumption53 Watt
CPU in M2 Max 38-Core GPUGPU Base SpeedGPU Boost / Turbo
Apple M2 Max12 x 2424 MHz, 79 W? MHz? MHz

Benchmarks

3DMark - 3DMark Wild Life Extreme Unlimited
20692 Points (24%)
25103 Points (29%)
Blender - Blender 3.3 Classroom METAL *
83 Seconds (9%)
51.2 Seconds (5%)
Cinebench R15
Cinebench R15 OpenGL 64 Bit + Apple M2 Max 30-Core GPU
Cinebench R15 - Cinebench R15 OpenGL 64 Bit
145.7 fps (9%)
Cinebench R15 OpenGL 64 Bit + Apple M2 Max 38-Core GPU
147.5 fps (9%)
Cinebench R15 OpenGL Ref. Match 64 Bit + Apple M2 Max 30-Core GPU
Cinebench R15 - Cinebench R15 OpenGL Ref. Match 64 Bit
99.5 % (100%)
Cinebench R15 OpenGL Ref. Match 64 Bit + Apple M2 Max 38-Core GPU
99.5 % (100%)
GFXBench - GFXBench 5.0 4K Aztec Ruins High Tier Offscreen
145.3 fps (59%)
179.9 fps (73%)
GFXBench - GFXBench 5.0 Aztec Ruins High Tier Offscreen
326.1 fps (59%)
397.6 fps (72%)
GFXBench - GFXBench 5.0 Aztec Ruins Normal Tier Offscreen
853 fps (63%)
950 fps (70%)
GFXBench - GFXBench Car Chase Offscreen
585 fps (66%)
585 fps (66%)
GFXBench 3.1 - GFXBench Manhattan ES 3.1 Offscreen
1294 fps (27%)
GFXBench 3.0 - GFXBench 3.0 Manhattan Offscreen
1708 fps (100%)
GFXBench (DX / GLBenchmark) 2.7
GFXBench T-Rex HD Offscreen C24Z16 + Apple M2 Max 38-Core GPU
GFXBench (DX / GLBenchmark) 2.7 - GFXBench T-Rex HD Offscreen C24Z16
3185 fps (25%)
Geekbench 6.2 - Geekbench 6.2 GPU OpenCL
74601 Points (22%)
Geekbench 6.2 - Geekbench 6.2 GPU Metal
126173 Points (81%)
Power Consumption - The Witcher 3 Power Consumption - external Monitor *
83.7 Watt (12%)
80.7 Watt (11%)
Power Consumption - Witcher 3 Power Consumption *
92 Watt (20%)
Power Consumption - Witcher 3 ultra Power Efficiency - external Monitor
0.9 fps per Watt (78%)
Emissions Witcher 3 Fan Noise + Apple M2 Max 38-Core GPU
Emissions - Witcher 3 Fan Noise
35.1 dB(A) (56%)

Average Benchmarks Apple M2 Max 30-Core GPU → 100% n=8

Average Benchmarks Apple M2 Max 38-Core GPU → 110% n=8

- Range of benchmark values for this graphics card
- Average benchmark values for this graphics card
* Smaller numbers mean a higher performance
1 This benchmark is not used for the average calculation

Game Benchmarks

The following benchmarks stem from our benchmarks of review laptops. The performance depends on the used graphics memory, clock rate, processor, system settings, drivers, and operating systems. So the results don't have to be representative for all laptops with this GPU. For detailed information on the benchmark results, click on the fps number.

med. 1920x1080
M2 Max 38-Core GPU:
72  fps
high 1920x1080
100%
M2 Max 30-Core GPU:
53.2  fps
113%
M2 Max 38-Core GPU:
60.2  fps
ultra 1920x1080
100%
M2 Max 30-Core GPU:
45.2  fps
108%
M2 Max 38-Core GPU:
48.6  fps
QHD 2560x1440
100%
M2 Max 30-Core GPU:
35.1  fps
low 1280x720
M2 Max 38-Core GPU:
330  fps
med. 1920x1080
M2 Max 38-Core GPU:
147  fps
high 1920x1080
100%
M2 Max 30-Core GPU:
91  fps
105%
M2 Max 38-Core GPU:
96  fps
ultra 1920x1080
100%
M2 Max 30-Core GPU:
65  fps
109%
M2 Max 38-Core GPU:
71  fps
QHD 2560x1440
100%
M2 Max 30-Core GPU:
41.4  fps
114%
M2 Max 38-Core GPU:
47  fps
low 1280x720
M2 Max 38-Core GPU:
182  fps
med. 1920x1080
M2 Max 38-Core GPU:
131  fps
high 1920x1080
100%
M2 Max 30-Core GPU:
115  fps
106%
M2 Max 38-Core GPU:
122  fps
ultra 1920x1080
100%
M2 Max 30-Core GPU:
102  fps
107%
M2 Max 38-Core GPU:
109  fps
QHD 2560x1440
100%
M2 Max 30-Core GPU:
69  fps
113%
M2 Max 38-Core GPU:
78  fps
high 1920x1080
M2 Max 38-Core GPU:
83  fps
ultra 1920x1080
M2 Max 38-Core GPU:
76  fps
GTA V

GTA V

2015
low 1024x768
M2 Max 38-Core GPU:
84  fps
med. 1366x768
M2 Max 38-Core GPU:
81  fps
high 1920x1080
M2 Max 38-Core GPU:
57  fps

Average Gaming Apple M2 Max 30-Core GPU → 100%

Average Gaming 30-70 fps → 100%

Average Gaming Apple M2 Max 38-Core GPU → 109%

Average Gaming 30-70 fps → 111%

Apple M2 Max 38-Core GPUlowmed.highultraQHD4K
Borderlands 37260.248.6
Total War: Three Kingdoms330147967147
Shadow of the Tomb Raider18213112210978
The Witcher 38376
GTA V848157
< 30 fps
< 60 fps
< 120 fps
≥ 120 fps


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Apple M2 Max 30-Core GPUlowmed.highultraQHD4K
Borderlands 353.245.235.1
Total War: Three Kingdoms916541.4
Shadow of the Tomb Raider11510269
< 30 fps
< 60 fps
< 120 fps
≥ 120 fps







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For more games that might be playable and a list of all games and graphics cards visit our Gaming List

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v1.26
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Redaktion, 2017-09- 8 (Update: 2023-07- 1)