Apple has unveiled what they claim to be the most powerful Mac computer ever, the new Mac Studio, without any flashy launch event or introductory video.
The new model features an interesting range of options, including the M4 Max and an intriguing M3 Ultra CPU. Notably, it also promises to deliver performance that is twice as fast as its predecessor.
Image Credit – Apple
Designed specifically for content creators and designers, the upgraded Mac Studio features enhanced processors and graphics chips that support Mac Intelligence, Apple’s unique approach to artificial intelligence.
This allows for efficient operation of large language models and improved user workflows.
With over 600 billion parameters stored entirely in memory and up to 512GB of unified RAM, the M3 Ultra variant of the Mac Studio is poised to be an extraordinary system for those who need high performance.
Image Credit – Apple
Maxed Out
“The new Mac Studio is the most powerful Mac we’ve ever made,” said John Ternus, Apple’s senior vice president of Hardware Engineering.
“Powering both home and pro studios, Mac Studio occupies a class of its own, offering a remarkable amount of performance in a compact, quiet design that fits beautifully on your desk.”
Apple believes the M4 Max is the ideal choice for video editors and post-production specialists seeking to enhance their workflows.
Featuring up to 16 cores on the M4 Max CPU – comprising up to 12 performance cores and four efficiency cores – along with an integrated graphics processor that offers up to 40 cores, this model provides half a terabyte per second of bandwidth.
Its 16-core neural engine is 2.2 times faster than the M1 Max and up to 6.1 times faster than the previous generation Intel-based iMac.
For video encoding and processing, the M4 Max Mac Studio executes ProRes transcoding in Apple Compressor up to 1.2 times faster than the M1 Max Mac Studio and up to 2.8 times faster compared to a Core i9 Intel iMac.
Image Credit – Apple
The M3 Ultra
Interestingly, for the first time, Apple has chosen to pair the next-gen M4 Max with an Ultra design that incorporates a previous-generation M3 architecture.
While this decision may seem puzzling at first, don’t let the moniker fool you. The benchmarks reveal that the M3 Ultra chip remains incredibly fast for the high-performance Mac Studio and its ability to shoulder ultra-high-resolution 8K video and beyond.
The M3 Ultra chip boasts a 32-core CPU, including 24 performance cores and 8 efficiency cores, as well as 80 GPU cores—fifty percent more than any prior Ultra design.
Additionally, Apple has enhanced its Neural Engine for on-device AI and machine learning, supported by high-bandwidth memory that reaches up to 800 GB/s.
The M3 Ultra supports up to 96GB of unified memory, which can be upgraded to 512GB, and offers up to 16TB of SSD storage.
This combination allows for over 12 hours of 8K ProRes video and supports advanced graphics tools such as dynamic caching, mesh shading, and ray tracing.
As a result, the M3 Ultra Mac Studio is up to 2.6 times faster than the M1 Ultra and up to 21.1 times faster than the fastest 16-core Intel-based Mac Pro.
Image Credit – Apple
Other features of the new Mac Studio include six Thunderbolt 5 ports (two front-facing, four rear-facing) that support file transfer speeds of up to 120 Gb/s.
It can also drive up to eight Pro Display XDRs running at full 6K resolution. Additionally, it has two USB-A ports, a 10GB Ethernet port, an HDMI port, a front-facing SDXC card slot, and supports Bluetooth and WiFi 6e connections.
Pricing and Availability
The M4 Max Mac Studio is available for pre-order starting at $1,999 for the M4 Max and $3999 for the M3 Ultra.
Keep in mind that this price applies to the base model; upgrading to the M3 Ultra with maximum memory and storage can easily push the cost over $6,500.
However, users may find it more economical to achieve storage options through home setups or third-party solutions.
Additionally, Apple offers a trade-in program for users looking to leverage the value of their current systems for credit toward a new Mac.
And students and teachers can get a $200 discount. Shipping will begin on March 12, 2025.
[source: Apple]
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