MacBook Pro 13-inch with M1
apple.comMain threads:
The 2.8x faster CPU claim is based on the following fine print:
> Testing conducted by Apple in October 2020 using preproduction 13-inch MacBook Pro systems with Apple M1 chip, as well as production 1.7GHz quad-core Intel Core i7-based 13-inch MacBook Pro systems, all configured with 16GB RAM and 2TB SSD. Open source project built with prerelease Xcode 12.2 with Apple Clang 12.0.0, Ninja 1.10.0.git, and CMake 3.16.5. Performance tests are conducted using specific computer systems and reflect the approximate performance of MacBook Pro.
I can't find any 2020 model of the Macbook Pro with a 1.7Ghz i7 chip so I'm wondering if they are comparing it with an even older model. Would definitely wait for these to get in the hands of viewers before taking Apple at their word.
Edit: Looks like they are comparing with the Intel 8th-gen i7 version of the A2289 model which was released in May this year. There was a small deal made at the time when they released new Macbooks with both 8th-gen and 10th-gen models. Apparently there is not much difference between the 8th-gen and the 10th-gen chips in terms of CPU performance but it's still a bit disingenuous of Apple not to compare with the best of their previous models.
https://www.howtogeek.com/671586/should-you-buy-the-13-inch-... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-hSOuK7qBgM
> it's still a bit disingenuous of Apple not to compare with the best of their previous models.
https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2020/11/apple-unleashes-m1/ Says: "“World’s fastest CPU core in low-power silicon”: Testing conducted by Apple in October 2020 using preproduction 13-inch MacBook Pro systems with Apple M1 chip and 16GB of RAM measuring peak single thread performance of workloads taken from select industry standard benchmarks, commercial applications, and open source applications. Comparison made against the highest-performing CPUs for notebooks, commercially available at the time of testing."
"highest-performing CPUs for notebooks, commercially available [in October 2020]" seems pretty good to me.
Here is the 1.7ghz https://everymac.com/systems/apple/macbook_pro/specs/macbook...
It's the Intel i7-8557u, which is pretty good. Twice the performance though? Likely in very specific benchmarks.
Still, this is pretty impressive, and I say this as someone who will never buy Apple hardware.
> Twice the performance though? Likely in very specific benchmarks.
Keep in mind that the general performance of a given chip, and the performance of that chip in a thermally-constrained form-factor like a laptop, are very different things. Just because the i7-8557u is a decent CPU in a testbench, doesn't mean it didn't thermal-throttle itself under sustained load inside an MBP.
The basic configuration still ships with 8GB of RAM. 16GB is $200 extra. I had an 8GB MacBook Pro in 2013. It wasn't enough then, it's absolutely inadequate now.
If you're not running VM's or opening hundreds of tabs in Chrome it's perfectly fine for everyday tasks.
I'm using my 2016 MBP with 8 GB and have never had a problem except when trying to run multiple VM's.
So 8 GB doesn't seem unreasonable as a minimum. You can upgrade if you need the extra, but a large number of buyers don't need it and prefer a cheaper base price.
Yeah but is this a pro machine? I'd have no problem with 8Gb on an "Air", but for a pro machine to be 16Gb max, it does seem inadequate
A lot of pro workloads are CPU-intensive, not memory-intensive. E.g. a lot of audiovisual work.
The pro line has always been defined by CPU and graphics/display capabilities.
Memory is there to purchase if you're in the subset that has memory-intensive workloads.
It isn't there to purchase, it's maxed out at a measly 16GB. Plenty of workloads are RAM-intensive, but people who need more RAM are forced to spend $500 for a slower Intel CPU and GPU.
Yep, I had a 13" 16GB MBP in 2013. These don't seem very enticing.
Summary:
- 8 cores, 16 core neural engine.
- GPU, RAM, Secure enclave and CPU integrated.
- 5.x graphics performance.
- 10h more battery life.
- Thunderbolt/USB 4.
Available from today, starts shipping next week. Price starts at $1299, or $1199 for education.
Edit: 8GB RAM + 256GB SSD: $1299, 16GB RAM + 512GB SSD: 1499.
Seriously, it should be a crime to sell machines with 256GB SSD in 2020. All these starting prices look low, but those low end configurations will be a drag because of the RAM and storage decisions.
Makes more sense if you think of it like a Chromebook and use cloud storage and software.
Sadly Internet connectivity isn't that good for everyone, even in developed cities.
256 GB is perfectly adequate for many people who store their data in the cloud or don't create much of it in the first place.
256 GB is an insult to everyone. And most people don't store all their data in cLoUd, just some minor, select stuff - that is why absolutely everyone has GBs of free storage from so many vendors. If most used the cloud heavily, those whole thing will collapse in an afternoon.
You don't get to speak for everyone. Especially if you are not aware of the many people who are just fine with working in even more "constrained" environments like Chromebooks.
Neither do you, special guy. For the many people that are just fine with a Choromebook, make a MacChromebook. But market BS like 256 GB as pro and put it a ridiculous price tag - that is just plain nonsense.
This is a “Pro” machine though. It’s the exact opposite market, not for people who can fit on a Chromebook.
Rationalize however you want for yourself - pros that choose to use Apple products are already generally aware of how their hardware money grab works.
Pretty much any pro - in audio/video at least - is not going to be using the built-in drive for projects. Even 2TB doesn’t cut it. So pros are using external storage anyway.
If you looked at where it fits in the lineup, you would understand that it is not meant to fit in to the market you are trying to put it in.
I'm not seeing the "16GB RAM + 512GB SSD: 1499" configuration on the Buy page. The $1499 one says it has 8GB RAM, and any ones with more RAM say they have Intel chips, not the M1.
If I'm missing it or if there's some other way to get that config, do tell, since that's the config I'm interested in!
With 8GB and 16GB options available.
Thank you, I updated the comment.
+8GB RAM: $200
+256GB SSD: $200
It's $1299 + $200 + $200 = $1699 for both upgrades.
> - 8 cores,
It is big.LITTLE, so 4 fast + 4 slow cores.
Intel MacBook Pro gets 4 ports, this only has two which is odd and annoying.
Not every Intel MacBook Pro has 4 ports. This is clearly meant to replace the 2-port model.
Every Intel MacBook Pro apple sells new is 4 port now.
Yep, so I guess it was an effective replacement ;)
The 13” Intel MacBook Pro only had two ports. It was occasionally frustrating to deal with, and the only reason it wasn’t more so was a USB hub.
Source: I had one up until last week.
Why are they limited to 16gb? Is this related to the arm chip design?
It seems to be due to the fact they are integrating the DRAM into the package. There is only room for two 8GB DIMMs:
https://www.apple.com/v/mac/m1/a/images/overview/chip__fffqz...
ARM chip design is likely the reason, because I only see 16GB max to configure even in Mac mini.
The Apple M1 is an Apple chip design. It uses the Big Little model and Apple designed the Big (Firestorm?) and the Little (Icestorm?). So it probably isn't related to ARM chip design.
The DRAM is embedded into the same SoC as the GPU and CPU. Hard to have a lot of DRAM inside a small package.
I wonder how they're going to replace the MacBook Pro 16" which has 64GB BTO options. Even the Mac Mini had a 64GB option but it too is stuck at just 16GB max. Will they produce a massive package to accommodate it?
As someone dying to replace their 2017 15" Pro with something with a usable keyboard, I don't know if I'm convinced. Two fewer ports, a max of 16 GB of RAM, and no chassis redesign. Curious if anyone in a similar boat is planning on taking the plunge?
Is the "Pro" still appropriate?
I'm actually impressed by an ARM chip having so much performance. Although I shouldn't be, my smartphone has the processing power of an XBox One - unthinkable even 4 years ago, at least for me.
Everything being on such a small package must leave room for a lot of battery cells.
Why wouldn't it be? They showed compiling and Resolve.
This appears to replace the low end MacBook Pro with the higher end Intel models still available.
I’d just some weeks ago order MacBook Pro 13’ 512 gb, 16gb 2,3 ghz 4 core intel core i7 (10.gen), turboboozt up til 4,1.
Still waiting for it to deliver!
What to to? Cancel it and buy the new one with m1?
So, the baseline model has the M1 and the more expensive version has Intel i5. What's the point if the M1 is supposedly faster (or is it)?
A discrete GPU and more DRAM than can fit on the SoC package, neither of which the MBP13 now has access to.
I'm betting the M1 can't actually work with discrete GPUs (though it remains to be seen what happens if you plug an M1 Mac into an eGPU. What do Thunderbolt-supporting ARM devices generally do with an eGPU?)
Instead, discrete GPU support (and off-package [hierarchically-managed?] DRAM support) is waiting for the M1X-or-whatever, the next chip. Along with that chip, they'll refresh all the discrete-GPU product lines: the higher-end MBPs, the iMacs, and the Mac Pro.
(Personally, I'm betting that Apple will take this opportunity to get rid of truly discrete GPUs in their products, and instead partner with a graphics company like AMD to license IP cores to put in their higher-end SoCs. So you could see e.g. AMD's next-gen Vega with their Smart Access Memory tech, wired to Apple's SoC-internal UMA bus.)
Any guesses for GeekBench 5 scores?
My expectations: - Single core: 1600-2000 range - Multi core: 7000-10000 range - Metal: 19000-23000 range
Are there any independent performance comparisons for x86 apps ?
(I guess not yet, but still worth to ask here)
There were some geekbench results posted online, that ranged single core performance from ~600-1100, compared to the ~1150 in last Intel MacBook Pro.
they haven't given up on the touch-bar yet, which is a bummer.
If that's an issue for you (like it was for me), get one of the Macbook Air models released this year. No touchbar, has a great keyboard, and pro enough for most uses.