Apple has officially introduced its latest M-series chips: the M6 and M5 Ultra. These chips are specifically tailored for professional users who require outstanding performance for demanding tasks such as AI modeling, 3D rendering, and intricate video editing.
Advanced Technology Behind the M6 Chip
The M6 chip is manufactured using a cutting-edge 2nm process. This innovation allows Apple to pack more transistors into a smaller space while enhancing power efficiency. The M6 features a robust 12-core CPU, which includes two additional cores compared to its predecessor, the M5. This CPU configuration comprises 2 super cores, 4 performance units, and 6 efficiency cores. Apple has reported that the M6 delivers the fastest single-threaded performance in the world.
Performance Improvements and Capabilities
When it comes to multi-threaded performance, the M6 surpasses the M5 by up to 1.2 times and is 2.4 times faster than the Apple M1. The GPU of the M6 is equipped with 12 cores, each featuring a Neural Accelerator. According to Apple’s internal benchmarks, the M6 outperforms the M5 by 30% in peak GPU compute tasks related to AI, and it is 8 times faster than the M1. Additionally, the GPU supports hardware-based ray tracing and Dynamic Caching, which enhance its performance further.
Enhanced Neural Processing Unit
The M6 also includes an upgraded Neural Processing Unit (NPU), which boasts a dual 16-core neural engine rated to deliver twice the peak compute capabilities of the M5 for on-device AI tasks. Moreover, the M6 supports up to 32GB of unified memory with speeds reaching 170GB/s, making it a powerful addition to the newly released Mac mini.
Introducing the M5 Ultra Chip
In addition to the M6, Apple has also launched the M5 Ultra chip. This chip continues the trend of previous M-series Ultra models by integrating two dual-die M5 Max chips through Apple’s UltraFusion interconnect technology. The M5 Ultra stands out as the first M-series chip to adopt a quad-die architecture, which Apple claims results in its most powerful chip yet.
The M5 Ultra can be configured with up to 36 CPU cores, featuring 12 super cores and 24 performance cores. Apple states that the M5 Ultra achieves 1.25 times higher single-threaded performance and 1.3 times higher multi-threaded performance than the M3 Ultra chip. For GPU capabilities, users can configure up to 80 units along with 32 Neural Engine cores, potentially delivering 4.3 times the peak AI compute compared to the M3 Ultra.
Additionally, the M5 Ultra is equipped with double the video encode and decode blocks, enabling it to manage up to 33 streams of 8K ProRes video at 30fps simultaneously. This chip can also be configured with a staggering 512GB of unified memory, operating at speeds of up to 1.2TB/s. The M5 Ultra will debut in the newly announced Mac Studio.
Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/apple_m6_and_m5_ultra_chips_announced-news-74332.php
