What we’ve got right here is an M2 SoC with a bodily greater footprint than the M1. It is packing 20 billion transistors with a number of enhancements over the bottom M1 config. together with as much as 24GB of quick unified reminiscence with 100GB/s of reminiscence bandwidth, which is 50 p.c greater than the M1.
“M2 begins the second technology of M-series chips and goes past the outstanding options of M1,” stated Johny Srouji, Apple’s senior vp of {Hardware} Applied sciences. “With our relentless concentrate on power-efficient efficiency, M2 delivers a sooner CPU, GPU, and Neural Engine. And together with greater reminiscence bandwidth and new capabilities like ProRes acceleration, M2 continues the large tempo of innovation in Apple silicon for the Mac.”
A cursory look on the core breakdown would not essentially reveal all that. For instance, the M2 nonetheless wields an 8-core CPU with a 4+4 cut up (excessive efficiency + excessive effectivity). However Apple says they’ve been considerably enhanced, noting they’re sooner and have fatter cache allotments.
Apple M2 CPU And GPU Efficiency Versus Energy Claims
The objective is to supply higher efficiency at a extra enticing energy curve than what is likely to be seen within the x86 house. That is what Apple has been hanging its hat on. And on this case, Apple is touting what it claims is an enchancment of the “industry-leading efficiency per watt” of the M1 with an 18 p.c sooner CPU (multi-threaded), 35 p.c sooner GPU, and 40 p.c sooner Neural Engine, along with these juicy reminiscence features.
“In contrast with the most recent 10-core PC laptop computer chip, the CPU in M2 supplies almost twice the efficiency on the identical energy degree. And, M2 delivers the height efficiency of the PC chip whereas utilizing only a quarter of the ability,” Apple says.
“When in comparison with the most recent 12-core PC laptop computer chip—which wants dramatically extra energy to ship a rise in efficiency and is subsequently present in thicker, hotter, extra noisy techniques with much less battery life—M2 supplies almost 90 p.c of the height efficiency of the 12-core chip whereas utilizing simply one-fourth the ability,” Apple provides.
Apple makes comparable claims concerning the M2’s GPU efficiency. In line with Apple, the efficiency versus energy is 35 p.c superior to the M1. In comparison with a 10-core PC laptop computer, Apple claims a 2.3x enchancment, additional claiming that the M2’s GPU can match the height efficiency of a 10-core PC laptop computer whereas utilizing a fifth of the ability.
Different notable highlights embody…
- The Neural Engine can course of as much as 15.8 trillion operations per second — over 40 p.c greater than M1.
- The media engine features a higher-bandwidth video decoder, supporting 8K H.264 and HEVC video.
- Apple’s highly effective ProRes video engine allows playback of a number of streams of each 4K and 8K video.
- Apple’s newest Safe Enclave supplies best-in-class safety.
- A brand new picture sign processor (ISP) delivers higher picture noise discount.
It is an intriguing chip and we stay up for placing Apple’s declare to the check as quickly as we are able to. The bottom M2 makes its debut in a totally redesigned MacBook Air that was additionally introduced as we speak, and a retooled 13-inch MacBook Professional.
