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This is how the Apple M1 Ultra processor performs, is it better than PC ones?

The recent release of Apple’s most powerful processor begs a question: how does it compare in performance to a PC processor? Well, that question has finally been partially answered and we have finally been able to know the performance of the M1 Ultra through a couple of benchmarks. In addition, that we have been able to know its enormous size compared to other processors.

If a few days ago Apple announced its M1 Ultra for its Mac Studio workstation. Now that the first units have finally reached the market, we can get an idea of ​​what is the size of the most powerful processor to date in the history of those from Cupertino. A design that in size, complexity and consumption is far removed from its beginnings with the first iPhone chips a little over a decade ago.

Apple chip size is massive compared to PC CPUs

An exploded view, from Apple’s Mac Studio, has revealed that the area allocated to the processor of Apple’s powerful SoC is much larger than that of an AMD or Intel CPU, however, there is a catch to this. The reason for this is that Apple places in the same interposer both what are both processors and the LPDDR5 memory that accompanies them.

M1 Ultra Huge Size

In total we have two chips of 432 square millimeters in size each and 8 LPDDR5 memory chips in which each of them has a size close to 50 square millimeters. So it is not surprising that the space occupied is at least massive for the different pieces. It must be taken into account that it is not common in PCs, except in memories like the HBM, which require an interposer, to have the RAM and the processor as a single integrated piece, since it goes against the expansion capabilities of the platform.

M1 Ultra Size Performance

On the other hand, at Apple they have always been reluctant to allow their computers to be expanded. Until a few years ago this option was in their professional ranges, but definitely with the abandonment of PC-based hardware they have also abandoned its expansion advantages, which allows them to have this type of packaging.

And what is the performance of the Apple M1 Ultra as a CPU?

Although what really interests us is a processor inside a workstation of more than 4000 euros, especially to know if it is worth buying this Apple system before a PC, at least in terms of performance. And what do we find? Well, with the result in two different benchmarks.

M1 Ultra Performance vs. x86

As you can see, according to Geekbench 5, Apple’s M1 Ultra has a huge advantage over PC CPUs, but Cinebench R23 gives us completely different information. In the first case, we have the Intel Core i9-12900K getting 18,711 points and a Ryzen 9 5950X with a score of 16,218 pointsInstead, the Apple processor reaches 24,038 points. In change in the Cinebench R23 multithread test the performance of the M1 Ultra in the multicore test is 24,190 points in front of 26,313 and the 27,113 points of Intel and AMD processors respectively.

Let’s not forget that every benchmark has a way of measuring the performance of the processors they measure. In any case, we must bear in mind that the rivals of the Mac Studio are the Intel Xeon for workstations and the AMD Threadripper and not the Ryzen 5000 and the Core 12. So it is a comparison without rhyme or They are.

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