←back to thread

Apple Silicon M1 chip in MacBook Air outperforms high-end 16-inch MacBook Pro

(www.macrumors.com)
1080 points antipaul | 5 comments | 12 Nov 20 00:56 UTC | HN request time: 0.002s | source
Show context
mcintyre1994 ◴[12 Nov 20 07:21 UTC] No.25067338[source]▶
> The M1 chip, which belongs to a MacBook Air with 8GB RAM, features a single-core score of 1687 and a multi-core score of 7433. According to the benchmark, the M1 has a 3.2GHz base frequency.

> The Mac mini with M1 chip that was benchmarked earned a single-core score of 1682 and a multi-core score of 7067.

> Update: There's also a benchmark for the 13-inch MacBook Pro with M1 chip and 16GB RAM that has a single-core score of 1714 and a multi-core score of 6802. Like the MacBook Air , it has a 3.2GHz base frequency.

So single core we have: Air 1687, Mini 1682, Pro 1714

And multi core we have: Air 7433, Mini 7067, Pro 6802

I’m not sure what to make of these scores, but it seems wrong that the Mini and Pro significantly underperform the Air in multi core. I find it hard to imagine this benchmark is going to be representative of actual usage given the way the products are positioned, which makes it hard to know how seriously to take the comparisons to other products too.

> When compared to existing devices, the M1 chip in the MacBook Air outperforms all iOS devices. For comparison's sake, the iPhone 12 Pro earned a single-core score of 1584 and a multi-core score of 3898, while the highest ranked iOS device on Geekbench's charts, the A14 iPad Air, earned a single-core score of 1585 and a multi-core score of 4647.

This seems a bit odd too - the A14 iPad Air outperforms all iPad Pro devices?

replies(14): >>25067412 #>>25067414 #>>25067435 #>>25067467 #>>25067719 #>>25067879 #>>25067931 #>>25068427 #>>25068698 #>>25068977 #>>25069217 #>>25069354 #>>25070019 #>>25071266 #
throwaway4good ◴[12 Nov 20 08:30 UTC] No.25067719[source]▶
The results seem a little weird but if remotely true then these machines are going to sell like cup cakes.

Why would anyone (who is not forced) buy an Intel PC laptop when these are available and priced as competitive as they are?

replies(19): >>25067752 #>>25067760 #>>25067775 #>>25067789 #>>25067856 #>>25067866 #>>25067936 #>>25067945 #>>25067976 #>>25068118 #>>25068189 #>>25068589 #>>25068695 #>>25068781 #>>25069148 #>>25070670 #>>25071421 #>>25072755 #>>25074611 #
moondev ◴[12 Nov 20 11:00 UTC] No.25068589[source]▶
> Why would anyone (who is not forced) buy an Intel PC laptop when these are available and priced as competitive as they are?

- locked bootloader - no bootcamp - can't install or boot linux or windows

- virtualization limited to arm64 machines - no windows x86 or linux x86 virtual machines

- only 2 thunderbolt ports

- limited to 16GB RAM

- no external gpu support/drivers - can't use nvidia or amd cards

- no AAA gaming

- can't run x86 containers without finding/building for arm64 or taking huge performance hit with qemu-static

- uncertain future of macos as it continues to be locked down

replies(12): >>25068615 #>>25068712 #>>25068850 #>>25068948 #>>25069453 #>>25069576 #>>25069626 #>>25069745 #>>25069808 #>>25069834 #>>25077204 #>>25127853 #
zwily ◴[12 Nov 20 12:09 UTC] No.25068948[source]▶
Although I personally care about every point you listed, I don’t think most buyers care about any of them.
replies(2): >>25068971 #>>25070756 #
gsich ◴[12 Nov 20 12:12 UTC] No.25068971[source]▶
Maybe the gaming part.
replies(4): >>25069211 #>>25069344 #>>25069460 #>>25071008 #
lsllc ◴[12 Nov 20 15:41 UTC] No.25071008{3}[source]▶
iOS games/apps run on Apple Silicon Mac, so that by itself opens up a huge gaming market.
replies(1): >>25071487 #
gsich ◴[12 Nov 20 16:26 UTC] No.25071487{4}[source]▶
Casual gaming market.
replies(2): >>25072121 #>>25072136 #
jimbokun ◴[12 Nov 20 17:26 UTC] No.25072136{5}[source]▶
In other words, the biggest gaming market.
replies(1): >>25073946 #
1. gsich ◴[12 Nov 20 19:39 UTC] No.25073946{6}[source]▶
Maybe, but distinct from real "gaming".
replies(1): >>25075794 #
2. xodice ◴[12 Nov 20 22:08 UTC] No.25075794[source]▶
A game is a game. There is no "real gaming". Apple Arcade with a Xbox controller paired to a Mac is actually a fun gaming device for some types of gamers.

Genshin Impact is a great game that is on iOS in addition to "real consoles". Oceanhorn 2 is an amazing game that was originally on Apple Arcade and brought to Nintendo's "real console".

There is also quite a number of ports that I think you aren't aware of.

replies(1): >>25076275 #
3. gsich ◴[12 Nov 20 22:46 UTC] No.25076275[source]▶
There is a difference between Tetris on Facebook versus Dota or CSGO on PC. The later is "real gaming", the former not. The border might be a gradient.

It's like calling yourself a programmer because you can set a timer on your VCR. (dated but still accurate)

replies(1): >>25076865 #
4. EugeneOZ ◴[12 Nov 20 23:40 UTC] No.25076865{3}[source]▶
And since when CSGO is a GPU-demanding game?

You think "real games" are for "hard triers only", but it's just your point of view.

replies(1): >>25079057 #
5. gsich ◴[13 Nov 20 05:00 UTC] No.25079057{4}[source]▶
Mine and many others. Rightfully so, see the example.

GPU was not the issue here.