M4 Mac Announcements

[casperes1996]

Well, the week has been kicked off. Happy that we get these mini events, although I must admit I don't like the idea of them becoming normalised as opposed to proper bigger events. I am already a bit sad that we get video events instead of live in-person events since COVID. But in any case, M4 iMac is here. Nothing much we haven't seen before, although there's a few interesting things here. For one the fact that the cut down version is an 8+8 and then it jumps to 10+10; Where the iPad had a 9 CPU core cut down variant. We also start with 16GB of RAM now, the cut down version only has 2 thunderbolt/USB-C ports where the full die version has 4 and nano texture is available again. They mentioned new colours, but... Like maybe I just don't remember the old ones, but they seem the same to me

 

[dada_dave]

Unfortunately storage stayed at 256GB but no base price increase due to new base RAM* - as expected, well by those of us who followed Apple's pricing strategies more closely anyways as opposed to reflexively believing Apple would jack up the base price by $200 because they're evil - looks at MR forums and sighs.

*though happy to be wrong about going to 16GB as base RAM, I thought they'd do 12GB. However, I was pretty sure they wouldn't increase base prices by $200 as I saw some suggesting on MR - some arguing that we shouldn't want base because how dare we question glorious, benevolent Apple and some arguing we shouldn't want base spec increases because Apple is evil and will jack up the base prices on those poor users who only need 8GB of RAM anyway.

 

[NotEntirelyConfused]

I'm glad to see that the base iMac now supports dual external monitors (up to 6k!). I know TB4 requires support for two screens, but one could imagine that support in the form of "when you plug in the second external screen, your internal goes blank". Although, hang on, the base model still only supports one external screen.

Also happy to be right about the 16GB. I've been overoptimistic in predictions over the last year, up until now.

No WiFi 7 though, which is irritating. Ethernet is still available on the base and comes with the other models, despite no mention of it in the articles I've seen. Surprisingly, there is still no 4TB model.

 

[Jimmyjames]

Interesting to see the M4 supports two 6k60 external displays or one 8K120!! Never seen that before.

Cpu details:

Gpu details:

Good to see the 2x ray tracing uplift being mentioned. I will be interested to see Blender scores.

 

[Cmaier]

Apple should screw with everyone and release a new Mac Pro tomorrow.

 

[theorist9]

Apple should screw with everyone and release a new Mac Pro tomorrow.

That's probably the only model for which they could sufficiently control leaks to have a chance of pulling off such a surprise, since it's the only one made in their US (Austin) assembly plant. Though keeping the chip under wraps would be a challenge....

 

[Cmaier]

That's probably the only model for which they could sufficiently control leaks to have a chance of pulling off such a surprise, since it's the only one made in their US (Austin) assembly plant. Though keeping the chip under wraps would be a challenge....

no, here’s how they really screw with us. They launch with the base version of M3.

 

[theorist9]

Interesting to see the M4 supports two 6k60 external displays or one 8K120!! Never seen that before.

That really is interesting, and not just b/c of the 8k@120. It means that, for the first time, the base chip has three display engines (one small display engine for the internal screen, and two larger ones for the externals). Which means all the base laptops will be able to drive two external displays without needing clamshell mode, and that the base Mini will be able to drive three.

This should make the Air and base MBP more appealing for enterprise use, since dual externals is a common office configuration.

I wonder how they are driving 8k@120 over TB4. Have they finally adopted DP Alt Mode 2.0 (which combines the bandwidth of the outgoing and incoming channels into a single dual-capacity output), or its equivalent? Or are they relying on very high levels of Display Stream Compression (DSC)?

 

[Jimmyjames]

That really is interesting, and not just b/c of the 8k@120. It means that, for the first time, the base chip has three display engines (one small display engine for the internal screen, and two larger ones for the externals). Which means all the base laptops will be able to drive two external displays without needing a clamshell model, and the base Mini will be able to drive three.

I wonder how they are driving 8k@120 over TB4. Have they finally adopted DP Alt Mode 2.0 (which combines the bandwidth of the outgoing and incoming channels into a single dual-capacity output), or its equivalent? Or are they relying on very high levels of Display Stream Compression (DSC)?

Good question. I had thought DSC, and hadn’t considered alt mode. Intriguing.

 

[theorist9]

no, here’s how they really screw with us. They launch with the base version of M3.

With 8 GB RAM

 

[Jimmyjames]

W

With 8 GB RAM

…4GB/64GB HDD. I’m all in.

 

[theorist9]

Good question. I had thought DSC, and hadn’t considered alt mode. Intriguing.

The third way is dual TB cables, but that doesn't sound like Apple's style. It will be interesting to see.....

 

[Jimmyjames]

The third way is dual TB cables, but that doesn't sound like Apple's style. It will be interesting to see.....

Definitely don’t think it’s that.

 

[Jimmyjames]

This feels underwhelming. 10%??

 

[The Flame]

That really is interesting, and not just b/c of the 8k@120. It means that, for the first time, the base chip has three display engines (one small display engine for the internal screen, and two larger ones for the externals). Which means all the base laptops will be able to drive two external displays without needing clamshell mode, and that the base Mini will be able to drive three.

Dieshots do confirm that the M4 has an upgraded display engine.

However, it has not been clear what kind of changes had been made to display engines from M3 -> M4.

This feels underwhelming. 10%??

View attachment 32313

Yeah, because apart from the 2x improvement to Ray Tracing, M4 has the same GPU as M3, but with 10% higher clock speed.

 

[Jimmyjames]

Dieshots do confirm that the M4 has an upgraded display engine.
View attachment 32314View attachment 32315
However, it has not been clear what kind of changes had been made to display engines from M3 -> M4.


Yeah, because apart from the 2x improvement to Ray Tracing, M4 has the same GPU as M3, but with 10% higher clock speed.
View attachment 32317

Hmmm. Seems like over 20% on geekbench.

 

[dada_dave]

Hmmm. Seems like over 20% on geekbench.

It is, though not every subtest. To be honest Apple saying 10% gains in gaming is probably just them using the clock speed difference, but it's probably game (and game setting) dependent. The new higher base RAM (and better bandwidth too) should actually help a lot as certain games were running into problems at 8GB. We know Apple sometimes undersells their performances (they did that for CPUs for multiple generations).

 

[Jimmyjames]

It is, though not every subtest. To be honest Apple saying 10% gains in gaming is probably just them using the clock speed difference, but it's probably game (and game setting) dependent. The new higher base RAM (and better bandwidth too) should actually help a lot as certain games were running into problems at 8GB. We know Apple sometimes undersells their performances (they did that for CPUs for multiple generations).

Fair points. I think it’s a nice update overall and am curious to see the Pro and Max.

 

[Cmaier]

Apparently Amazon accidentally posted the new mini. Size appears to be … small.

Amazon leaks redesigned Mac mini with M4 Pro

An Amazon listing for the 24-inch iMac contained a now-removed comparison chart that included Apple's unannounced smaller Mac mini with M4 and M4 Pro.

appleinsider.com

 

[Cmaier]

also, tells us something about the M4 Pro core count…