Prediction: Upcoming Macbook Pro 14" and 16" will have SoCs based on A15, not A14
M1 is based on the A14. Many believe that the upcoming MBPs (expected to be announced next week), will have an M1X which is still based on A14. This is unlikely.
Here's why:
- Latest Bloomberg report point to an 8/2 big.Little design for the Macbook Pros which suggests it's different architecturally to the 4/4 M1. Perhaps the two new efficiency cores have been beefed up to be equivalent to the A14 four.
- A15 production for iPhone 13 at TSMC has already been started which suggest that the A15 design has long been ready for the new Macbook Pros as well
- It makes more sense for the Macbook Pros to receive the latest SoC designs first over the Macbook Air/Mac Mini/iMac because you can produce the biggest chips first, bin the best for the Macbook Pros, and use the defective chips for lower-end Macs. For example, you can use the defective 8/2 dies as 6/2 dies for an upgraded Macbook Air. AMD/Intel/Nvidia almost always releases top-end chips first for this reason.
- It doesn't make sense for the low-end Macs to have the highest single-thread performance. Apple's year-over-year single-thread improvements can increase by as much as 20%, unlike Intel's 1-5% increase previously. Having the Macbook Air outperform the expensive Macbook Pros in single-thread by 20% for 9 months every cycle is simply weird and unacceptable.
Don't be surprised if the Macbook Pros get announced with an A15-based SoC.
Bonus prediction: The new SoCs could have hardware ray tracing. Apple's software APIs have hinted at hardware ray tracing support.
I would find a new microarchitecture very surprising in the new systems being announced today, but who knows. I'm somewhat curious, though, if the rumored 32 GPU cores are going to be on the same die as the 8+2 CPU complex - and what the memory subsystem for supporting it looks like.
It will probably be on the same die. A SoC like that would have more or less double the die area. There are consumer processors bigger than that, and since it will be used in the more expensive MacBook Pro, Apple could easily gamble with a more expensive SoC.
Maybe we will see two chips: a stand alone die (16 GPU cores on die) and a package of that same die + a GPU die (with additional 16 GPU cores). It doesn't make a lot of sense to deactivate some 40mm² of GPU cores to fit a monolithic solution into the thermal envelope of a MacBook Pro 14.
Rumors, rumors. Will Apple go for 32 GPU cores so soon, on a 5+nm process? How would all of that fit? Maybe next year on the 4nm process?
I keep thinking that if they do, they could put them on the substrate, the way they put the RAM. That would relieve the chip itself from size problems, and they could give the space utilized by the GPU cores to the extra CPU cores.
32 GPU cores would mean a SoC with an area around 220 mm^2. That is completely doable, no need to wait for 3nm or 4nm... just remember that many laptop GPUs are bigger than that.
makes far more sense trying to do it than not to in a MacBook Pro, performance wise and in power consumption. And Apple doesn’t look shy when investing money on its own processors, and it will certainly still be far more cheaper than buying Intel CPU and AMD GPU.
The 8/2 big.Little design is just a different performance tier from Apple, not some kind of replacement design for the M1. The corresponding M2 would also be 4+4 big.Little... This is what makes sense as a SoC that can be used in a MacBook Air or an iPad Pro, because 4+4 will help to consume less and have lower thermals than a 6+2 SoC. But I do agree that a new 8+2 SoC will probably not be based on the A14/M1 cores.
It does make sense. I’ve been thinking along the same lines. After all the new phones are just three plus months away. It would seem odd that the phones would have better per core performance. And even if Apple announced new Macs today, they could be delivered somewhat later, say, in two weeks, or perhaps, even a month from now, while winding down the sales of current models. That wouldn’t be unusual. They wouldn’t need that many chips, relative to phones.
Though I’m not sure they will release info about specific models today.
There was a third-party app, similar to this, at least 14 years ago; I used it to control the G4 Mac Mini on my desk next to the Mac Pro display. It could only do keyboard and mouse, I believe, but it was great to have.
Hey Apple, Just FYI I love my iPad. Does that mean I can FINALLY add it to my list of "loved ones" and access my health data on iPad?...
I REALLY wish Apple would take the "Features vs Papercuts" point seriously. I look at this list of new stuff and I'd trade pretty much all of it for making what's already there WORK PROPERLY. Like being able to access all my data from every device (ie WTF is Health Data locked to my iPhone?) Or all that stuff about Messages? How about before adding all that we fix the fsckup that is Messages today and the way that, when you remove an app from iOS, it does NOT remove the app's presence from Messages?
My iPad is useless without multi user support. For example I can't sync my save games between two people, can't have two Apple Arcade user accounts at the same time. Useless piece of crap. Sold it. Done with the iPad, all we learned today is we've got an entire additional year to wait for the iPad to possibly get half useful.
"And a big emphasis on syncing Safari settings and preferences between Apple devices"
So the THIRD time they have promised that. Let's see if it works any better than the last two times. Which both worked wonderfully the day they shipped, then rapidly decayed to uselessness, without Apple ever bothering to fix them.
Who cares of an idiotic keynote of a company that manufacture all its devices (silicon included) outside USA. When finally Apple will push Usa or European silicon manufacturing,more like is doing in Taiwan and China with hidden BIG piles of money to develop new silicon nodes and assembly,well at that time Apple will be something for me. For now Apple is pure crap.
Celebrities or famous personalities and ordinary people are identified in several categories. Celebrities are the elite or ones who have a prodigious influence on the general public. Famous people range from artists all the way right down to actors. Ordinary people are common citizens of the planet. https://edgeofstars.com/
Celebrities or famous personalities and ordinary people are identified in several categories. Celebrities are the elite or ones who have a prodigious influence on the general public. Famous people range from artists all the way right down to actors. Ordinary people are common citizens of the planet. https://edgeofstars.com/
Perhaps the two new performance cores have been boosted to the equivalent of A14 four. It has nothing to do with anyone who has the same passion for gaming, so come here and play together https://geometrydash-best.com
We’ve updated our terms. By continuing to use the site and/or by logging into your account, you agree to the Site’s updated Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Facebook
Twitter
RSS
34 Comments
Back to Article
lemurbutton - Monday, June 7, 2021 - link
Prediction: Upcoming Macbook Pro 14" and 16" will have SoCs based on A15, not A14M1 is based on the A14. Many believe that the upcoming MBPs (expected to be announced next week), will have an M1X which is still based on A14. This is unlikely.
Here's why:
- Latest Bloomberg report point to an 8/2 big.Little design for the Macbook Pros which suggests it's different architecturally to the 4/4 M1. Perhaps the two new efficiency cores have been beefed up to be equivalent to the A14 four.
- A15 production for iPhone 13 at TSMC has already been started which suggest that the A15 design has long been ready for the new Macbook Pros as well
- It makes more sense for the Macbook Pros to receive the latest SoC designs first over the Macbook Air/Mac Mini/iMac because you can produce the biggest chips first, bin the best for the Macbook Pros, and use the defective chips for lower-end Macs. For example, you can use the defective 8/2 dies as 6/2 dies for an upgraded Macbook Air. AMD/Intel/Nvidia almost always releases top-end chips first for this reason.
- It doesn't make sense for the low-end Macs to have the highest single-thread performance. Apple's year-over-year single-thread improvements can increase by as much as 20%, unlike Intel's 1-5% increase previously. Having the Macbook Air outperform the expensive Macbook Pros in single-thread by 20% for 9 months every cycle is simply weird and unacceptable.
Don't be surprised if the Macbook Pros get announced with an A15-based SoC.
Bonus prediction: The new SoCs could have hardware ray tracing. Apple's software APIs have hinted at hardware ray tracing support.
SarahKerrigan - Monday, June 7, 2021 - link
I would find a new microarchitecture very surprising in the new systems being announced today, but who knows. I'm somewhat curious, though, if the rumored 32 GPU cores are going to be on the same die as the 8+2 CPU complex - and what the memory subsystem for supporting it looks like.Ppietra - Monday, June 7, 2021 - link
It will probably be on the same die. A SoC like that would have more or less double the die area. There are consumer processors bigger than that, and since it will be used in the more expensive MacBook Pro, Apple could easily gamble with a more expensive SoC.smalM - Monday, June 7, 2021 - link
Maybe we will see two chips: a stand alone die (16 GPU cores on die) and a package of that same die + a GPU die (with additional 16 GPU cores).It doesn't make a lot of sense to deactivate some 40mm² of GPU cores to fit a monolithic solution into the thermal envelope of a MacBook Pro 14.
melgross - Monday, June 7, 2021 - link
Rumors, rumors. Will Apple go for 32 GPU cores so soon, on a 5+nm process? How would all of that fit? Maybe next year on the 4nm process?I keep thinking that if they do, they could put them on the substrate, the way they put the RAM. That would relieve the chip itself from size problems, and they could give the space utilized by the GPU cores to the extra CPU cores.
Ppietra - Monday, June 7, 2021 - link
32 GPU cores would mean a SoC with an area around 220 mm^2. That is completely doable, no need to wait for 3nm or 4nm... just remember that many laptop GPUs are bigger than that.hecksagon - Monday, June 7, 2021 - link
3070 mobile is almost 400mm^2melgross - Monday, June 7, 2021 - link
Doable doesn’t mean that wants to do it.Ppietra - Monday, June 7, 2021 - link
makes far more sense trying to do it than not to in a MacBook Pro, performance wise and in power consumption. And Apple doesn’t look shy when investing money on its own processors, and it will certainly still be far more cheaper than buying Intel CPU and AMD GPU.prophet001 - Monday, June 7, 2021 - link
Well they had to fix the CPU register exploit so they probably redid some things while they were doing that.Ppietra - Monday, June 7, 2021 - link
The 8/2 big.Little design is just a different performance tier from Apple, not some kind of replacement design for the M1. The corresponding M2 would also be 4+4 big.Little... This is what makes sense as a SoC that can be used in a MacBook Air or an iPad Pro, because 4+4 will help to consume less and have lower thermals than a 6+2 SoC.But I do agree that a new 8+2 SoC will probably not be based on the A14/M1 cores.
melgross - Monday, June 7, 2021 - link
It does make sense. I’ve been thinking along the same lines. After all the new phones are just three plus months away. It would seem odd that the phones would have better per core performance. And even if Apple announced new Macs today, they could be delivered somewhat later, say, in two weeks, or perhaps, even a month from now, while winding down the sales of current models. That wouldn’t be unusual. They wouldn’t need that many chips, relative to phones.Though I’m not sure they will release info about specific models today.
Silver5urfer - Monday, June 7, 2021 - link
LMAO hardware raytracing And what will Mac Raytrace actually ?brianstokes - Monday, June 7, 2021 - link
AR content maybe?zepi - Monday, June 7, 2021 - link
Came to post thanks for having the UTC-time in the headline.5j3rul3 - Monday, June 7, 2021 - link
Productivity of iPad OS need to improvesharathc - Monday, June 7, 2021 - link
This is the best iPhone we have ever made!prophet001 - Monday, June 7, 2021 - link
EVER!!! (literally the same phone)FakThisShttyGame - Monday, June 7, 2021 - link
Holy shit universal control is insane.....watersb - Monday, June 7, 2021 - link
There was a third-party app, similar to this, at least 14 years ago; I used it to control the G4 Mac Mini on my desk next to the Mac Pro display. It could only do keyboard and mouse, I believe, but it was great to have.The feature they sowed today looks amazing.
cleavet - Monday, June 7, 2021 - link
Reminds me of Mouse Without Borders (Windows app)...timecop1818 - Monday, June 7, 2021 - link
I used synergy to share laptop keyboard/mouse between one(or more) desktops over a decade ago. it even shared clipboard, too.lol at apple trying to claim this is any kinda innovation.
name99 - Monday, June 7, 2021 - link
Hey Apple,Just FYI I love my iPad. Does that mean I can FINALLY add it to my list of "loved ones" and access my health data on iPad?...
I REALLY wish Apple would take the "Features vs Papercuts" point seriously. I look at this list of new stuff and I'd trade pretty much all of it for making what's already there WORK PROPERLY.
Like being able to access all my data from every device (ie WTF is Health Data locked to my iPhone?)
Or all that stuff about Messages? How about before adding all that we fix the fsckup that is Messages today and the way that, when you remove an app from iOS, it does NOT remove the app's presence from Messages?
Alistair - Monday, June 7, 2021 - link
My iPad is useless without multi user support. For example I can't sync my save games between two people, can't have two Apple Arcade user accounts at the same time. Useless piece of crap. Sold it. Done with the iPad, all we learned today is we've got an entire additional year to wait for the iPad to possibly get half useful.name99 - Monday, June 7, 2021 - link
"And a big emphasis on syncing Safari settings and preferences between Apple devices"So the THIRD time they have promised that.
Let's see if it works any better than the last two times. Which both worked wonderfully the day they shipped, then rapidly decayed to uselessness, without Apple ever bothering to fix them.
Alistair - Monday, June 7, 2021 - link
Or just use Edge and stop waiting for Apple.Gondalf - Tuesday, June 8, 2021 - link
Who cares of an idiotic keynote of a company that manufacture all its devices (silicon included) outside USA.When finally Apple will push Usa or European silicon manufacturing,more like is doing in Taiwan and China with hidden BIG piles of money to develop new silicon nodes and assembly,well at that time Apple will be something for me.
For now Apple is pure crap.
lmcd - Tuesday, June 8, 2021 - link
we need balrog in here asapHinysxh - Wednesday, June 9, 2021 - link
Celebrities or famous personalities and ordinary people are identified in several categories. Celebrities are the elite or ones who have a prodigious influence on the general public. Famous people range from artists all the way right down to actors. Ordinary people are common citizens of the planet.https://edgeofstars.com/
Hinysxh - Wednesday, June 9, 2021 - link
Celebrities or famous personalities and ordinary people are identified in several categories. Celebrities are the elite or ones who have a prodigious influence on the general public. Famous people range from artists all the way right down to actors. Ordinary people are common citizens of the planet.https://edgeofstars.com/
kennedystewart - Tuesday, June 15, 2021 - link
Perhaps the two new performance cores have been boosted to the equivalent of A14 four. It has nothing to do with anyone who has the same passion for gaming, so come here and play together https://geometrydash-best.comsix_tymes - Saturday, June 26, 2021 - link
apple, the masters of corporate bs. regarding face time, it's simple, their focus is on "face time" now because zoom scares them.Kipii45 - Friday, July 23, 2021 - link
3070 mobile is almost 400mm^2jimmyharley - Tuesday, December 7, 2021 - link
This is great for kids. See more free coloring pages at https://ausmalbilderkinder.de/