Apple new M1 chip

Nearly 15 years with Intel has finally ended. Apple has taken on designing the processor for their Mac, and this is not the first SoC (System on a chip) they have developed. Over the decade, Apple has created processors for its iPhone, iPad, and watches. And now they are bringing it to their Mac.

The new M1 silicon chip integrates CPU, Memory, Thunderbolt Controller, I/O chip, T2 chip into a single chip. Through this integration, it can be more efficient and deliver better performance. Within the chip, there are 8 CPU cores with 4 high-performance cores and 4 high-efficiency cores. 

The high-performance cores handle the most demanding workloads, and the high-efficiency cores handle lighter workloads like the daily tasks. The high-efficiency cores only draw a tenth of the power needed for the high-performance cores. With this design, M1 delivers a longer battery life by using different cores for different workloads.

M1 also integrates the memory into the chip. As a result of the unified memory architecture, all the technologies within the SoC can access the same data without copying it from multiple pools of memory, allowing it to improve performance and power efficiency. According to Apple, M1 achieves "The World's fastest CPU core" & "The World's best CPU performance per watt."

At 10 watts, M1 achieves 2X faster CPU performance compared to the latest PC laptop chip. And at ¼ of the power, M1 can reach the peak performance of the latest PC laptop chip. However, Apple didn't mention which chip in particular.

The integrated 8-Core GPU can execute close to 25k threads at a time and up to 2.6 teraflops. At 10 watt, M1 delivers 2X faster GPU performance compared to the latest PC laptop chip. M1 can also achieve the latest PC laptop chip's peak GPU performance at a third of the power. Apple also claimed that M1 has the world's fastest integrated graphics.

Beyond just a fast CPU and GPU, M1 also features a 16-Core Neural Engine, capable of executing 11 teraflops. The entire M1 chip is designed to excel in machine learning and tasks like video analysis, voice recognition, and image processing. Lastly, M1 also integrates the latest generation of Secure Enclave, which makes the Mac ever-more secure.

The improvements for Mac

So what do all these improvements translate into for the Mac? For a start, MacBook Pro with M1 chip now boasts up to 17 hours of wireless web browsing and 20 hours of Apple TV movie time. MacBook Air with M1 chip is equally impressive at 15 hours of wireless web browsing and 18 hours of Apple TV movie time.

MacBook Pro with M1 Chip delivers 2.8X faster CPU performance, up to 5X faster graphics performance, and 11X faster Machine Learning (ML) performance than the previous generation. How powerful? It can playback 8K ProRes footage in full quality in the DaVinci Resolve application without dropping a single frame.

MacBook Air with M1 chip delivers 3.5X faster CPU performance and 5X faster graphics performance than the previous generation. Apple claims that this MacBook Air can handle graphics-intensive titles at significantly higher frame rates, which is unthinkable for a MacBook Air previously. And for the first time, users will be able to edit full-quality 4K ProRes video without dropping a frame. Wow. Apple also claims if you compared the Air to the best-selling Windows laptop in its class, the new MacBook Air is 3X faster.

Mac Mini with M1 Chip also enjoys up to 3X faster CPU, 6X faster graphics performance, and 15X faster ML performance than the previous generation. Stuff like designing a graphics-intensive game in Unity and playing games is now possible. To conclude, Mac with M1 is definitely worth the upgrade if the claims and numbers are accurate.

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