The most recent details from Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman shed light on the high-end M3 Ultra chip expected in 2024. The reported specifications suggest a significant increase in CPU cores, coupled with a more modest bump in GPU cores. These enhancements are poised to transform the computing capabilities of future Mac devices.
According to Gurman’s Power On newsletter, the specs of the M3 Ultra present a major evolution over the previous generation M2 Ultra.
The reported specifications include:
- Base M3 Ultra specs: 32-core CPU with 24 performance cores and eight efficiency cores, 64-core GPU
- Base M2 Ultra configuration: 24-core CPU with 16 performance cores and eight efficiency cores, 60-core GPU
- Top-end M3 Ultra specs: 32-core CPU with 24 performance cores and eight efficiency cores, 80 GPU cores
- Top-end M2 Ultra specs: 24-core CPU with 16 performance cores and eight efficiency cores, 76-core GPU
The growth in CPU cores for the M3 Ultra compared to the M2 Ultra is particularly striking, especially as this increase appears to be in the form of additional performance cores rather than efficiency cores. While the increase in GPU cores is more modest, the combined enhancement signifies a new frontier in processing power.
Apple’s M-series chips, designed for the Mac, exhibit intelligent management between efficiency and performance cores. Typically, macOS tasks are managed by the efficiency cores, but the performance cores step in during intensive operations.
The M3 Mac lineup is expected to feature new versions of the 13-inch MacBook Air, 13-inch MacBook Pro with Touch Bar, and a 24-inch iMac. There are also plans for the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro with M3 Pro and M3 Max chips in 2024. Subsequently, the Mac Pro and Mac Studio could be equipped with the M3 Ultra, pending Apple’s continued production of those models.
Furthermore, Gurman’s report hints at changes to the memory configuration, with internal testing of MacBook Pro models showcasing 36GB and 48GB of RAM. These memory options deviate from the current M2 MacBook Pro configurations.