a-faster-apple-m2-pro-processor-built-on-tsmc’s-3nm-node-may-not-be-far-behind
The huge unveil at Apple’s WWDC 2022 occasion earlier this week was its next-generation M2 processor. Apple launched a base variant, not a flagship slice of silicon, although speedier variations will inevitably come sooner or later. The first of these, a presumed M2 Pro mannequin, might arrive comparatively quickly if the most recent chatter seems to be true.
Apple isn’t speaking about an M2 Pro, M2 Max, or M2 Ultra but, however it’s a protected wager that the street does not simply start after which finish on the base mannequin M2. As to what’s on faucet, the parents at 9To5Mac say they’ve seen a report from analyst Jeff Pu of Haitong Intl Tech Research indicating that an M2 Pro processor will go into mass manufacturing later this yr.
Finer grain particulars concerning the eventual M2 Pro are pretty gentle for the time being, although apparently it is going to be manufactured on TSMC’s 3-nanometer node.
For reference, the bottom M2 that was launched this week is constructed on an enhanced 5nm node at TSMC. It packs over 20 billion transistors, which is a 25 % bump over the bottom M1 mannequin, and rocks an 8-core CPU paired up with a as much as a 10-core GPU and 16-core Neural Engine.
Here’s a excessive stage comparability of M1 and M2…
  • M2 (enhanced 5nm): 20 billion transistors, 8-core CPU (4+4), 8-core or 10-core GPU
  • M1 Ultra (5nm): 114 billion transistors, 20-core CPU (16+4), 48-core or 64-core GPU
  • M1 Max (5nm): 57 billion transistors, 8-core CPU (8+2), 24-core or 32-core GPU
  • M1 Pro (5nm): 34 billion transistors, 8-core (6+2) or 10-core (8+2) CPU, 14-core or 16-core GPU
  • M1 (5nm): 16 billion transistors, 8-core CPU (4+4), 7-core or 8-core GPU
The M2 retains the identical CPU core configuration because the M1, splitting them evenly between excessive efficiency and excessive effectivity cores. However, Apple is claiming an 18 % efficiency uplift in multi-threaded workloads, and on the graphics facet, as much as 35 % higher efficiency.
There are different nuances that separate the M2 from the M1 as nicely, like a bump in max reminiscence from 16GB to 24GB, and double the reminiscence bandwidth at 100GB/s. And whereas nonetheless a 5nm half, Apple is looking it a second-generation 5nm node.
Should the M2 Pro move to a 3nm node as rumored, it may very well be an excellent greater leap in energy and effectivity over its predecessor. Time will inform. According to the identical site, the M2 Pro will discover its approach to a brand new and extra highly effective Mac mini (codenamed J474) with a 12-core CPU (8+4).
That could be engaging, given what we noticed in our M1-powered Mac mini evaluation in 2020. We had been left pretty impressed with its efficiency and capabilities at a comparatively decrease energy draw.