Tag

Unified Memory

All articles tagged with #unified memory

technology1 hour ago•3 min saved

M7 Ultra Might Pack 1.5TB RAM, Narrowing Apple Silicon’s Memory Gap

Mark Gurman’s Power On suggests Apple’s upcoming M7 Ultra could support up to 1.5TB of unified memory, potentially matching the top RAM of the 2019 Mac Pro. While this would close a long-running Apple Silicon limit, supply constraints and strategic decisions could affect whether the 1.5TB option ships. Apple’s roadmap reportedly includes an M5 Ultra with up to 768GB, and the high-end RAM upgrade from 128GB would be very expensive (estimates exceed $35,000) if offered.

via 9to5Mac|

#apple #apple-silicon #m7-ultra

technology1 hour ago•7 min saved

Apple's M7 Ultra Aims for 1.5TB RAM in 2028 Mac Pro-Grade Chip

Bloomberg's Mark Gurman says Apple's upcoming M7 Ultra chip, due in 2028, could support up to 1.5TB of unified memory—potentially matching the 2019 Intel Mac Pro’s RAM ceiling—though availability may hinge on the ongoing memory chip shortage.

via MacRumors|

#apple #m7-ultra #mac-pro

technology4 days ago•6 min saved

AMD Strix Halo Brings 120B-Parameter AI to a $1,500 PC

AMD's Strix Halo Ryzen AI Max Plus enables on-device inference for models up to 120B parameters using up to 128 GB of unified memory in a $1,499 mini PC, offering strong cost efficiency and data control but with real-world memory bandwidth around 122 GB/s and a still-maturing ROCm/Windows ecosystem. It trails NVIDIA in prefill speed and lacks CUDA-level software maturity, though its cost per GB memory (~$25.77) is far cheaper than Apple M3 Ultra’s. A future Gorgon Halo with 192 GB and up to 300B parameters is planned for 2026, signaling AMD's ongoing AI hardware push. For workloads prioritizing local processing and agent workflows, Strix Halo is compelling; for CUDA-heavy or bandwidth-intensive tasks, NVIDIA or Apple may be preferable.

via Geeky Gadgets|

#ai-hardware #amd #cost-efficiency

technology1 month ago•4 min saved

AMD's Ryzen AI MAX 400 Enables 192GB Unified Memory for Local 300B+ LLMs

AMD unveils the Ryzen AI MAX 400 family (Gorgon Halo), pairing Zen 5 CPUs, RDNA 3.5 GPUs, and XDNA 2 NPUs with up to 192 GB of unified memory to run 300B+ parameter LLMs locally on a single chip, and up to 160 GB of VRAM. The lineup—MAX+ PRO 495, 490, and 485—offers higher clocks than the MAX 300 series, with launch expected in Q3 2026 through OEMs like ASUS, HP, and Lenovo, targeting professional AI and creator workloads.

via Wccftech|

#192gb #amd #llms

technology1 month ago•18 min saved

AMD Expands Ryzen AI Max 400 Series with 192 GB Memory to Run Big AI Models

AMD unveiled the Ryzen AI Max 400 series, a Strix Halo refresh that doubles down on memory: the SoC now supports up to 192 GB of LPDDR5X unified memory (up to 160 GB available to the iGPU), while Zen 5 CPUs boost to 5.20 GHz and RDNA 3.5 GPUs to 3.00 GHz, and the integrated NPU climbs to 55 TOPS. The lineup includes Ryzen AI Max+ PRO 495, Max PRO 490, and PRO 485, with consumer variants planned later. The memory upgrade targets AI workloads and 300B+ parameter LLMs, marking a major memory-focused refresh for Strix Halo.

via TechPowerUp|

#amd #lpddr5x #ryzen-ai-max-400

technology2 months ago•8 min saved

Tiny RAM, Big Leap: Apple’s Unified Memory Makes 8GB Feel Like More

Apple’s M-series chips use unified memory, aggressive memory compression, and an on‑chip Neural Engine to reduce latency and memory swapping, letting an 8GB MacBook Neo feel and perform like more RAM. This helps Apple ride out a RAM shortage at a $599 entry price, while rivals face higher costs and price hikes amid AI-centric workloads.

via Macworld|

#ai-on-device #apple #m-series

gadgets3 months ago•16 min saved

MacBook Neo Defies 8GB RAM Limits With Surging Demand

Apple’s $600 MacBook Neo is proving popular despite its 8GB of unified memory, with two-to-three week online wait times signaling strong demand. Industry chatter points to supply constraints around the A18 Pro chip and RAM, but the unified memory approach helps the device handle typical browsing, streaming, and light tasks. A Neo 2 with more RAM (potentially 12GB) and an A19 Pro chip is rumored, but Apple is expected to keep the Neo’s base price at $600.

via Gizmodo|

#apple #gadgets #macbook-neo

technology4 months ago•76 min saved

MacBook Neo’s 8GB RAM outperforms Windows PCs in real-world RAM tests

Tom’s Guide tested the $599 MacBook Neo with 8GB of unified memory against a Windows PC with 128GB RAM, using Chrome with 20 tabs, Apple Music, and Photoshop. The Neo managed total memory of about 7.24 GB versus ~27.1 GB on the Windows machine, with Chrome consuming 1.67 GB on macOS vs 4.76 GB on Windows and similar differences for apps. The article argues that unified memory and macOS RAM compression let the Neo feel lean and responsive despite less RAM, while Windows’ caching can bloat apparent usage. The takeaway: more RAM isn’t always better, though Windows may still win in gaming; the MacBook Neo’s architecture makes 8GB feel much more capable at budget pricing.

via Tom's Guide|

#macbook-neo #memory-management #ram

technology4 months ago•4 min saved

Air's M4 Falls Short of iPad Pro's M4 in Core Count and GPU

Apple's iPad Air uses an M4 chip that is not the same as the iPad Pro's M4, with eight CPU cores (three performance, five efficiency) and nine GPU cores — fewer than the Pro's variants that use nine or ten CPU cores and ten GPU cores depending on storage. The Air also has 12GB unified memory, placing it between Pro RAM tiers. In short, the Air's M4 is a downgraded variant produced by chip binning, so it won't match Pro (or M5) speeds in multi-core and Metal tasks, though single-core performance should be similar.

via AppleInsider|

#cpu-cores #ipad-air #ipad-pro

gadgets4 months ago•15 min saved

iPad Air Upgrades to M4 Chip at No Price Increase

Apple’s iPad Air now uses the M4 chip with 12GB RAM and faster Wi‑Fi/cellular (N1/C1X) plus Wi‑Fi 7, while keeping the same starting prices ($599 for the 11-inch and $799 for the 13-inch); preorders begin March 4 and shipments start March 11.

via Gizmodo|

#apple #gadgets #ipad-air

technology1 year ago•7 min saved

Apple's M2 MacBook Air: A Quiet Revolution in Laptop Design

With the introduction of Apple silicon's unified memory architecture, choosing the right amount of RAM for a new Mac has become crucial. This architecture allows all processing units to access a shared pool of memory, enhancing speed and efficiency. Most users will find 16GB sufficient for everyday tasks, while professionals handling more intensive workflows may need up to 192GB. The decision should balance current needs, future requirements, and cost, as memory upgrades are expensive and non-upgradable post-purchase.

via MacRumors|

#apple #apple-silicon #mac

technology2 years ago•2 min saved

Record-Low Prices on MacBook Pro and Air Models for Memorial Day

The 2023 MacBook Pro with 48GB of unified memory and the powerful M3 Max chip is available at its lowest price on Amazon US for $3699. This model features a 16.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR display, advanced connectivity options, and up to 22 hours of battery life, making it ideal for intensive work requirements. The deal is exclusive to the US and includes benefits for Amazon Prime members.

via Neowin|

#amazon-deal #laptop-sale #m3-max-chip

technology3 years ago•1 min saved

M2 Ultra Chip Revolutionizes Mac Computing Power.

The new Mac Pro no longer supports graphics cards, with graphics processing handled entirely by the M2 chip. Apple's hardware engineering chief John Ternus explained that expandable GPU support for Apple silicon is not something that the company has pursued. The new Mac Pro is up to 3× faster than the Intel-based model for certain real-world workflows like video transcoding and 3D simulations. However, the new Mac Pro lacks user-upgradeable RAM, given the unified memory is soldered to the M2 Ultra chip.

via MacRumors|

#apple #graphics-card #m2-chip