Apple unveils the M5 Pro and M5 Max chips, which feature new, faster 'super cores'
Source: Engadget
Overview
Apple announced a new pair of M5 chips—the M5 Pro and M5 Max—alongside two new MacBooks. The M5 Pro and M5 Max will power the newly announced MacBook Pro, while the base M5 powers the new MacBook Air. According to Apple’s press release, the Pro and Max chips feature an “advanced GPU with Neural Accelerators and higher unified memory bandwidth for a massive increase in AI compute.”
Fusion Architecture
Both chips use Apple’s new “Fusion Architecture,” which “combines two dies into a single system on a chip (SoC).”
CPU Details
- 18‑core CPU
- 6 “super cores” – marketed as the world’s fastest CPU cores.
- 12 performance cores – optimized for power‑efficient, multithreaded workloads.
Apple claims these CPU changes deliver “up to 30 percent” better performance for professional workloads.
GPU and AI Compute
- GPU: Up to 40 cores, each with an integrated Neural Accelerator.
- AI performance: Over 4× the peak GPU compute for AI compared with the previous generation, thanks to the higher unified memory bandwidth.
- Graphics: Up to 35 percent improvement in ray‑tracing applications versus the M4 Pro and M4 Max.
Industry Context
Apple’s claim of having the “world’s fastest” core has been supported by benchmark results, according to Apple Silicon expert Devindra Hardawar. The two‑die design is not unique; similar approaches have been used by Intel and AMD.
Availability
The M5 Pro and M5 Max will first appear in the new MacBook Pro, available for pre‑order starting March 4 and shipping on Wednesday, March 11.
This article originally appeared on Engadget:
Apple unveils the M5 Pro and M5 Max chips, which feature new, faster ‘super cores’