Apple M4 32-core GPU vs Apple M4 10-core GPU vs Apple M4 20-core GPU

Apple M4 32-core GPU

The Apple M4 Max GPU (32 cores) is an integrated graphics adapter that's built into the 14-core Apple M4 Max SoC. It features 32 "cores" and has access to at least 36 GB of fast 410 GB/s LPDDR5x on-package RAM depending on the configuration. As is typical for graphics adapters released in 2024, it has hardware support for ray tracing as well as mesh shading and other modern technologies. It also supports external displays with resolutions as high as "8K" and can HW-decode a few popular video codecs such as h.264, h.265 and AV1.

Performance

Its gaming performance is set to be approximately as good as that of the GeForce RTX 4050 Laptop. Please keep in mind that very few games have been compiled specifically for Apple silicon Macs meaning most titles have to be run via emulation layers. Some of them are displayed with visual artefacts as a result, or don't start at all.

Power consumption

Given the power on offer, we expect the iGPU to consume over 40 W when under heavy loads.

Just like the rest of the Apple M4 Max chip, the integrated graphics adapter is manufactured on a "second generation 3 nm" TSMC process which is still cutting-edge as of late 2024.

Apple M4 10-core GPU

Die Apple M4 GPU mit 10 Kernen ist ein Grafikadapter, der in Apple M4 SoCs eingebaut ist, über 10 Kerne verfügt und die Unified Memory Architektur (LPDDR5X-7500, 120 GB/s Bandbreite) verwendet. Die Apple-designte iGPU verfügt über keine nennenswerten neuen Funktionen, die sie von ihren Vorgängern der M3-Serie abheben könnten.

Ähnlich wie die 10-Kern-GPU des M3 SoC verfügt die M4 GPU (10 Kerne) über Hardware-Unterstützung für Raytracing sowie Mesh-Shading und andere moderne Technologien. Sie unterstützt externe Bildschirme mit Auflösungen von bis zu 6K und kann die gängigen AV1-, HEVC- und AVC-Videocodecs hardwaremäßig dekodieren (die Kodierung wird für AV1 noch nicht unterstützt).

Erste Benchmark-Vergleiche zwischen der M4 GPU und der M3 GPU deuten zwar auf eine Leistungssteigerung von bis zu 15% hin, aber es ist wichtig zu erwähnen, dass die Nachhaltigkeit der Leistung des M4 Chips aufgrund der dünnen Gehäuse der neuen iPads, die keine aktive Kühlung haben, sehr gering sein wird.

• M4 GPU Geekbench Metal - erste Ergebnisse: ~53,800 Punkte
• M3 GPU Geekbench Metal - Notebookcheck Datenbank: ~47,000 Punkte

Wie der Rest des Apple M4 Chips wird auch die Grafikkarte in einem TSMC-Prozess der zweiten Generation (3 nm) gefertigt, um eine hohe Energieeffizienz zu erreichen (ab H1 2024).

Apple M4 20-core GPU

The Apple M4 Pro GPU (20 cores) is an integrated graphics adapter designed by Apple that's built into the 14-core Apple M4 Pro SoC. It features 20 "cores" and has access to at least 24 GB of fast 273 GB/s LPDDR5x on-package RAM depending on the configuration. As is typical for graphics adapters released in 2024, it has hardware support for ray tracing as well as mesh shading and other modern technologies. It also supports external displays with resolutions as high as "8K" and it can HW-decode a few popular video codecs such as h.264, h.265 and AV1.

Performance

Its gaming performance is at least as good as that of the GTX 1660 Ti Laptop. Please keep in mind that very few games have been compiled specifically for Apple silicon Macs meaning most titles have to be run via emulation layers. Some of them are displayed with visual artefacts as a result, or don't start at all.

• The Witcher 3 1080p Ultra = 53 fps (close to the GTX 1660 Ti Laptop)
• Baldur's Gate 3 1440p Ultra = 42 fps (close to the GeForce RTX 4050 Laptop)
• Cyberpunk 2077 2.1 Phantom Liberty 1080p Ultra = 40 fps (close to the GTX 1660 Ti Laptop)

Power consumption

When under heavy CPU and GPU load, the iGPU portion of the 14-core M4 Pro consumes just slightly over 30 W according to monitoring software. With no load, it makes do with as little as 1 W to 3 W.

Just like the rest of the Apple M4 Pro chip, the integrated graphics adapter is manufactured on a "second generation 3 nm" TSMC process which is still cutting-edge as of late 2024.