M2 Pro 10 core vs M1 Pro 10 core

[Sagnet]

How much of a difference will there be between the new M2 Pro 10c cpu / 16c gpu vs the older M1 Pro 10c cpu / 14c gpu? With the M1 having more performance cores, should we expect the M1 to be better at some tasks? Is there any other reason to prefer the M1 over the M2?

Where I live, the base model 14" Macbook Pro gained a $400 price hike with the new processors. Meaning that the base M2 is about $150 more expensive than the 10c/14c M1 Pro 14" Macbook pro. So if the M2 Pro base model is not that much better than the 10c M1 Pro, it might make sense to get the latter.

 

[Andropov]

How much of a difference will there be between the new M2 Pro 10c cpu / 16c gpu vs the older M1 Pro 10c cpu / 14c gpu? With the M1 having more performance cores, should we expect the M1 to be better at some tasks? Is there any other reason to prefer the M1 over the M2?

Where I live, the base model 14" Macbook Pro gained a $400 price hike with the new processors. Meaning that the base M2 is about $150 more expensive than the 10c/14c M1 Pro 14" Macbook pro. So if the M2 Pro base model is not that much better than the 10c M1 Pro, it might make sense to get the latter.

Hard to say without benchmarks to look at. The improved µarch of both the P and E cores could offset the loss of 2 of the performance cores for the multicore performance scores, but we won't know until benchmarks arrive. M2 will be definitely faster in single core and GPU though.

 

[MayaUser]

How much of a difference will there be between the new M2 Pro 10c cpu / 16c gpu vs the older M1 Pro 10c cpu / 14c gpu? With the M1 having more performance cores, should we expect the M1 to be better at some tasks? Is there any other reason to prefer the M1 over the M2?

Where I live, the base model 14" Macbook Pro gained a $400 price hike with the new processors. Meaning that the base M2 is about $150 more expensive than the 10c/14c M1 Pro 14" Macbook pro. So if the M2 Pro base model is not that much better than the 10c M1 Pro, it might make sense to get the latter.

just wait until Monday or Tuesday...it will be clear by then i guess

 

[MrGunny94]

The big win with the M2 Pro is those efficiency cores!

 

[maflynn]

should we expect the M1 to be better at some tasks?

Yes, mostly tasks that are written to take advantage of multiple cores, or if you're doing multiple things at once that push the system harder.

Is there any other reason to prefer the M1 over the M2?

I'm going to say most of the time people prefer the newer over the older simply because its newer. You'll see people post here how devestated they are because they bought a new M1 just a few weeks ago, yet that machine did not suddenly get worse. If it fit your needs then, it will now

Where I live, the base model 14" Macbook Pro gained a $400 price hike with the new processors.

If it was me, and my workload, I'd opt for the less expensive option. It really depends on what you're looking to do. Surf the web, facebook, office apps - get the M1. Play some games, run some VM, the M2 could be better, but the M1 will be great at doing that as well. I don't think the slightly higher core count is going to push the needle that much, but what I'm saying is a guess. As others stated, benchmarks will be rolling out in short order. Wait if you can

 

[MrGunny94]

Yes, mostly tasks that are written to take advantage of multiple cores, or if you're doing multiple things at once that push the system harder.


I'm going to say most of the time people prefer the newer over the older simply because its newer. You'll see people post here how devestated they are because they bought a new M1 just a few weeks ago, yet that machine did not suddenly get worse. If it fit your needs then, it will now


If it was me, and my workload, I'd opt for the less expensive option. It really depends on what you're looking to do. Surf the web, facebook, office apps - get the M1. Play some games, run some VM, the M2 could be better, but the M1 will be great at doing that as well. I don't think the slightly higher core count is going to push the needle that much, but what I'm saying is a guess. As others stated, benchmarks will be rolling out in short order. Wait if you can

Even running VMs, if you have M1 Pro or above it’s more than fine. I use Fedora and Ubuntu on Parallels and it’s absolutely fast enough

 

[628]

Looks like the binned (10 core) M2 pro scores 12074 with 16GB ram.

Mac14,9 - Geekbench

Benchmark results for a Mac14,9 with an Apple M2 Pro processor.

browser.geekbench.com

 

[MayaUser]

Looks like the binned (10 core) M2 pro scores 12074 with 16GB ram.

Mac14,9 - Geekbench

Benchmark results for a Mac14,9 with an Apple M2 Pro processor.

browser.geekbench.com

and this is the full M1 Pro scores ? https://browser.geekbench.com/v5/cpu/19982881

 

[Sagnet]

Looks like the binned (10 core) M2 pro scores 12074 with 16GB ram.

Mac14,9 - Geekbench

Benchmark results for a Mac14,9 with an Apple M2 Pro processor.

browser.geekbench.com

Thanks, that's interesting. So the unbinned 10c M1 Pro is actually a tad faster than the binned 10c M2 Pro in multicore. Probably due to the number of performance cores. But the M2 is (as expected) better in single core.

Another interesting question is that of power consumption. One thing I highly appreciate with the M1 Pro MBP is how it never spins up the fans during low demand tasks surch as web surfing, text processing etc. Should we expect the M2 Pro to consume less power and generate less heat than the M1 Pro for similar tasks, or will it generate more heat, since it is a more powerful processor?

 

[quarkysg]

Should we expect the M2 Pro to consume less power and generate less heat than the M1 Pro for similar tasks, or will it generate more heat, since it is a more powerful processor?

I think the two additional efficiency cores of the M2 Pro will help lower energy load compared to the M1 Pro if the system is not taxed.

 

[Sagnet]

I think the two additional efficiency cores of the M2 Pro will help lower energy load compared to the M1 Pro if the system is not taxed.

So regarding thermals, we should expect the M2 Pro to run as cool or cooler than the M1 Pro, for non taxing tasks?

 

[jwahaus]

How much of a difference will there be between the new M2 Pro 10c cpu / 16c gpu vs the older M1 Pro 10c cpu / 14c gpu? With the M1 having more performance cores, should we expect the M1 to be better at some tasks? Is there any other reason to prefer the M1 over the M2?

Where I live, the base model 14" Macbook Pro gained a $400 price hike with the new processors. Meaning that the base M2 is about $150 more expensive than the 10c/14c M1 Pro 14" Macbook pro. So if the M2 Pro base model is not that much better than the 10c M1 Pro, it might make sense to get the latter.

I wouldn't worry too much about the performance difference when making a buying decision unless you typically run tasks that need every bit of performance a machine can muster. (Gaming, 3D modeling, Video Encoding) For typical tasks like Web browsing, playing videos, word processing, etc... you won't notice any difference.

I have both an M1 Mini (8CPU/8GPU) and an M1 Pro Macbook (10CPU/16GPU) and use my Mini much more often than the Macbook. I typically notice no difference in speed between the two (unless I run a benchmark). I prefer the Mini because of the larger keyboard, larger display, and it's sitting on my desk ready to go. I use the Macbook when traveling. The only time I reach for the Macbook over the Mini is when running the one 3D game I have since the Macbook has double the GPU cores and 20% more CPU cores and so delivers a better framerate.

 

[Sagnet]

I wouldn't worry too much about the performance difference when making a buying decision unless you typically run tasks that need every bit of performance a machine can muster. (Gaming, 3D modeling, Video Encoding) For typical tasks like Web browsing, playing videos, word processing, etc... you won't notice any difference.

I have both an M1 Mini (8CPU/8GPU) and an M1 Pro Macbook (10CPU/16GPU) and use my Mini much more often than the Macbook. I typically notice no difference in speed between the two (unless I run a benchmark). I prefer the Mini because of the larger keyboard, larger display, and it's sitting on my desk ready to go. I use the Macbook when traveling. The only time I reach for the Macbook over the Mini is when running the one 3D game I have since the Macbook has double the GPU cores and 20% more CPU cores and so delivers a better framerate.

You're probably right. For me, I'm in the situation where I just received a 14" MBP (M1 Pro 10c/14c 32GB) a week ago. Since I'm within the return window, I have now ordered a new 14" MBP (M2 Pro 10c/16c 32GB), that will be delivered in a couple of weeks. The M2 costs $150 more than the M1, but is covered by my employer.

I'm gathering information to make sure I made the right decision, while I still have both options available (keep the M1 or M2). Battery life, low temperatures and low noise levels are more important to me than raw performance.

 

[maflynn]

So regarding thermals, we should expect the M2 Pro to run as cool or cooler than the M1 Pro, for non taxing tasks?

We really can't say for sure. While it has more efficiency cores, we don't know how those compare to the M1's efficiency cores. Much of the talk about performance, temps, and what not are just speculation. Wait until Monday and we'll start to see the reviews and then we can make those sort of determinations.

 

[jdb8167]

While it has more efficiency cores, we don't know how those compare to the M1's efficiency cores.

Sure we do. They are the same E cores as in the M2.

 

[maflynn]

Sure we do. They are the same E cores as in the M2.

Its a new generation chip, so are you saying the E cores are 100% the same as the M1? Can you provide the source of that assessment I'd really like to read up more about the differences and similarities of the M2

 

[jdb8167]

Its a new generation chip, so are you saying the E cores are 100% the same as the M1? Can you provide the source of that assessment I'd really like to read up more about the differences and similarities of the M2

Of course I can’t 100% guarantee it but that is how all of Apple’s CPU cores have been designed in the past. I see no reason to expect that has changed. Interestingly, the M2 Max chips do seem to have a clock boost so that might change things somewhat but this thread is about the M2 Pro.

 

[maflynn]

Of course I can’t 100% guarantee it but that is how all of Apple’s CPU cores have been designed in the past.

So then you can't really say for sure whether the E cores will perform the same as before which is my point. We'll find out next week, but until then its all speculation.

 

[jdb8167]

We'll find out next week, but until then its all speculation.

Informed speculation.

 

[maflynn]

Informed speculation.

But speculation nonetheless.

 

[Sagnet]

But speculation nonetheless.

Thats what we do here on MacRumors, isn't it?

 

[Alex W.]

If you're debating it wait a generation.

Its not worth it right now if you have ANY M1/PRO/MAX chip.

 

[quarkysg]

So then you can't really say for sure whether the E cores will perform the same as before which is my point. We'll find out next week, but until then its all speculation.

IIRC, there were discussions that the M2’s e-cores are higher performance compared to the M1’s.

 

[maflynn]

IIRC, there were discussions that the M2’s e-cores are higher performance compared to the M1’s.

In all honesty, I would expect both E and P cores to have some improvements. I believe that the M2 MBA runs a bit hotter and uses more power then the M1, so we have that to go on.

 

[Sagnet]

If you're debating it wait a generation.

Its not worth it right now if you have ANY M1/PRO/MAX chip.

I have a MBP with the M1 Pro chip, but I am within the 2 weeks return window.