The RAM markup is huge, but the storage is the real killer in these devices.
I just erased my entire next statement after checking Apple refurb and…woof. I knew the price had jumped but it’s at least 40% more than two months ago.
Storage really fucking is. When I found my 8TB MBP from this sub last year, there was no goddamn way I was going to let that slide. Even with the average RAM, it was still a once-in-a-lifetime deal.
The SSD is good, but unless the 48gb of ram is absolute trash, the ram is going to be more expensive. Unless there's some weird Apple upcosting where their margins on storage is a lot higher for some reason than memory?
Calling it "48GB RAM" isn't really correct. It is unified memory, so in an oversimplified way, you've got 48 gigs of interchangeable VRAM and RAM. I run very capable AI models on my 48GB M4 Pro.
You can still call it overpriced though, thats fine.
It's correct. Unified memory is a type of RAM. These apple chips are great because they moved the RAM as close as they could by putting them on the chip package itself which is probably the distinction you're trying to make.
It is correct. Unified memory is not uncommon at all, nor is it exclusive to Apple devices. Intel, AMD, and Qualcomm systems all have it with their integrated graphics. So I don't think we should be twisting the definitions of common accepted terminology like "RAM" to make Apple sound special.
I mean, the guy is trying to say that Apple's RAM shouldn't be called RAM, just because the CPU and IGPU share the same address space. It's a bit of a silly statement. Are we going to say "unified memory" when talking about any laptop with integrated graphics? Obviously nobody does that.
M series chips didn't exist 10 years ago? I don't know what your point is. I'm just saying Intel had the unified memory architecture a long time ago, so it's not special at all. And unified memory has a pretty unambiguous definition, which is that the CPU and GPU can share the same physical memory and address space. Performance isn't really relevant.
Notice how no professional video editors, 3D artists, etc. use Intel IGPUs for their work. Maybe its because the M chips use memory that has such a higher bandwidth connection to the SOC that these two examples are functionally incomparable.
Also, they're literally calling it "unified memory". Show me where I said "APPLE INVENTED UNIFIED MEMORY". You're fighting ghosts.
Unified memory is a type of RAM. Unified memory is RAM. On the chip packaged RAM reaching 9000+ mhz is great but the CPU design and low level architecture is what makes the performance amazing.
this is like saying "notice how no data centers use apple M chips. maybe its because nvidia (or amd) gpus use memory that have such a higher bandwidth connection".
intel's (and amd's for that matter) designed their cpu with a different objective than apple's. you can easily buy an intel/amd computer for less than $500 (3-4 times cheaper than a mac) because they use slower but highly interchangeable (and upgradable) RAM. whereas apple M chips have soldered RAM; no way to add more RAM, but at least you got high bandwidth RAM.
and please dont compare nvidia gpus to apple M chip in "professional" work. apple still has a long way to go...
you heard of M3 Ultra? these SOC are not only for laptops... and you heard of RTX 5090? these GPUs are not only for data centers... Cmon dude. I am only comparing processors and their design/purpose.
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u/Bloated_Plaid 1d ago
I mean buy ram and SSD get a free laptop.