It’s previously been suggested that the upcoming M5 Pro and M5 Max MacBook Pro models will allow you to make a more flexible choice of CPU and GPU cores. A recent change to Apple’s website seems to support this theory.
A new report suggests that the change could be even more radical, and that the M5 Pro and M5 Max might be not two distinct chips but rather variants of the same one …
The back story
Things kicked off last year with a report stating that Apple will be using a brand new chip packaging process for the more powerful variants of the M5.
The M5 Pro, Max, and Ultra will utilize server-grade SoIC packaging. Apple will use 2.5D packaging called SoIC-mH (molding horizontal) to improve production yields and thermal performance, featuring separate CPU and GPU designs.
Separating out CPU and GPU cores in this way could potentially allow greater flexibility when buying. For example, choosing a base CPU configuration while maxing out GPU cores to suit usage which relies most heavily on graphics performance.
Adding weight to this theory was a recent change Apple made to its website.
Apple changed the way you buy a Mac online, removing the previous lineup of customizable pre-configured options and instead putting you straight into configuring your spec from scratch.
M5 Pro and M5 Max ‘the same chip’
YouTuber Vadim Yuryev noted that there was no sign of an M5 Pro chip in a recent beta code leak, and he thinks he knows why.
Just figured out why Apple’s M5 Pro chip did NOT show up in the recent beta code leak: Apple is using new 2.5D chip tech, allowing them to use a SINGLE M5 Max chip design for BOTH the M5 Pro and M5 Max models. This saves Apple LOTS of money on SKUs + Design.
The variants would be configured such that you would need to opt for the M5 Max if you wanted to max out both GPU cores and RAM.
9to5Mac’s Take
This does seem a plausible theory. In addition to allowing Apple to make greater use of chip binning to improve yields, the company would need only a single logic board design.
Once the new machines launch, it won’t take long for a teardown to reveal whether or not the report is accurate.
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Via Macworld
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