Apple readying 32-core ARM chip for late 2021 Mac, 2022 Mac Pro?
If the latest blurb is to be believed, 8 CPU cores was merely a safe, modest start for the new line of Apple silicon. Bloomberg reports that Apple’s chip magicians may be readying an ARM-based processor with no less than 32 high-performance CPU cores.
This top-of-the-line silicon is allegedly made for inclusion in a new high-end Mac computer scheduled for late 2021, as well as a half-sized Mac Pro that could become reality by 2022.
16 CPU cores standing in the middle?
Of course, jumping from 8 to 32 cores without a middle solution would be pretty strange. Therefore, a design employing 16 high-performance CPU cores and 4 power-efficient ones is said to be in the works as well. These are to go into an upcoming iMac and MacBook Pro, reportedly as early as the first half of 2021. It is possible, though, that the chip will be nerfed to 12 CPU cores for lower-priced models.
Apple is also doubling down on dedicated GPU cores, reportedly cooking up designs with up to 128 of these. For comparison, the M1 chip which debuted in November, has 8 GPU cores.
The Cupertino company is devoted to switching its entire Mac line-up to its in-house developed ARM-based silicon between 2020 and 2022. By the looks of it, the appropriate hardware measures are already being taken. The M1 chip in the current MacBook Air, MacBook Pro and Mac Mini has already proven itself incredibly powerful, especially in the music production realm. Look up the various Logic Pro X tests floating around the internet and you will see the M1-equipped Macs delivering track count and plug-in instance performance comparable to, or exceeding the current Intel i9-driven 16-inch MacBook Pro, and at much lower temperatures. Once the ball is really rolling in terms of DAW and plug-in compatibility with the ARM-based hardware, it will be possible to run absolutely excessive sessions bordering on the “unlimited” in terms of what’s going on in them.
What’s your take on the rumours? Are you going to be planning your purchases around this news? Let us know in the comments below.
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5 responses to “Apple readying 32-core ARM chip for late 2021 Mac, 2022 Mac Pro?”
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M1 is jawdropping. If they drop an M1x laptop I am going to upgrade. 32 gb ram is a must for those of us who use a lot of sample based instruments.
As always, good marketing. Lots of noise and little progress. Evolution, not revolution!
As always, ignorance masquerading as sneering superiority.
What ^^ said. Take performance per Watt of a M1. Marketing? If they had more ports, I’d be getting one right now. Even the Air is more powerful than my water-cooled, Intel-based Hackintosh, and my 2015 16″ Macbook Pro can use an upgrade. Until a few weeks ago, I didn’t think that I’d ever get an Apple ARM-based Mac, and now that I’ve seen the performance per Watt (no fans) I don’t know why I’d want anything else. Take my money Apple.
Anything out of Bloomberg should always be treated with a deep suspicion, they are in the business of churning stocks not providing ‘insight’. It is however a perfectly reasonable extrapolation.