Tag: Mac Studio

  • Mac Studio Launches with New Apple M4 Max and M3 Ultra Chips

    Mac Studio Launches with New Apple M4 Max and M3 Ultra Chips

    Key Takeaways

    1. Apple has launched the new Mac Studio, featuring M4 Max and M3 Ultra chips, marking it as their most powerful small desktop yet.
    2. The M3 Ultra chip has a 28-core CPU and 60-core GPU, offering up to 892 GB/s memory bandwidth, while the M4 Max mirrors specs from the MacBook Pro.
    3. The M3 Ultra is 2.6 times faster than the previous M1 Ultra model and has a 32-core Neural Engine that processes tokens up to 16.9 times quicker.
    4. Connectivity options include four Thunderbolt 5.0 ports, two USB Type-C ports, two USB Type-A ports, HDMI 2.1, and a 10 Gb/s Ethernet port.
    5. Pricing starts at $1,999 for the M4 Max and $3,999 for the M3 Ultra, with pre-orders available now and general sales beginning on March 12.

    Apple has recently launched its latest small desktop, which many are calling its most powerful yet. Following Mark Gurman’s prediction, the new Mac Studio is finally available, featuring a combination of two generations of technology. Customers can choose between the M4 Max and the M3 Ultra, a chip that many thought was no longer in production.

    Performance Details

    The M3 Ultra is similar to its earlier model, consisting of two M3 Max chips placed together. It boasts a 28-core CPU, which includes 20 performance cores and 8 efficiency cores, along with a 60-core GPU. Users have the option to upgrade to a 32-core CPU and an 80-core GPU. Both options offer an impressive memory bandwidth that reaches up to 892 GB/s. In contrast, the specifications for the M4 Max are the same as those seen in the MacBook Pro, featuring up to a 16-core CPU and a 40-core GPU.

    Speed and Connectivity

    Apple asserts that the M3 Ultra is 2.6 times quicker than the Mac Studio equipped with the M1 Ultra. When compared to the same chip, its 32-core Neural Engine can generate tokens in LM Studio up to 16.9 times faster. The new Mac Studio is loaded with connectivity options, featuring four Thunderbolt 5.0 ports located at the rear, along with two USB 3.2 Type-C ports situated at the front (Thunderbolt 5.0 is exclusive to the M3 Ultra variant).

    Additional Features and Pricing

    Other connectivity features include two USB 3.0 Type-A ports, a 10 Gb/s Ethernet port, an HDMI 2.1 port, and a 3.5 mm audio jack. The base model of the M4 Max Mac Studio comes with 512 GB of storage and 36 GB of unified memory, while the M3 Ultra variant offers a 1 TB SSD and 96 GB of unified memory. The M4 Max can be expanded to 128 GB of RAM and 8 TB of storage, whereas the M3 Ultra can reach 512 GB of RAM and 16 TB of storage.

    The M4 Max supports video output for up to five displays, while the M3 Ultra can manage up to eight displays. Unfortunately, neither model supports Wi-Fi 7, so users will have to make do with Wi-Fi 6e and Bluetooth 5.3. The starting price for the M4 Max Mac Studio is $1,999, while the M3 Ultra version begins at $3,999. Pre-orders are now available on Apple’s website, with general sales set to start on March 12.

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    Mac Studio Launches with New Apple M4 Max and M3 Ultra Chips

     

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  • New Mac Studio with M3 Ultra Set to Launch with M4 MacBook Air

    New Mac Studio with M3 Ultra Set to Launch with M4 MacBook Air

    Key Takeaways

    1. Apple quietly launched the M3 iPad Air and 11th generation iPad, featuring double the base storage and an upgraded A16 chip.
    2. A new MacBook Air is expected to be released soon, alongside a new Mac Studio.
    3. The upcoming Mac Studio will use an M3 Ultra chip instead of the anticipated M4 Ultra chip, which is likely reserved for a future Mac Pro.
    4. The M3 Ultra chip is expected to provide significant performance advantages over competitors, particularly against AMD’s Ryzen AI Max 395 Plus.
    5. Mark Gurman provided insights on the competitive landscape and performance expectations of the new Apple products.

    Apple caught everyone off guard with a quiet launch of the M3 iPad Air and the 11th generation iPad yesterday. Both devices are seen as mid-cycle updates, with the iPad offering double the base storage and an upgraded A16 chip. Additionally, a new MacBook Air is expected to release this week, but there’s word of a surprise addition to the lineup.

    New Mac Studio on the Horizon

    Mark Gurman has revealed that the M4 MacBook Air is set to launch alongside a new Mac Studio. It’s been a while since we’ve seen a Mac Studio, last featuring a two-generations-old M2 Ultra chip. This sparks an interesting question: which chip will the upcoming Mac Studio be equipped with?

    Speculations on Chip Performance

    Logic would suggest that the new model might use an M4 chip, but that’s not the case. Gurman mentions that it will actually utilize an Apple M3 Ultra instead of an M4 Ultra. He notes that the M4 Ultra is likely saved for a future Mac Pro. Still, the M3 Ultra should deliver more than sufficient power for a device of the Mac Studio’s caliber. Apple generally does not mix and match chips within a single generation, but the Ultra chip stands apart.

    Apple is already significantly ahead of its rivals this generation, and the M3 Ultra will only enhance that advantage. Its nearest competitor, AMD’s Strix Halo-based Ryzen AI Max 395 Plus, may compete well with the M3 Max, but the dynamics could change when comparing it to the M3 Ultra.

    Insights from Mark Gurman

    Mark Gurman shared these insights on X, highlighting the competitive landscape and the potential performance of the new products.

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  • Apple Mac Studio Storage Upgrades Now on Kickstarter

    Apple Mac Studio Storage Upgrades Now on Kickstarter

    Apple is planning to showcase new devices later this month at a special launch event. Interestingly, one of the products, the iPad mini 7, was revealed earlier today. Currently, it looks like Apple will also introduce a new iMac and Mac mini, along with refreshed MacBook Pro 14 and MacBook Pro 16 laptops, which are priced at $2,899 on Amazon.

    New Mac Studio Delays

    On the other hand, it appears that a new version of the Mac Studio might take some time to be officially announced. Meanwhile, a French repair center has unveiled what seems to be the first third-party SSD storage option for Apple’s first and second-generation Mac Studios. To put things into perspective, while the Mac Studio can be customized at the time of purchase, Apple does not offer its own storage drives for sale afterward.

    Polysoft’s Innovative Solution

    In contrast, Polysoft Services has successfully reverse engineered a product known as Studio Drive, which can be purchased either as a blank card or with storage options of 2 TB and 4 TB, with a maximum of 8 TB using two cards. Polysoft not only claims to be the first to duplicate Apple’s NAND flash drive, but it also asserts that it has enhanced Apple’s design by incorporating overvoltage protection. Right now, PolySoft is marketing its Studio Drive SSDs at various price points through Kickstarter, with the first deliveries anticipated for January 2025.

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