Notebookcheck Logo

Apple M3 Max 40-Core GPU vs Apple M3 8-Core GPU vs Apple M3 Pro 14-Core GPU

Apple M3 Max 40-Core GPU

► remove from comparison Apple M3 Max 40-Core GPU

The Apple M3 Max 40-Core GPU is a self-designed graphics card in the Apple M3 SoC and according to Apple with forty cores. According to Apple, the GPU uses a new architecture and now offers dynamic caching, mesh shading and ray tracing acceleration.

The GPU can access up to 128 GB LPDDR5-6400 unified memory via a 512 bit memory bus (max 400 GBit/s). Thanks to dynamic caching, the GPU should only reserve as much memory as is required.

Since the SoC is manufactured in the current 3nm (probably N3B) at TSMC. According to powermetrics, the GPU requires up to 60 watts (chip incl. CPU total 78 watts).

Apple M3 8-Core GPU

► remove from comparison Apple M3 8-Core GPU

The Apple M3 GPU is an integrated graphics card offering 10 cores designed by Apple and integrated in the Apple M3 SoC. It uses the unified memory architecture of the M3 SoC (up to 24 GB LPDDR5-6400 with 100 GB/s bandwidth). The GPU uses a new architecture with support for mesh shading and ray tracing. Dynamic caching is also a new feature that should only us as much shared memory as needed.

The old M2 SoC showed a difference of around 15% between the 8-core and 10-core variant. Therefore, we expect a similar difference for the M3 models. This means, the M3 8-core version should be slightly faster than the 10-core GPU in the Apple M2.

The M3 chip is manufactured in the new 3nm process at TSMC (most likely N3B). The power limit should be around the same 15 Watt as the 10-core variant.

Apple M3 Pro 14-Core GPU

► remove from comparison Apple M3 Pro 14-Core GPU

The Apple M3 Pro 14-Core GPU is a self-designed graphics card in the Apple M3 Pro (with 11 CPU cores) and offers fourteen of the eighteen cores available on the chip. The graphics card uses a new architecture and now offers dynamic caching, mesh shading and ray tracing acceleration.

The GPU can access up to 24 GB LPDDR5-6400 unified memory via a 192-bit memory bus (max 150 GBit/s). Thanks to dynamic caching, the GPU only reserves as much memory as is required.

The entire chip is manufactured in the current 3nm process (probably N3B) at TSMC.

show full text
Apple M3 Max 40-Core GPUApple M3 8-Core GPUApple M3 Pro 14-Core GPU
Apple M3 Series
M3 Max 40-Core GPU 40
M3 Max 30-Core GPU 30
M3 Pro 18-Core GPU 18
M3 Pro 14-Core GPU 14
M3 10-Core GPU 10
M3 8-Core GPU 8
M3 Max 40-Core GPU 40
M3 Max 30-Core GPU 30
M3 Pro 18-Core GPU 18
M3 Pro 14-Core GPU 14
M3 10-Core GPU 10
M3 8-Core GPU 8
M3 Max 40-Core GPU 40
M3 Max 30-Core GPU 30
M3 Pro 18-Core GPU 18
M3 Pro 14-Core GPU 14
M3 10-Core GPU 10
M3 8-Core GPU 8
Pipelines40 - unified8 - unified14 - unified
Memory TypeLPDDR5-6400LPDDR5-6400LPDDR5-6400
Shared Memorynonono
Power Consumption53 Watt15 Watt
technology5 nm5 nm5 nm
Notebook Sizemedium sizedmedium sized
Date of Announcement31.10.2023 31.10.2023 31.10.2023
PredecessorM1 8-Core GPU
CPU in M3 Max 40-Core GPUGPU Base SpeedGPU Boost / Turbo
Apple M3 Max 16-Core16 x 2748 MHz, 78 W? MHz? MHz
CPU in M3 Pro 14-Core GPUGPU Base SpeedGPU Boost / Turbo
Apple M3 Pro 11-Core11 x 2748 MHz, 27 W? MHz? MHz

Benchmarks

3DMark - 3DMark Wild Life Extreme Unlimited
min: 31268     avg: 31336     median: 31335.5 (36%)     max: 31403 Points
12094 Points (14%)
Blender - Blender 3.3 Classroom METAL *
min: 29.6     avg: 30.8     median: 30.8 (3%)     max: 32 Seconds
73 Seconds (8%)
Cinebench R15
Cinebench R15 OpenGL 64 Bit + Apple M3 Max 40-Core GPU
Cinebench R15 - Cinebench R15 OpenGL 64 Bit
min: 136.23     avg: 137.4     median: 137.4 (8%)     max: 138.52 fps
Cinebench R15 OpenGL 64 Bit + Apple M3 Pro 14-Core GPU
129.9 fps (8%)
Cinebench R15 OpenGL Ref. Match 64 Bit + Apple M3 Max 40-Core GPU
Cinebench R15 - Cinebench R15 OpenGL Ref. Match 64 Bit
99.5 % (100%)
Cinebench R15 OpenGL Ref. Match 64 Bit + Apple M3 Pro 14-Core GPU
99.5 % (100%)
GFXBench - GFXBench 5.0 4K Aztec Ruins High Tier Offscreen
min: 188.2     avg: 196     median: 196 (80%)     max: 203.7 fps
79 fps (32%)
GFXBench - GFXBench 5.0 Aztec Ruins High Tier Offscreen
min: 416     avg: 431     median: 431 (78%)     max: 446 fps
178.7 fps (32%)
GFXBench - GFXBench 5.0 Aztec Ruins Normal Tier Offscreen
min: 858     avg: 863     median: 863 (64%)     max: 868 fps
481.9 fps (36%)
GFXBench - GFXBench Car Chase Offscreen
min: 556     avg: 560     median: 560 (63%)     max: 564 fps
376.3 fps (42%)
GFXBench 3.1 - GFXBench Manhattan ES 3.1 Offscreen
min: 1163     avg: 1178     median: 1178 (25%)     max: 1193 fps
565 fps (12%)
GFXBench 3.0 - GFXBench 3.0 Manhattan Offscreen
min: 1557     avg: 1573     median: 1573 (92%)     max: 1589 fps
818 fps (48%)
GFXBench (DX / GLBenchmark) 2.7
GFXBench T-Rex HD Offscreen C24Z16 + Apple M3 Max 40-Core GPU
GFXBench (DX / GLBenchmark) 2.7 - GFXBench T-Rex HD Offscreen C24Z16
min: 2893     avg: 2942     median: 2941.5 (23%)     max: 2990 fps
GFXBench T-Rex HD Offscreen C24Z16 + Apple M3 Pro 14-Core GPU
1299 fps (10%)
Geekbench 6.2 - Geekbench 6.2 GPU OpenCL
min: 91413     avg: 91416     median: 91415.5 (26%)     max: 91418 Points
42798 Points (12%)
Geekbench 6.2 - Geekbench 6.2 GPU Metal
min: 154675     avg: 155214     median: 155214 (100%)     max: 155752 Points
68043 Points (44%)
Power Consumption - The Witcher 3 Power Consumption - external Monitor *
min: 87.7     avg: 91.6     median: 91.6 (13%)     max: 95.4 Watt
32.8 Watt (5%)
Power Consumption - Witcher 3 Power Consumption *
min: 92.5     avg: 100.8     median: 100.8 (22%)     max: 109 Watt
42.8 Watt (9%)
Power Consumption - Witcher 3 ultra Power Efficiency
min: 0.633     avg: 0.8     median: 0.8 (81%)     max: 0.995 fps per Watt
0.9 fps per Watt (90%)
Power Consumption - Witcher 3 ultra Power Efficiency - external Monitor
min: 0.723     avg: 0.9     median: 0.9 (73%)     max: 1.207 fps per Watt
min: 1.189     avg: 1.2     median: 1.2 (99%)     max: 1.207 fps per Watt
Emissions Witcher 3 Fan Noise + Apple M3 Max 40-Core GPU
Emissions - Witcher 3 Fan Noise
min: 42.8     avg: 43.1     median: 43.1 (69%)     max: 43.4 dB(A)
Witcher 3 Fan Noise + Apple M3 Pro 14-Core GPU
25.1 dB(A) (40%)

Average Benchmarks Apple M3 Max 40-Core GPU → 0% n=

Average Benchmarks Apple M3 Pro 14-Core GPU → 0% n=

- 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.

Total War Pharaoh

Total War Pharaoh

2023
low 1920x1080
100%
M3 Max 40-Core GPU:
242  fps
80%
M3 Pro 14-Core GPU:
193  fps
med. 1920x1080
100%
M3 Max 40-Core GPU:
207 212 ~ 210 fps
60%
M3 Pro 14-Core GPU:
125  fps
high 1920x1080
100%
M3 Max 40-Core GPU:
138 139 ~ 139 fps
48%
M3 Pro 14-Core GPU:
67  fps
ultra 1920x1080
100%
M3 Max 40-Core GPU:
97 121 ~ 109 fps
49%
M3 Pro 14-Core GPU:
53  fps
QHD 2560x1440
100%
M3 Max 40-Core GPU:
82 82 ~ 82 fps
43%
M3 Pro 14-Core GPU:
35  fps
Cyberpunk 2077 2.0 Phantom Liberty

Cyberpunk 2077 2.0 Phantom Liberty

2023
low 1920x1080
100%
M3 Max 40-Core GPU:
45  fps
med. 1920x1080
100%
M3 Max 40-Core GPU:
44  fps
high 1920x1080
100%
M3 Max 40-Core GPU:
43.7 44.4 ~ 44 fps
ultra 1920x1080
100%
M3 Max 40-Core GPU:
40.8 42.8 ~ 42 fps
QHD 2560x1440
100%
M3 Max 40-Core GPU:
35.5 37.4 ~ 36 fps
Baldur's Gate 3

Baldur's Gate 3

2023
high 1920x1080
100%
M3 Max 40-Core GPU:
96  fps
44%
M3 Pro 14-Core GPU:
42  fps
ultra 1920x1080
100%
M3 Max 40-Core GPU:
90  fps
43%
M3 Pro 14-Core GPU:
39  fps
QHD 2560x1440
100%
M3 Max 40-Core GPU:
60  fps
Star Wars Jedi Survivor

Star Wars Jedi Survivor

2023
ultra 1920x1080
100%
M3 Max 40-Core GPU:
51  fps
Total War: Three Kingdoms

Total War: Three Kingdoms

2019
med. 1920x1080
100%
M3 Max 40-Core GPU:
170 170 ~ 170 fps
44%
M3 Pro 14-Core GPU:
75  fps
high 1920x1080
100%
M3 Max 40-Core GPU:
109 113 ~ 111 fps
45%
M3 Pro 14-Core GPU:
49.5  fps
ultra 1920x1080
100%
M3 Max 40-Core GPU:
80 84 ~ 82 fps
44%
M3 Pro 14-Core GPU:
35.9  fps
QHD 2560x1440
100%
M3 Max 40-Core GPU:
54 58 ~ 56 fps
40%
M3 Pro 14-Core GPU:
22.5  fps
Shadow of the Tomb Raider

Shadow of the Tomb Raider

2018
med. 1920x1080
100%
M3 Max 40-Core GPU:
145 150 ~ 148 fps
45%
M3 Pro 14-Core GPU:
66  fps
high 1920x1080
100%
M3 Max 40-Core GPU:
135 143 ~ 139 fps
43%
M3 Pro 14-Core GPU:
60  fps
ultra 1920x1080
100%
M3 Max 40-Core GPU:
118 122 ~ 120 fps
44%
M3 Pro 14-Core GPU:
53  fps
QHD 2560x1440
100%
M3 Max 40-Core GPU:
86 88 ~ 87 fps
39%
M3 Pro 14-Core GPU:
34  fps
Far Cry 5

Far Cry 5

2018
med. 1920x1080
100%
M3 Max 40-Core GPU:
56  fps
high 1920x1080
100%
M3 Max 40-Core GPU:
53 54 ~ 54 fps
ultra 1920x1080
100%
M3 Max 40-Core GPU:
50 51 ~ 51 fps
QHD 2560x1440
100%
M3 Max 40-Core GPU:
49 49 ~ 49 fps
The Witcher 3

The Witcher 3

2015
high 1920x1080
100%
M3 Max 40-Core GPU:
87  fps
ultra 1920x1080
100%
M3 Max 40-Core GPU:
69 92 ~ 81 fps
48%
M3 Pro 14-Core GPU:
39  fps
GTA V

GTA V

2015
high 1920x1080
100%
M3 Max 40-Core GPU:
77 79 ~ 78 fps
101%
M3 Pro 14-Core GPU:
79  fps
ultra 1920x1080
100%
M3 Max 40-Core GPU:
53 54 ~ 54 fps
93%
M3 Pro 14-Core GPU:
50  fps
QHD 2560x1440
100%
M3 Max 40-Core GPU:
51 52 ~ 52 fps

Average Gaming Apple M3 Max 40-Core GPU → 100%

Average Gaming 30-70 fps → 100%

Average Gaming Apple M3 Pro 14-Core GPU → 53%

Average Gaming 30-70 fps → 48%

Apple M3 Max 40-Core GPUlowmed.highultraQHD4K
Total War Pharaoh24221013910982
Cyberpunk 2077 2.0 Phantom Liberty4544444236
Baldur's Gate 3969060
Star Wars Jedi Survivor51
Total War: Three Kingdoms1701118256
Shadow of the Tomb Raider14813912087
Far Cry 556545149
The Witcher 38781
GTA V785452
< 30 fps
< 60 fps
< 120 fps
≥ 120 fps
1

1
2

3
2
4
2
4
4
1
4
3



Apple M3 Pro 14-Core GPUlowmed.highultraQHD4K
Total War Pharaoh193125675335
Baldur's Gate 34239
Total War: Three Kingdoms7549.535.922.5
Shadow of the Tomb Raider66605334
The Witcher 339
GTA V7950
< 30 fps
< 60 fps
< 120 fps
≥ 120 fps


1

2
1
2
3

6

1
2




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

v1.26
log 20. 11:15:58

#0 checking url part for id 11636 +0s ... 0s

#1 checking url part for id 12030 +0s ... 0s

#2 checking url part for id 12032 +0s ... 0s

#3 not redirecting to Ajax server +0s ... 0s

#4 did not recreate cache, as it is less than 5 days old! Created at Sun, 19 May 2024 05:37:06 +0200 +0.001s ... 0.001s

#5 composed specs +0.154s ... 0.155s

#6 did output specs +0s ... 0.155s

#7 start showIntegratedCPUs +0s ... 0.155s

#8 getting avg benchmarks for device 11636 +0.046s ... 0.2s

#9 got single benchmarks 11636 +0.011s ... 0.211s

#10 getting avg benchmarks for device 12030 +0.002s ... 0.213s

#11 got single benchmarks 12030 +0.001s ... 0.214s

#12 getting avg benchmarks for device 12032 +0.002s ... 0.216s

#13 got single benchmarks 12032 +0.007s ... 0.223s

#14 got avg benchmarks for devices +0s ... 0.223s

#15 min, max, avg, median took s +0.079s ... 0.302s

#16 before gaming benchmark output +0s ... 0.302s

#17 Got 71 rows for game benchmarks. +0.011s ... 0.313s

#18 composed SQL query for gamebenchmarks +0s ... 0.313s

#19 got data and put it in $dataArray +0.007s ... 0.319s

#20 benchmarks composed for output. +0.023s ... 0.342s

#21 calculated avg scores. +0s ... 0.342s

#22 return log +0.002s ... 0.344s

Please share our article, every link counts!
> Expert Reviews and News on Laptops, Smartphones and Tech Innovations > Benchmarks / Tech > Graphics Card Comparison - Head 2 Head
Redaktion, 2017-09- 8 (Update: 2023-07- 1)