RustyBug
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 p.1 #19 · Lightroom Classic: Macbook Pro vs Air? | |
oguruma wrote:
How do you figure? Are not all M* chips the same across the product line? I thought an M1 was an M1, and the only thing that changed as you went up the product line was the RAM and storage (and some ports and other things in the Pro models).
Like Will said, that is not correct, as it pertains to the CPU / GPU configuration.
Basically (although, not perfectly correct), the M series is Modular.
The basic M (i.e. base unit, which is also in the Air) contains one (GPU) module, the Pro series is two modules, the Max is four modules, the Ultra is 8 modules. Notice the jump from 7/8 > 14/16 > 24/32 > 48/64 as listed in Wiki.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apple_M1
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apple_M3
Another thing that isn't well advertised is that the memory bandwidth doubles with each variant, going from M > Pro > Max. That is also a byproduct of the increase in number of modules. NOTE: Even if you don't "max out the amount of memory storage, you still get the benefit of increased memory bandwidth.
Scroll down to the picture of the Pro / Max comparison. Notice how the Max is "double" that of the Pro. And, while the Base unit is not shown, it is 1/2 of the Pro. (i.e. modular at 1 unit > 2 units > 4 units).
https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2021/10/introducing-m1-pro-and-m1-max-the-most-powerful-chips-apple-has-ever-built/
For someone looking for that bang / buck, 32GB in the Max is nice. The few extra $$$ for the module increase (without the extra $$$ for the max RAM of 64GB is worth it for the memory bandwidth increase. The same principle can be applied to the difference between the Base Unit vs. the Pro. But, I'd still want 32GB in the Pro.
For me, I purchased (and returned) multiple variants ... which included the difference between 64GB and 32GB in terms of MY WORKFLOW (YMMV). During my comparisons, I found that the 64GB wasn't something that made a huge difference.
HOWEVER, when I got the MBA ... oh, yeah ... the slowdown was indeed noticeable compared to the Pro / Max configurations, either 32GB or 64GB. Even though the MBA had 24GB (iirc), the memory BANDWIDTH was reduced to the base unit speed. A bit of a difference between transferring data internally at 100x/s vs. 200x/s vs. 400x/s.
I did enjoy the form factor of the 15" MBA ... and could have considered one, tolerating the slower processing hit. But, the difference in visual quality of the display was the deal breaker for me, as the laptop is my main / only rig and I do not use an external monitor (i.e. literally, on my lap).
My point was that (at the time, I'm not current with the M3 variant), an iPhone uses a single module. An iPad uses a single module. And, the base unit and MBA use a single module. The form factor of the display, size is different, but they all use a single module of processing chip.
When you move to the Pro / Max / Ultra ... you get 2X / 4X / 8X modules wrt processing as noted by the number of GPU cores.
So no, they are not "all the same". Well, I guess they are ... there's just MORE of the same in them, as you move up the variant models.
Kinda like going from a 4 cylinder to a 6 cylinder, to an 8 cylinder, where the stroke and bore of the block is the same for each cylinder ... yet, there are more cylinders. Chevy's 4.3L lopped off a couple cylinders from the V8, so it was the same pistons, but fewer of them. Other mfr's use modularity to different degree.
Not a perfect analogy, but the point is that Modular engineering is indeed rooted in things being "the same" ... but, it allows for MORE of that "same" in different models / variants.
M / Pro / Max / Ultra ... each variant has "more" of the "same". 
HTH
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