this post was submitted on 13 Apr 2024
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"Unified" only means there's not a discrete block for the CPU and a discrete block for the GPU to use. But it's still RAM- specifically, LPDDR4x (for M1), LPDDR5 (for M2), or LPDDR5X (for M3).
Besides, low-end PCs with integrated graphics have been using unified memory for decades- no one ever said "They don't have RAM, they have UM!"
Yes, that’s true, but it’s still an indicator of an uninformed reporter.
Apple Silicon chips pass data from one dedicated cores directly to another without the need of passing through memory, hence the smaller processor cache. There are between 18 and 58 cores in the M3 (model dependent). The architecture works very differently than the conventional CPU/GPU/RAM model.
I can run FCP and Logic Pro and have memory to spare with 16GB of UM. The only thing that pushes me into swap is Chrome. lol
It's a pointless distinction.
And in this case, it makes 8gig look even worse.
Maybe you’re not familiar with the apps I’m referring to. Final Cut Pro and Logic Pro are professional video and audio workstations.
If I tried to master an export from Adobe Premiere Pro in Protools on PC I’d need 32GB of RAM to to prevent stutter. I only use ~12GB of 16GB doing the same on Apple Silicon.
8GB of UM is not for someone running two pro apps at once. It’s for grandma to use for online banking and check her email and Facebook.
My dude, you're literally in here arguing that because Apple has a blob for both CPU memory and GPU memory that somehow makes that blob "not RAM." Apple's design might give fantastic performance, but that's irrelevant to the fact that the memory on the chip is RAM of known and established standards.
Read my other replies to this comment. There’s no GPU. It’s an SoC.
BCM2835 is SoC too. And RK3328. And Mali-450 is GPU.
https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2023/10/apple-unveils-m3-m3-pro-and-m3-max-the-most-advanced-chips-for-a-personal-computer/
Each power intensive process is given its own dedicated core. The OS is designed specifically to send dedicated processes to the associated core. For example, your CPU isn’t bogged down decrypting data while loading an application.
You can’t compare it to anything else out at this time. Just learn about it, or don’t. Guessing is just a waste of time.
https://docs.kernel.org/scheduler/sched-capacity.html
Basic priority-based scheduling.
Sent to one of two processors on a PC, or 18-52 dedicated cores in an M chip.
Great topic switch. Also what century do you live?
The topic is substantiating that 8GB of UM on an Apple Silicon Mac being acceptable for a base model.
I’ve explained how the UM is used strictly as a storage liaison due to the processor having a multitude of dedicated cores, with the ability to pass data directly without utilizing UM.
I don’t know what you want from me, but maybe you should just do your own homework instead of being combative with people who understand something better than you.
I really doubt they run apps with cache turned into scratchpad memory.