Returning M2 Max 38c for M3 Max 30c

[dalen3]

I am still in the return window and could replace my 16" M2 Max 38c GPU with M3 Max 30c GPU for about 250 EUR (265 USD) more.
The bus is 300 vs 400, gpu cores are 30 vs 38, but I get 36GB vs 32GB.
Going to 40c GPU would be 750 EUR more and that really does not make sense for me.

What do you think, top of the line M2 max vs 'crippled' M3 max? Based on the numbers so far I would expect M3 to be faster, plus resale value should be better even when calculating the 250 EUR more.

 

[David1986H]

I would imagine the 30 core gpu on the M3 Max would be at least on par if not "faster" than the 38 core one the M2 Max.

36gb vs 32gb you'll most likely not notice any difference in use or performance.

 

[G46&Fbnth5]

They said the 40-core GPU is up to 20% faster than M2 Max, so the 38-core should be a bit better than the new 30-core, but overall I would buy the new one.

 

[OrenLindsey]

In my opinion, it's iffy, but I would lean towards the newer one. Adding extra memory doesn't really make up for the sacrifice of memory bandwidth, but the bandwidth is already high enough tbh. The loss of cores is kinda bad, but the new GPU should be about the same. I, personally, would make the upgrade just to get the space black color, but that's just me.

 

[dalen3]

They really went up with prices this year, it's insane. Base 16" was 1999 few years ago, this year it starts at 2999 EUR.
Compared to last year, it seems that you pretty much have the same price/computing power ration. Meaning, the processors got faster, but if you want to get that you have to pay much more.
Normally you get technological advancement for the same price or one adjusted for inflation.
I can afford one luckily, but here in Europe they won't sell much, not sure what they were thinking. 3000 EUR is more than average monthly salary in western europe.

 

[maerz001]

They really went up with prices this year, it's insane. Base 16" was 1999 few years ago, this year it starts at 2999 EUR.
Compared to last year, it seems that you pretty much have the same price/computing power ration. Meaning, the processors got faster, but if you want to get that you have to pay much more.
Normally you get technological advancement for the same price or one adjusted for inflation.
I can afford one luckily, but here in Europe they won't sell much, not sure what they were thinking. 3000 EUR is more than average monthly salary in western europe.

I think you mix this with the 13“. The 16“ was always expensive. 2699€ released 2019.

Last year they went up to 3000€

Mac

Der Mac von Apple repräsentiert eine ikonische Serie von Computern, die für ihre Leistung, Zuverlässigkeit und das elegante Design bekannt..

www.giga.de

 

[NEPOBABY]

They said the 40-core GPU is up to 20% faster than M2 Max, so the 38-core should be a bit better than the new 30-core, but overall I would buy the new one.

40 core GPU appears to be about the same as M1 Ultra in the tests uploaded now.

OpenCL Benchmarks - Geekbench

 

[dalen3]

I think you mix this with the 13“. The 16“ was always expensive. 2699€ released 2019.

Last year they went up to 3000€

Mac

Der Mac von Apple repräsentiert eine ikonische Serie von Computern, die für ihre Leistung, Zuverlässigkeit und das elegante Design bekannt..

www.giga.de

True, should've checked before posting.
Looked now at the prices for full M2 Max vs M3 Max, 4149 with 32GB ram, and now it's 4849 with 48GB.
The whole configurator and especially the RAM options looks like it was built totally by their marketing department.

 

[Mac Hammer Fan]

Personally, I think the graphics of the 38 GPU M2 will be faster than those of the 30 GPU M3, the CPU on the other hand will be faster in the M3.

 

[CalMin]

Personally, I think the graphics of the 38 GPU M2 will be faster than those of the 30 GPU M3, the XPU on the other hand will be faster in the M3.

No-one outside Apple will know this until the M3 series ships. My guess is that it will depend on the task, but we will know soon enough.

OP - unless you're doing heavy work all the time, then the difference between the two will be marginal day to day. But since you're in the return window, may as well get the latest hardware you can. These laptops have the potential for YEARS of use and they will drop support for M2-series before they M3-series. That's years away of course.

 

[dalen3]

M3 Max 30c 1TB 36GB space black ordered. Dates have slipped already. We’ll see more on Monday, but so far based on early benchmarks it seems like it will be noticeably faster, probably less power consumption, plus better resale value. Thanks for the input.