Apple M2 10-Core GPU vs NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 vs Apple M2 Max 38-Core GPU
Apple M2 10-Core GPU
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The Apple M2 GPU is an integrated graphics card offering 10 cores designed by Apple and integrated in the Apple M2 SoC. It uses the unified memory architecture of the M2 SoC (up to 24 GB LPDDR5-6400 with 100 GB/s bandwidth) and should offer 160 execution units.
According to Apple it offers a 25% higher performance at slightly higher power consumption. The theoretical performance is rated at 3.6 Teraflops and therefore 1 TFLOP higher than the M1 8-core GPU. In our benchmarks, the GPU was able to top the M1 with up to 40%, but still stays behind the 14-core GPU in the M1 Pro. Compared to other iGPUs from AMD and Intel, the M2 benefits greatly from the unified memory architecture and the high bandwidth.
The M2 chip is manufactured in the second generation 5nm process at TSMC (most likely N5P). The power consumption is around 13.5 Watt (in our tests under load of the MBP13) and up to 15W according to Apple.
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050
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The Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 is a mid-range desktop graphics card. It is based on the GA106 Ampere chip and offers 8 GB GDDR6 graphics memory with a 128 Bit memory bus. It offers 2,560 cores and supports PCIe 4.0.
The performance is similar to the older GeForce RTX 2060 and therefore best suited for 1080p gaming of modern and demanding games in high settings.
The GA106 chip offers 3,840 FP32 ALUs of which half can also execute INT32 instructions (i.e. 1,920 INT32 ALUs). With Turing all shaders could still execute FP32 or INT32 instructions. The raytracing and tensor cores on the chip were also improved according to Nvidia. The Ampere chips also include an improved 5th generation video encoder (NVENC for H.264 and H.265) and a 7th generation decoder (for various formats now including AV1).
The GA106 chip is manufactured by Samsung in 8nm (8N), which is not quite able to keep up with the 7nm node at TSMC (e.g. used by AMD and also for the professional GA100 Ampere chip). The TDP of the RTX 3050 is specified at 130 Watt and therefore better than the previous RTX 2060 (160 Watt).
Apple M2 Max 38-Core GPU
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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 10-Core GPU | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 | Apple M2 Max 38-Core GPU | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Apple M2 Series |
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Pipelines | 10 - unified | 2560 - unified | 38 - unified | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Core Speed | 1398 (Boost) MHz | 1552 - 1777 (Boost) MHz | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Memory Type | LPDDR5-6400 | GDDR6 | LPDDR5-6400 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Shared Memory | no | no | no | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Power Consumption | 15 Watt | 130 Watt | 53 Watt | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
technology | 5 nm | 8 nm | 5 nm | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Date of Announcement | 06.06.2022 | 04.01.2022 | 17.01.2023 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Predecessor | M1 8-Core GPU | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Codename | Ampere GA106 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Architecture | Ampere | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Memory Speed | 1750 MHz | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Memory Bus Width | 128 Bit Bit | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Max. Amount of Memory | 8 GB | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
API | DirectX 12_2, Shader 6.6, OpenGL 4.6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Transistors | 12 Billion | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Notebook Size | medium sized |
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Benchmarks
3DM Vant. Perf. total + NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050
specvp12 sw-03 + NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050
Cinebench R15 OpenGL 64 Bit + Apple M2 10-Core GPU
GFXBench T-Rex HD Offscreen C24Z16 + Apple M2 10-Core GPU
Average Benchmarks Apple M2 10-Core GPU → 0% n=0
Average Benchmarks NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 → 0% n=0
Average Benchmarks Apple M2 Max 38-Core GPU → 0% n=0

* 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.

Company of Heroes 3
2023
Sons of the Forest
2023
Atomic Heart
2023
Returnal
2023
Hogwarts Legacy
2023
Dead Space Remake
2023
The Witcher 3 v4
2023
High On Life
2023
FIFA 23
2022
The Quarry
2022
F1 22
2022
Ghostwire Tokyo
2022
Cyberpunk 2077 1.6
2022
GRID Legends
2022
Elden Ring
2022
Dying Light 2
2022
God of War
2022
Halo Infinite
2021
Farming Simulator 22
2021
Battlefield 2042
2021
Forza Horizon 5
2021
Riders Republic
2021
Back 4 Blood
2021
Far Cry 6
2021
Alan Wake Remastered
2021
New World
2021
F1 2021
2021
Cyberpunk 2077 1.0
2020
Dirt 5
2020
Watch Dogs Legion
2020
Crysis Remastered
2020
Horizon Zero Dawn
2020
Death Stranding
2020
F1 2020
2020
Borderlands 3
2019
Control
2019
Anno 1800
2019
Far Cry New Dawn
2019
Metro Exodus
2019
Far Cry 5
2018
X-Plane 11.11
2018
Dota 2 Reborn
2015
The Witcher 3
2015
GTA V
2015Average Gaming Apple M2 10-Core GPU → 100%
Average Gaming 30-70 fps → 100%
Average Gaming NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 → 324%
Average Gaming 30-70 fps → 293%
Average Gaming Apple M2 Max 38-Core GPU → 315%
Average Gaming 30-70 fps → 272%
Apple M2 10-Core GPU | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 | Apple M2 Max 38-Core GPU | |||||||||||||||||||
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low | med. | high | ultra | QHD | 4K | low | med. | high | ultra | QHD | 4K | low | med. | high | ultra | QHD | 4K | ||||
Company of Heroes 3 | 146.5 | 124.5 | 90.2 | 89.9 | 64.9 | 36.7 | |||||||||||||||
Sons of the Forest | 60.2 | 56.2 | 65 | 39.8 | 23.7 | ||||||||||||||||
Atomic Heart | 127.3 | 98.6 | 56.9 | 44.7 | 33.9 | 19.6 | |||||||||||||||
Returnal | 70 | 67 | 60 | 50 | 37 | 21 | |||||||||||||||
Hogwarts Legacy | 86.8 | 67.2 | 53 | 42.2 | 29.2 | 15.2 | |||||||||||||||
Dead Space Remake | 59.6 | 57 | 50.1 | 48.5 | 32 | 16.1 | |||||||||||||||
The Witcher 3 v4 | 145.8 | 128.2 | 88.7 | 70.7 | 50.4 | 28.2 | |||||||||||||||
High On Life | 176.7 | 108.8 | 80.7 | 64.2 | 38.2 | 15.5 | |||||||||||||||
The Callisto Protocol | 108.2 | 72.5 | 69 | 44.1 | 32.4 | 18.7 | |||||||||||||||
Need for Speed Unbound | 149 | 104.1 | 83.5 | 70.7 | 48.4 | 24.6 | |||||||||||||||
Spider-Man Miles Morales | 96.9 | 85 | 79.7 | 70.5 | 51.5 | 28.3 | |||||||||||||||
Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2 2022 | 94 | 96 | 66 | 62 | 44 | 27 | |||||||||||||||
Uncharted Legacy of Thieves Collection | 61 | 58.2 | 54.7 | 52 | 36.2 | 15.7 | |||||||||||||||
A Plague Tale Requiem | 76.6 | 57.8 | 42.1 | 31.9 | 22 | 12.3 | |||||||||||||||
FIFA 23 | 213 | 204 | 131.9 | 130.2 | 100.9 | 57.9 | |||||||||||||||
The Quarry | 105.7 | 76.9 | 62.5 | 49 | 33.4 | 10.3 | |||||||||||||||
F1 22 | 209 | 185.2 | 132.2 | 39.9 | 24.9 | 12 | |||||||||||||||
Ghostwire Tokyo | 115.9 | 109.2 | 108.2 | 106.2 | 65.3 | 30.3 | |||||||||||||||
Tiny Tina's Wonderlands | 142.6 | 112.5 | 73.6 | 56.3 | 39 | 20.5 | |||||||||||||||
Cyberpunk 2077 1.6 | 105.8 | 82.7 | 61.1 | 60.5 | 29.8 | 12.2 | |||||||||||||||
GRID Legends | 188.5 | 144.2 | 116.6 | 85.7 | 67.3 | 42 | |||||||||||||||
Elden Ring | 60 | 60 | 60 | 60 | 51.6 | 31.1 | |||||||||||||||
Dying Light 2 | 64 | 54.3 | 48.3 | 32.6 | 16.5 | ||||||||||||||||
Rainbow Six Extraction | 169 | 135 | 132 | 102 | 66 | 33 | |||||||||||||||
God of War | 95 | 79 | 62 | 41 | 35 | 23 | |||||||||||||||
Halo Infinite | 90.9 | 78.5 | 73.8 | 70.4 | 64.5 | ||||||||||||||||
Farming Simulator 22 | 271 | 159 | 95.4 | 95.5 | 73.3 | 44.5 | |||||||||||||||
Battlefield 2042 | 152 | 89.5 | 75.7 | 65.6 | 50.2 | 29.6 | |||||||||||||||
Forza Horizon 5 | 200 | 108 | 94 | 54 | 45 | 31 | |||||||||||||||
Call of Duty Vanguard | 91.3 | 93 | 73.7 | 65.5 | 47.4 | 24.1 | |||||||||||||||
Riders Republic | 167 | 97 | 77 | 69 | 49 | 25 | |||||||||||||||
Guardians of the Galaxy | 129 | 99 | 98 | 94 | 62 | 34 | |||||||||||||||
Back 4 Blood | 158 | 135 | 125 | 82.9 | 41.5 | ||||||||||||||||
Far Cry 6 | 168 | 101 | 85 | 74 | 52 | 7 | |||||||||||||||
Alan Wake Remastered | 135 | 131 | 117 | 69.3 | |||||||||||||||||
New World | 161 | 79.1 | 68.5 | 61.6 | 40.9 | 28.1 | |||||||||||||||
F1 2021 | 431 | 216 | 169 | 82 | 59 | 32 | |||||||||||||||
Mass Effect Legendary Edition | 114 | 110 | 94.2 | 51.7 | |||||||||||||||||
Cyberpunk 2077 1.0 | 77 | 63.2 | 50.6 | 41.9 | 26 | 12.2 | |||||||||||||||
Immortals Fenyx Rising | 137 | 86 | 78 | 70 | 55 | 34 | |||||||||||||||
Assassin´s Creed Valhalla | 106 | 75 | 62 | 53 | 40 | 24 | |||||||||||||||
Dirt 5 | 214 | 103 | 82 | 61 | 49 | 31 | |||||||||||||||
Watch Dogs Legion | 124 | 85 | 73 | 71 | 33 | 19 | |||||||||||||||
Mafia Definitive Edition | 157 | 81 | 75.6 | 50.4 | 25.8 | ||||||||||||||||
Crysis Remastered | 268 | 146 | 63.2 | 58.9 | 42.2 | 23.7 | |||||||||||||||
Horizon Zero Dawn | 162 | 96 | 79 | 66 | 52 | 28 | |||||||||||||||
Death Stranding | 167.8 | 108.5 | 101.6 | 98.3 | 68.2 | 37.2 | |||||||||||||||
F1 2020 | 402 | 207 | 158 | 107 | 78 | 44 | |||||||||||||||
Borderlands 3 | 64 | 35 | 25 | 16 | 213 | 119 | 76 | 57 | 40 | 22 | 72 | 60.2 | 48.6 | ||||||||
Control | 231 | 81 | 60 | 38 | 19 | ||||||||||||||||
Anno 1800 | 129 | 123 | 83.1 | 40.8 | 28.6 | 17.4 | |||||||||||||||
Far Cry New Dawn | 170 | 110 | 103 | 94 | 69 | 37 | |||||||||||||||
Metro Exodus | 164 | 80 | 59 | 46 | 36 | 23 | |||||||||||||||
Shadow of the Tomb Raider | 79 | 35 | 31 | 27 | 20 | 243 | 106 | 96 | 79 | 58 | 30 | 182 | 131 | 122 | 109 | 78 | |||||
Strange Brigade | 352 | 156 | 123 | 106 | 78 | 45 | |||||||||||||||
Far Cry 5 | 202 | 118 | 107 | 99 | 68 | 35 | |||||||||||||||
X-Plane 11.11 | 189 | 165 | 130 | 103 | |||||||||||||||||
Final Fantasy XV Benchmark | 171 | 91 | 67 | 49 | 28 | ||||||||||||||||
Rise of the Tomb Raider | 215 | 138 | 84.7 | 35 | |||||||||||||||||
Dota 2 Reborn | 256 | 223 | 200 | 181 | 94 | ||||||||||||||||
The Witcher 3 | 34 | 28 | 363 | 282 | 168 | 65 | 44 | 83 | 76 | ||||||||||||
GTA V | 188 | 187 | 174 | 81 | 57 | 57 | 84 | 81 | 57 | ||||||||||||
Apple M2 10-Core GPU | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 | Apple M2 Max 38-Core GPU | |||||||||||||||||||
low | med. | high | ultra | QHD | 4K | low | med. | high | ultra | QHD | 4K | low | med. | high | ultra | QHD | 4K | < 30 fps < 60 fps < 120 fps ≥ 120 fps | 2 | 2 | 1 2 | 3 | 1 | | < 30 fps < 60 fps < 120 fps ≥ 120 fps | 1 17 40 | 4 38 19 | 9 40 12 | 18 34 3 | 6 36 16 | 35 23 4 | < 30 fps < 60 fps < 120 fps ≥ 120 fps | 1 1 | 2 1 | 1 2 1 | 1 2 | 1 | |
For more games that might be playable and a list of all games and graphics cards visit our Gaming List