Why M1 Max is a better chip than M2 Pro?

[Juicy Box]

So it means the M2 Pro is better than M1 Max?

The M2 Pro isn't better than the M1 Max, and the M1 Max isn't better than the M2 Pro.

Both chips excel at certain things. The GPU on the 24-core M1 Max is generally better than the 19-core GPU on the M2 Pro, but not every single GPU task. There are a few tasks that the M2 Pro GPU out performs the 24-core M1 Max GPU. I think the Maxtech video above has the M2 Pro Mac Mini beating out both the 24-core and 32-core M1 Max on some 3D-rendering tasks.

And the opposite is true for the CPU. The 12-core CPU on the M2 Pro generally out performs the CPU on the M1 Max, but not every single task. IIRC, that same Maxtech video above has the M1 Max beating the M2 Pro for Logic Pro tracks.

 

[Analog Kid]

How come even the M1 Studio has double the memory bandwidth as the M2 Pro, it only does better in some programs that 'can' take advantage of many GPU cores. So it means the M2 Pro is better than M1 Max?

A lot of things we do only really need one CPU core, and the M2 cores are faster. If you're running a web browser, or word, or even a lot of games, most of the work is done in one thread meaning it's using one CPU and that CPU can't use all of the memory bandwidth itself. For most of the "background" tasks on a machine, the other cores are more than sufficient. So for most things in your daily life, the M2 Air will outperform the M1 Ultra Studio.

When you'll see the M1 Max perform better is if you're doing very computation intensive work-- when all the CPUs and/or GPU cores are running together. Then the extra cores and bandwidth of the M1 Max or Ultra will show. Handbrake, FCP exports, 3D renders, machine learning training, Mathematica on large data sets, that kind of stuff.

And I can't caution you enough against trying to learn anything from MaxTech... You're far better off finding people here that uses their machine similarly to how you do. MR has a million members, chances are that someone is doing something like you do.

 

[theluggage]

However benchmarks show that in most cases except for applications that can take advantage of lots of gpu, M2 Pro berforms better than the studio.

I think you have to sit back, take a deep breath and ask whether you need a new Mac to (a) do useful and interesting things related to your life, work and/or leisure or (b) to stand over it with a stopwatch to get benchmark scores to argue about online... and then bear in mind that, for many of those breathless Prime-guzzling Youtube pundits whose wisdom you seek, the answer is most definitely (b).

Yes, benchmarks have their uses for ranking chips and identifying gross differences in performance, but small differences in benchmarks don't make for massive differences in practical usefulness... even if they're based on real applications, the scenario may be artificial (e.g. how much time do you spend in Logic adding audio tracks and effects until it breaks, and are those plug ins actually the ones you are using? Do you really want to shave 5 minutes off the 30 minute coffee break you take while FCPx is doing the final rendering of your project?)

In the case of the base Studio Max vs. the fully-expanded M2 Pro Mini I think what the benchmarks really say is "what you lose on the swings you gain on the roundabouts" and that unless your workflow is dominated by a single, well-defined task that is known to be faster on one, either of them will get the job done perfectly well.

...and the one thing that is pretty inevitable is that, within 6 months, something newer and shinier with 10% higher NurdMark scores, will have been announced.

As for re-sale - that's always a complete lottery. It's perfectly feasible that Apple will drop the Studio Max and re-brand the Ultra as the new Mac Pro, or drop both to force people to a new Mac Pro, or the M2 Mini could turn out to have a major fault (remember the 2011 MBPs) or the 2023 Studio is a complete turkey, creating a demand for second hand Studios. OTOH, if they launch a sexy new M3 Mini or Studio, you will not be the only one trying to trade in their M2 Pro Mini and the second hand market could be flooded. If you're good at predicting such things, go spend a day on the stock market and then buy your self one of each (and a mansion to keep them in)

So I'd actually look beyond raw speed and ask what other features you like about the Mini vs. the Studio, any of which may or may not be of interest to you.

- the Mini is smaller and neater
- you have the option of getting a cheaper Mini - e.g. with less RAM - if all you really wanted was something better than the regular M1 Mini.
- if you have a HDMI display, the Mini has HDMI 2.1
- the Studio has a couple of extra, front-mounted USB-C ports as well as SD.
- possibly the Studio is quieter under load (time will tell)
- I also get the impression that the Studio is better built at least in some ways: the Mini is clearly easier to disassemble, but that just leaves you with everything (including the SSD and all the external connectors) soldered down on a single not-easily-repairable logic board. In the Studio most of the bits that are likely to break: USB-C, ethernet and SD connectors, SSD flash modules are removable (and while Apple doesn't currently let you upgrade the SSD, they can be replaced like-for-like if they fail).

That said, if I went for the Studio today and was worried about M2 Pro Mini kicking sand in my face, I'd probably get the 32 core GPU option to be sure.... but I got my Studio 10 months or so ago and I'm certainly not tempted to swap it for a M2 Pro Mini, or anything else until maybe the M4 comes out...

 

[hajime]

Thanks @theluggage for the wisdom. It is strange that those youtubers use a stopwatch or benchmark scores to compare machines when in practice, we usually cannot tell the differences.

 

[theluggage]

It is strange that those youtubers use a stopwatch or benchmark scores to compare machines when in practice, we usually cannot tell small differneces.

Because that's their job (that or their youtube ad revenues are bringing in more money than their actual job). I'm not even saying its not a useful service - you just have to keep it in perspective and beware of information overload.

...and, you know, if you're running a warehouse full of servers and every extra second is money, you might have to worry about whether you could shave 2% off here or there...

 

[sinsin]

The M2 Pro will give you an edge over the M1 Max for CPU-based tasks. If you create video content or use applications that can benefit from GPU cores, the M1 Max will give you an edge over the M2 Pro (+GPU cores, 2x video engines, + memory bandwidth)

It's a close match, and these differences can show unexpected variations according to the degree of optimization of some applications.

 

[MarkKlooster]

This discussion has already been helpful for me, but I would like to dig a little deeper. My question ultimately revolves around value.

I am about to purchase my first Mac since the early 90’s. I did help my daughter select a 2015 MacBook Pro a few years back before going to college to study music production, but that was hers not mine.

I need a Mac to primarily run Logic Studio X for Dolby Atmos mix downs as well as some limited tracking. The Mac will also be used on Final Cut Pro X projects from time to time. My question is this:

Should I get a used M1 Max MacBook Pro (32GB/1TB) or a new M2 Pro MacBook Pro (32GB/1TB)?

What I’m struggling with is that the M1 Max may actually have more value with used discounts, while the new features of M2 Pro may be worth springing for.

Thoughts?

 

[Larason2]

Just get the cheaper one. I don't think the added features of the M2 max will make that much difference.

 

[MarkKlooster]

Just get the cheaper one. I don't think the added features of the M2 max will make that much difference.

M1 Max vs M2 Pro (not Max). It’s those small differences that I’m hoping this community can help evaluate.

Any other more informed opinions?

 

[Chancha]

M1 Max vs M2 Pro (not Max). It’s those small differences that I’m hoping this community can help evaluate.

Any other more informed opinions?

If you have no real need of GPU power, then the M2 Pro is going to have better battery life than the M1 Max. Other than that the M2 Pro has some other minor hardware features that some find useful: HDMI2.1 (for native 8k), Bluetooth 5.3 (much better connection to earphones/speakers/mouse), WiFi6E (makes a difference when your network has that)

The major appeal of anything M1 Max is how easy and how heavy they are discounted, though.

 

[MarkKlooster]

The major appeal of anything M1 Max is how easy and how heavy they are discounted, though.

Hence my delima.

I may also use the new laptop to support an amateur photography hobby as well.

Should I be looking for the best deal I can find on an M1 Max or spring for the M2 Pro?

 

[sinsin]

Hence my delima.

I may also use the new laptop to support an amateur photography hobby as well.

Should I be looking for the best deal I can find on an M1 Max or spring for the M2 Pro?

For me, it was a relatively logical choice. Here in Canada, the refurbished M1 Max with 32 GB memory and 1TB SSD was considerably cheaper than the entry level M2 Pro model (same memory and storage specs), which is a binned version with less performance and GPU cores.

I got the M1 Max and use it mainly for creating 2D and 3D motion graphics content, video editing and encoding, graphic design and the performance is great.

If you get a good deal, you can save a good amount of money that you can invest elsewhere!