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Apple M2 Pro 10-Core vs Apple M3 vs Apple M2 Max

Apple M2 Pro 10-Core

► remove from comparison Apple M2 Pro 10-Core

The Apple M2 Pro 10-Core is a System on a Chip (SoC) from Apple that is found in the early 2023 MacBook Pro 14 and Mac Mini entry level models. It offers 10 of the 12 cores available in the chip divided in six performance cores (P-cores) and four power-efficiency cores (E-cores). The E-cores clock with up to 3.4 GHz, the P-Cores up to 3.7 GHz (mostly 3.3 GHz in multi-threaded workloads and 3.4 GHz in single threaded).

The big cores (codename Avalanche) offer 192 KB instruction cache, 128 KB data cache, and 36 MB shared L2 cache (up from 24 MB in the M1 Pro). The four efficiency cores (codename Blizzard) are a lot smaller and offer only 128 KB instruction cache, 64 KB data cache, and 4 MB shared cache. CPU and GPU can both use the 24 MB SLC (System Level Cache). 

The unified memory (16 or 32 GB LPDDR5-6400) next to the chip is connected by a 256 Bit memory controller (200 GB/s bandwidth) and can be used by the GPU and CPU.

The performance of the M2 Pro 10-Core should be similar to the old M1 Pro with all 10 cores. The multi-threaded performance should be slower, as the M2 10-core has two p-cores less (and 2 e-cores more) but the single-threaded performance should be better due to the faster clock speed and architectural improvements. The old M1 Pro 8-core should be noticeably slower.

The integrated graphics card in the M1 Pro 10-core offers all 16 of the 19 cores.

Furthermore, the SoC integrates a fast 16 core neural engine (faster than M1 Pro), a secure enclave (e.g., for encryption), a unified memory architecture, Thunderbolt 4 controller, an ISP, and media de- and encoders (including ProRes).

The M2 Pro is manufactured in 5 nm at TSMC (second generation) and integrates 40 billion transistors. 

Apple M3

► remove from comparison Apple M3

The Apple M3 is a system on a chip (SoC) from Apple for notebooks that was introduced in late 2023. It integrates a new 8-core CPU with 4 performance cores with up to 4.06 GHz and 4 efficiency cores running at up to 2.75 GHz. Apple claims that the CPU is up to 20% faster than in the old Apple M2 (3.5 GHz)

Due to the higher clock speeds and architecture improvements, the processor performance is also significantly better than the M2 in benchmarks (see e.g. Geekbench below) and can keep up with the fastest CPUs in short single-core tests (like the Raptor Lake i9-13950HX).

The M3 also integrates a new graphics adapter with dynamic caching, mesh shading and ray tracing acceleration. According to Apple, it is 20% faster than the GPU in the M2. The chip integrates again 10 GPU cores, but the cheaper variant only offers 8 cores (e.g. in the entry iMac). Furthermore, the GPU only supports 2 displays (an additional 6K60 display to the internal one).

Both GPU and CPU can access the unified memory on the package together. It is still available in 8, 16 and 24 GB variants and offers the same 100 GB/s maximum bandwidth (unlike the Pro models that feature a reduced memory bandwidth). 

The integrated 16-core Neural Engine has also been revised and now offers 18 TOPS peak performance (versus 15.8 TOPS in the M2 but 35 TOPS in the new A17 Pro). The video engine now supports AV1 decoding in hardware. H.264, HEVC and ProRes (RAW) can still be decoded and encoded.

Unfortunately, the integrated wireless network module only supports Wi-Fi 6E (no Wi-Fi 7) and due to the support of only a single external monitor, the chip also has to make do with no Thunderbolt 4 (Thunderbolt 3 / USB 4 support only for up to 40 Gbit/s).

The chip is manufactured on the current 3nm TSMC process (N3B most likely) and contains 25 billion transistors (+25% vs. Apple M2). The 3nm process should also contribute to the excellent efficiency of the chip. Under load, the M3 CPU consumes approximately 20 Watt.

Apple M2 Max

► remove from comparison Apple M2 Max

The Apple M2 Max is a System on a Chip (SoC) from Apple that is found in the early 2023 MacBook Pro 14 and 16-inch models. It offers all 12 CPU cores available in the chip divided in eight performance cores (P-cores) and four power-efficiency cores (E-cores). The E-cores clock with up to 3.4 GHz, the P-Cores up to 3.7 GHz (mostly 3.3 GHz in multi-threaded workloads and 3.4 GHz in single threaded).

The big cores (codename Avalanche) offer 192 KB instruction cache, 128 KB data cache, and 36 MB shared L2 cache (up from 24 MB in the M1 Pro). The four efficiency cores (codename Blizzard) are a lot smaller and offer only 128 KB instruction cache, 64 KB data cache, and 4 MB shared cache. CPU and GPU can both use the 49 MB SLC (System Level Cache). 

The unified memory (32, 64, or 96 GB LPDDR5-6400) next to the chip is connected by a 512 Bit memory controller (400 GB/s bandwidth) and can be used by the GPU and CPU.

The CPU performance should be quite similar to the M2 Pro as only the higher memory bandwidth and bigger L3 cache could make a difference for some workloads.

The integrated graphics card in the M1 Max offers a 30-core GPU or a GPU with all 38 cores.

Furthermore, the SoC integrates a fast 16 core neural engine (faster than M1 Max), a secure enclave (e.g., for encryption), a unified memory architecture, Thunderbolt 4 controller, an ISP, and media de- and encoders (including ProRes).

The M2 Max is manufactured in 5 nm at TSMC (second generation) and integrates 40 billion transistors. The power consumption of the CPU part is up to 36 Watt according to powermetrics. When fully loading the CPU and GPU cores, the chip uses up to 89 Watt and the CPU part is limited to 25 Watt.

ModelApple M2 Pro 10-CoreApple M3Apple M2 Max
SeriesApple Apple M2Apple Apple M3Apple Apple M2
Series: Apple M2
Apple M2 Max2.42 - 3.7 GHz12 / 12 cores48 MB L3
Apple M2 Pro2.42 - 3.5 GHz12 / 12 cores24 MB L3
Apple M2 Pro 10-Core « 2.42 - 3.7 GHz10 / 10 cores24 MB L3
Apple M22.42 - 3.48 GHz8 / 8 cores8 MB L3
Apple M3 Max 16-Core2.75 - 4.06 GHz16 / 16 cores
Apple M3 Max 14-Core2.75 - 4.06 GHz14 / 14 cores
Apple M3 Pro 12-Core2.75 - 4.06 GHz12 / 12 cores
Apple M3 Pro 11-Core2.75 - 4.06 GHz11 / 11 cores
Apple M3 « 2.75 - 4.06 GHz8 / 8 cores
Apple M2 Max « 2.42 - 3.7 GHz12 / 12 cores48 MB L3
Apple M2 Pro2.42 - 3.5 GHz12 / 12 cores24 MB L3
Apple M2 Pro 10-Core2.42 - 3.7 GHz10 / 10 cores24 MB L3
Apple M22.42 - 3.48 GHz8 / 8 cores8 MB L3
Clock2424 - 3696 MHz2748 - 4056 MHz2424 - 3696 MHz
L1 Cache7.3 MB3.3 MB
L2 Cache36 MB4 MB36 MB
L3 Cache24 MB48 MB
Cores / Threads10 / 108 / 8
4 x 4.1 GHz Apple M3 P-Core
4 x 2.7 GHz Apple M3 E-Core
12 / 12
Transistors40000 Million25000 Million67000 Million
Technology5 nm3 nm5 nm
FeaturesARMv8 Instruction SetARMv8 Instruction SetARMv8 Instruction Set
iGPUApple M2 Pro 16-Core GPUApple M3 10-Core GPUApple M2 Max 38-Core GPU
ArchitectureARMARMARM
Announced
Manufacturerwww.apple.com
TDP79 Watt

Benchmarks

Cinebench 2024 - CB24 CPU Single Core
100%
1 M3 +
min: 140     avg: 141     median: 141 (98%)     max: 142 Points
Cinebench 2024 - CB24 CPU Multi Core
100%
1 M3 +
min: 576     avg: 629     median: 598 (11%)     max: 712 Points
Cinebench R23 - Cinebench R23 Multi Core
11811 Points (11%)
87%
M3 +
min: 10074     avg: 10275     median: 10298 (10%)     max: 10454 Points
min: 14738     avg: 14753     median: 14752.5 (14%)     max: 14767 Points
Cinebench R23 - Cinebench R23 Single Core
1643 Points (70%)
116%
M3 +
min: 1900     avg: 1901     median: 1900 (81%)     max: 1904 Points
min: 1625     avg: 1644     median: 1643.5 (70%)     max: 1662 Points
Cinebench R20 - Cinebench R20 CPU (Single Core)
449 Points (50%)
112%
M3 +
504 Points (56%)
min: 451     avg: 455.5     median: 455.5 (51%)     max: 460 Points
Cinebench R20 - Cinebench R20 CPU (Multi Core)
3235 Points (8%)
87%
M3 +
2818 Points (7%)
min: 4044     avg: 4065     median: 4064.5 (10%)     max: 4085 Points
Cinebench R15 - Cinebench R15 CPU Multi 64 Bit
1664 Points (11%)
90%
M3 +
1499 Points (9%)
min: 2074     avg: 2084     median: 2084 (13%)     max: 2094 Points
Cinebench R15 - Cinebench R15 CPU Single 64 Bit
231 Points (70%)
117%
M3 +
271 Points (82%)
min: 233     avg: 236     median: 236 (71%)     max: 239 Points
Blender - Blender 3.3 Classroom CPU *
435 Seconds (6%)
99%
M3 +
min: 491     avg: 590     median: 517 (7%)     max: 761 Seconds
326 Seconds (4%)
Blender - Blender 2.79 BMW27 CPU *
415 Seconds (3%)
99%
M3 +
min: 474     avg: 509     median: 494 (3%)     max: 558 Seconds
333 Seconds (2%)
Geekbench 6.2 - Geekbench 6.2 Single-Core
100%
1 M3 +
min: 3026     avg: 3083     median: 3087.5 (83%)     max: 3130 Points
87%
1 M2 Max +
2692 Points (72%)
Geekbench 6.2 - Geekbench 6.2 Multi-Core
100%
1 M3 +
min: 11863     avg: 11982     median: 12000 (47%)     max: 12066 Points
124%
1 M2 Max +
14863 Points (59%)
Geekbench 5.5 - Geekbench 5.1 - 5.4 64 Bit Single-Core
min: 1926     avg: 1937     median: 1936.5 (82%)     max: 1947 Points
121%
M3 +
min: 2256     avg: 2316     median: 2342 (99%)     max: 2350 Points
min: 1965     avg: 1970     median: 1967 (83%)     max: 1978 Points
Geekbench 5.5 - Geekbench 5.1 - 5.4 64 Bit Multi-Core
min: 12074     avg: 12132     median: 12131.5 (22%)     max: 12189 Points
89%
M3 +
min: 10570     avg: 10697     median: 10748 (19%)     max: 10774 Points
min: 15348     avg: 15388     median: 15373 (28%)     max: 15444 Points
Mozilla Kraken 1.1 - Kraken 1.1 Total Score *
447.4 ms (1%)
100%
M3 +
min: 362.8     avg: 366.4     median: 363.1 (0%)     max: 373.2 ms
min: 430.2     avg: 437.2     median: 437.2 (1%)     max: 444.2 ms
Octane V2 - Octane V2 Total Score
75471 Points (68%)
128%
M3 +
min: 96622     avg: 97216     median: 96933 (87%)     max: 98093 Points
min: 76610     avg: 77676     median: 77676 (70%)     max: 78742 Points
WebXPRT 4 - WebXPRT 4 Score
250 Points (72%)
126%
M3 +
min: 313     avg: 314     median: 314 (90%)     max: 315 Points
min: 258     avg: 259     median: 259 (74%)     max: 260 Points
WebXPRT 3 - WebXPRT 3 Score
391 Points (81%)
114%
M3 +
min: 423     avg: 438.7     median: 445 (93%)     max: 448 Points
min: 402     avg: 404.5     median: 404.5 (84%)     max: 407 Points
CrossMark - CrossMark Overall
1772 Points (68%)
104%
M3 +
min: 1847     avg: 1850     median: 1847 (71%)     max: 1857 Points
min: 1759     avg: 1835     median: 1834.5 (70%)     max: 1910 Points
Power Consumption - Cinebench R15 Multi Power Consumption - external Monitor *
100%
1 M2 Max +
72.8 Watt (13%)
Power Consumption - Idle Power Consumption - external Monitor *
2.2 Watt (1%)
100%
1 M3 +
min: 2.63     avg: 2.8     median: 2.8 (2%)     max: 2.87 Watt
95%
1 M2 Max +
9.2 Watt (6%)
Power Consumption - Idle Power Consumption 150cd 1min *
5.2 Watt (6%)
101%
1 M3 +
min: 3.94     avg: 4.4     median: 4.4 (5%)     max: 4.7 Watt
Power Consumption - Cinebench R15 Multi Power Efficiency - external Monitor
100%
1 M2 Max +
28.5 Points per Watt (21%)

Average Benchmarks Apple M2 Pro 10-Core → 100% n=15

Average Benchmarks Apple M3 → 106% n=15

Average Benchmarks Apple M2 Max → 108% n=15

- 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

v1.27
log 03. 12:34:05

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