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Comparison and Analysis of Apple's M4 and M3 Chips

GOOVER DAILY REPORT 6/4/2024
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TABLE OF CONTENTS

  1. Introduction
  2. Introduction to Apple’s M4 Chip
  3. Technical Specifications
  4. Performance Comparison
  5. Usage and Availability
  6. Innovative Features
  7. Glossary
  8. Conclusion
  9. Source Documents

1. Introduction

  • This report provides a comprehensive comparison and analysis of Apple's M4 chip in relation to its predecessor, the M3 chip. The information is based on various data sources and focuses on the differences, improvements, and current usage of both chips in Apple's product lineup.

2. Introduction to Apple’s M4 Chip

  • 2-1. Overview of the M4 Chip

  • The M4 chip, Apple’s latest silicon, builds upon the technological advancements introduced by its predecessors. Developed using a second-generation 3nm process, the M4 packs 28 billion transistors, delivering power-efficient performance with enhancements in CPU, GPU, and Neural Engine capabilities. The chip features a new 10-core CPU (with up to four performance cores and six efficiency cores), a 10-core GPU, and a 16-core Neural Engine capable of 38 trillion operations per second. This new Neural Engine is 60 times faster than Apple’s first-generation in the A11 Bionic, and the M4 also includes a dedicated display engine that supports the Ultra Retina XDR display.

  • 2-2. Early Adoption in iPad Pro

  • Apple has initially introduced the M4 chip in the 2024 iPad Pro, marking the first time a new Apple chip debuted in an iPad before appearing in Mac devices. This new iPad Pro showcases various configurations of the M4, including versions with different memory and storage capacities. The M4-powered iPad Pro claims to deliver PC-like performance while maintaining only a quarter of the power consumption, a feat made possible by the chip’s 3nm architecture. The device offers a 10-core CPU with four performance cores and six efficiency cores, substantial GPU and Neural Engine advancements, all without active cooling. This early adoption highlights the M4’s suitability for advanced applications leveraging AI and complex workflows in professional apps.

  • 2-3. Comparison with M3 Chip

  • The M4 chip represents a series of incremental enhancements over the M3 chip, rather than drastic changes. While both chips are manufactured using a 3nm process, the M4 is a second-generation 3nm chip, providing subtle boosts in efficiency and output. The M4 features a slightly different core configuration with a 10-core CPU and a more advanced GPU that supports Dynamic Caching, mesh shading, and hardware-accelerated ray tracing—technologies present in the M3 series but newly integrated into iPad. With 28 billion transistors compared to the M3’s 25 billion and a memory bandwidth increase from 100Gbps to 120Gbps, the M4 exhibits a clear, albeit modest, performance edge. The Neural Engine performance also sees an upgrade, performing 38 trillion operations per second versus the M3's 18 trillion, albeit the differences are more nuanced when benchmarked under similar conditions.

3. Technical Specifications

  • 3-1. Manufacturing Process and Efficiency

  • Both the M3 and M4 chips are manufactured using a 3nm process. While the M3 was the first to use this process, the M4 is a second-generation 3nm chip, leading to slight improvements in efficiency and output.

  • 3-2. CPU Architecture

  • The M3 chip features an 8-core CPU, composed of four performance cores and four efficiency cores. In contrast, the M4 chip offers configurations with either a 9-core or 10-core CPU, which includes three or four performance cores and six efficiency cores.

  • 3-3. GPU Enhancements

  • The M3 chip is available with either an 8-core or 10-core GPU. On the other hand, the M4 chip standardizes on a 10-core GPU and includes additional features like hardware-accelerated ray tracing and mesh shading, which were not present in the previous generation.

  • 3-4. Memory Bandwidth and Transistors

  • The M4 chip surpasses the M3 in both memory bandwidth and the number of transistors. The M4 incorporates 28 billion transistors and offers a memory bandwidth of 120Gbps, compared to the M3’s 25 billion transistors and 100Gbps memory bandwidth. The M4 also features a new dedicated display engine capable of handling OLED displays, unlike its predecessor.

4. Performance Comparison

  • 4-1. CPU Performance

  • The Apple M4 chip includes a 9-core or 10-core CPU, with either three or four performance cores and six efficiency cores. In contrast, the M3 chip features an 8-core CPU with four performance cores and four efficiency cores. Notably, the M4 CPU is built using a second-generation 3nm process, which enhances efficiency and output slightly compared to the first-generation 3nm process used by the M3.

  • 4-2. GPU Performance

  • The M4 chip contains a 10-core GPU, similar to the M3. It also supports hardware-accelerated ray tracing and mesh shading, features introduced in the M3. While the architectural features appear identical, real-world performance may vary due to the constraints of different devices. One notable addition to the M4 is support for a dedicated display engine to manage the OLED display in the new iPad Pro.

  • 4-3. Neural Engine

  • The M4's Neural Engine boasts 16 cores, capable of performing 38 trillion operations per second (TOPS). In comparison, the M3's Neural Engine also has 16 cores but can perform up to 18 TOPS. The significant difference is due to the precision type used, where the M4 achieves 38 TOPS with INT8 operations and the M3 achieves 18 TOPS with FP16 precision.

  • 4-4. Benchmarking Results

  • Based on Geekbench's synthetic benchmarks, the M4 achieved a score of 9,234 in the ML 0.6.0 test for machine learning capabilities. This score is about 10% better than the M3 and 23% higher than the M2. However, these benchmarks are synthetic and may not fully translate to real-world performance, especially when comparing different device types like iPad and MacBook.

5. Usage and Availability

  • 5-1. M4 in Current Apple Devices

  • As of now, the M4 chip is exclusively available in the 2024 iPad Pro. This new chip in the iPad Pro comes in various configurations, with differences in memory and storage capacities. The inclusion of the M4 chip in this device allows for advancements like the new display engine, which supports the Ultra Retina XDR display with high precision, color accuracy, and brightness uniformity.

  • 5-2. Future Expansion to Other Devices

  • Although currently limited to the iPad Pro, the M4 chip is expected to be included in other Apple devices in the near future. The M4 is projected to appear in the 14-inch MacBook Pro, the 24-inch iMac, the Mac mini, and both sizes of the MacBook Air by late 2024, with the MacBook Air updates coming in spring 2025. This expansion will bring the advanced capabilities of the M4 to a wider range of Apple products.

  • 5-3. Comparison of M4 and M3 Device Integration

  • The M3 chip, by contrast, is already widely deployed across multiple Apple devices, including the 14-inch MacBook Pro, 13-inch MacBook Air, 15-inch MacBook Air, and the 24-inch iMac. Unlike the M4, the M3 has not been used in any iPad models. The integration of the M4 in the iPad Pro is its initial deployment, setting it apart from the M3, which is yet to make an appearance in any iPad versions.

6. Innovative Features

  • 6-1. Ray Tracing and Mesh Shading

  • The M4 chip introduces hardware-accelerated ray tracing and mesh shading. These technologies were already present in the M3 but are new additions for the iPad lineup when compared to devices using the M2 chip. Ray tracing significantly improves rendering quality by simulating the physical behavior of light, whereas mesh shading enhances the process of geometry rendering.

  • 6-2. Dynamic Caching

  • Dynamic Caching has been implemented on the M4 chip, carrying forward the innovation introduced with the M3. This technique optimizes memory allocation for the GPU, preventing over-allocation and ensuring efficient use of the unified memory pool. On the M4-equipped iPad Pro, this feature supports the overall performance enhancement.

  • 6-3. Display Engine Enhancements

  • The M4 chip features a new display engine that supports tandem OLED configurations and ProMotion with refresh rates ranging from 10Hz to 120Hz. This is a significant upgrade over previous models, especially for the newly launched iPad Pro with its Ultra Retina XDR display that can achieve a brightness of up to 1600 nits.

  • 6-4. AI and Neural Processing Enhancements

  • Equipped with a 16-core Neural Engine, the M4 chip can perform up to 38 trillion operations per second (TOPS) using the INT8 data type. This is a substantial improvement over the M3's 18 TOPS (FP16 precision). The M4's enhanced AI capabilities are designed to support advanced machine learning tasks efficiently, cementing its position as a significant advancement in Apple's silicon technology.

7. Glossary

  • 7-1. Apple [Company]

  • Apple Inc. designs and manufactures consumer electronics, computer software, and online services. The company is known for its innovative products, including the iPhone, iPad, MacBook, and now advancements in its silicon chips like the M3 and M4.

  • 7-2. M3 Chip [Technology]

  • The M3 chip is used in Apple's 14-inch MacBook Pro, 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Air, and 24-inch iMac. It integrates a CPU with 8 cores, GPU options with 8 or 10 cores, and a Neural Engine capable of 18 trillion operations per second.

  • 7-3. M4 Chip [Technology]

  • Apple's latest system on a chip (SoC), built using a second-generation 3nm manufacturing process. It features up to 10 CPU cores, a 10-core GPU, a 16-core Neural Engine capable of 38 trillion operations per second, and several advancements such as ray tracing, mesh shading, and dynamic caching.

  • 7-4. Neural Engine [Technology]

  • A specialized part of Apple's chips designed to accelerate machine learning tasks. The M4's Neural Engine can perform up to 38 trillion operations per second, significantly improving AI capabilities.

  • 7-5. Dynamic Caching [Feature]

  • A technology in the M3 and M4 chips that allows the GPU to dynamically allocate memory in real time, increasing efficiency and performance for demanding applications.

  • 7-6. Ray Tracing [Feature]

  • A rendering technique for generating realistic lighting effects and shadows. Introduced in Apple's M3 chip and continued in the M4, it enhances visual fidelity in graphics-intensive applications and games.

8. Conclusion

  • This report concludes that while the M4 chip introduces several incremental improvements over the M3 chip, it also integrates advanced features like a more powerful Neural Engine, enhanced GPU capabilities, and a new display engine, positioning it as a significant step forward in Apple's silicon technology.

9. Source Documents