A Detailed Comparison: Apple M1 Ultra vs M1 Max (2022)
This comparison outlines the differences in specs and discusses CPU, GPU, and power consumption. Expand the table below to navigate to specific sections.
Specs Comparison: Apple M1 Ultra vs Apple M1 Max
Below is a quick specs comparison of Apple’s M1 Ultra and M1 Max. Glance over the spec sheet to gauge the power of the new M1 Ultra chip versus the M1 Max.
| Apple M1 Ultra | Apple M1 Max | |
|---|---|---|
| Fabrication Process | 5nm | 5nm |
| Transistors | 114 Billion | 57 Billion |
| CPU Cores | 20 (16 Performance + 4 Efficiency) | 10 (8 Performance + 2 Efficiency) |
| GPU Cores | 64 cores | 32 cores |
| Neural Engine | 32 cores; 22 TOPS | 16 core; 11 TOPS |
| Unified Memory (RAM) | Up to 128GB | Up to 64GB |
| Memory Bandwidth | 800GBps | 400GBps |
| RAM Type | LPDDR5 | LPDDR5 |
Comparison: Apple M1 Ultra vs Apple M1 Max CPU
Starting with the CPU, the Apple M1 Ultra belongs to the M1 processor family, sharing the same architecture and fabrication process. Both M1 Ultra and M1 Max are built on a 5nm process and use ARM’s v8 architecture. The M1 Ultra boasts 20 CPU cores, comprising 16 performance cores and 4 efficiency cores, while the M1 Max has 10 cores, with 8 performance and 2 efficiency cores. The M1 Ultra houses 114 billion transistors, twice as many as the M1 Max (57 billion).
Apple has doubled the specs of M1 Max to create the M1 Ultra. While multi-threaded tasks show a significant difference on the M1 Ultra, single-core CPU performance matches that of the base Apple M1 chipset.
However, this doesn’t diminish Apple’s achievement in combining two M1 Max chips to create a single integrated M1 Ultra die. Apple developed UltraFusion, an interposer architecture, to connect two M1 Maxes. UltraFusion boasts an interposer bandwidth of 2.5TB/sec, transforming the die-to-die connector into a single integrated circuit.
In summary, the CPU performance of the M1 Ultra is twice as fast as the M1 Max, as the M1 Ultra is essentially two M1 Max chips bonded together. Apple has effectively combined two M1 Max chips.
Comparison: Apple M1 Ultra vs Apple M1 Max GPU
Like the CPU, the M1 Ultra GPU has also doubled its performance without foundational changes to the cores. It boasts 64 GPU cores, whereas the M1 Max has 32. Consequently, the GPU performance is twice as good as the M1 Max. Additionally, thanks to the combined M1 Max chips, the M1 Ultra features two Media engines, equating to 2 video decoders, 4 video encoders, and 4 ProRes encoder/decoder engines. This configuration positions the M1 Ultra as one of the few chipsets with such exceptional GPU capabilities.
The company claims the M1 Ultra’s GPU can drive four Apple 6K Pro Display XDRs and one 4K screen, which is remarkable. Essentially, the M1 Ultra can simultaneously drive around 90 million pixels, which is impressive. Additionally, due to the combined chipset, you have access to 128GB of Unified Memory, whether for GPU or CPU tasks. Essentially, the M1 Ultra has 128GB of graphics memory, which is unprecedented. In summary, the M1 Ultra’s 64-core GPU is twice as powerful as the M1 Max’s 32-core GPU.
Apple M1 Ultra vs Apple M1 Max: Power Consumption
Discussing power consumption, Apple showcased the efficiency of its CPU, a trait consistent with previous Apple M1 chips, such as the M1 Max. Apple refrained from directly comparing the M1 Ultra’s power usage to that of its counterpart, the M1 Max, given their fundamental similarities. Instead, Apple focused on contrasting the power performance of the M1 Ultra with prominent high-end PC chips.
Apple claims the M1 Ultra’s CPU consumes 100W less power while performing similarly to the 12th-Gen Intel Core i9-12900K processor. In the same power envelope, it outperforms the 12900K by 90%, which is remarkable. Regarding the GPU, the M1 Ultra matches the performance of the Nvidia GeForce RTX 3090 but with a 200W lower power consumption. While the Nvidia RTX 3090 might not serve as the ideal GPU benchmark in 2022, the 200W difference is significant. It’s evident that the M1 Ultra is exceptionally power-efficient and delivers high performance comparable to PC chips with a much lower power consumption.
This concludes our detailed comparison of the Apple M1 Ultra and M1 Max. Clearly, the Apple M1 Ultra surpasses the M1 Max in all aspects, doubling its power in both CPU and GPU performance. Apple has once again raised the bar for desktop chips, posing a significant challenge for AMD and Intel in future competitions. That concludes our analysis. If you have any questions, feel free to ask in the comments section below.
Pritam Chopra is a seasoned IT professional and a passionate blogger hailing from the dynamic realm of technology. With an insatiable curiosity for all things tech-related, Pritam has dedicated himself to exploring and unraveling the intricacies of the digital world.
