More information regarding the M3 chip lineup will be released when it becomes available. The first M3 Mac is expected to hit the market in October, according to Bloomberg. Here are further specifics on what to expect from the high-end M3 Ultra chip, which will be available in 2024.
Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman claims in its newest version power on the newsletter that the M3 Ultra will offer a significant increase in CPU cores while providing a more moderate increase in GPU cores.
Gurman’s reported details about the M3 Ultra’s specifications are outlined as follows:
- For the base M3 Ultra configuration, it includes a 32-core CPU with a breakdown of 24 performance cores and eight efficiency cores, along with a 64-core GPU. In comparison, the base M2 Ultra setup comprises a 24-core CPU featuring 16 performance cores and eight efficiency cores, accompanied by a 60-core GPU.
- As for the top-tier M3 Ultra specifications, it boasts a 32-core CPU configured with 24 performance cores and eight efficiency cores, complemented by an 80-core GPU. In contrast, the highest-level M2 Ultra variant consists of a 24-core CPU with 16 performance cores and eight efficiency cores, coupled with a 76-core GPU.
The M3 Ultra has a significant boost in CPU cores over the M2 Ultra, but the rise in GPU cores is less striking.
What’s noteworthy about the increase in CPU cores is that it comes in the form of increased performance cores rather than additional efficiency cores.
To recap, Apple Silicon chips, such as the M-series CPUs found in Macs, are built for efficiency and intelligently balancing performance across performance cores. The efficiency core handles most macOS operations, but when you’re pushing your laptop, the performance core kicks in to give you that extra boost.
The first M3 Macs, including a new 13-inch MacBook Air, 13-inch MacBook Pro with Touch Bar, and a new 24-inch iMac, are anticipated in October. The 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pros with M3 Pro and M3 Max chips are due first in 2024, followed by the Mac Pro with M3 Ultra and new Mac Studio models. Surprisingly, Gurman’s newsletter states that the M3 Ultra will only be available for the Mac Studio and Mac Pro “if Apple continues to make them.”
Also read:
