Apple launches new flagship M2 Ultra processor

Apple has made some big announcements at WWDC. One of the most important should be the addition of the M2 Ultra, which is set to power the updated Mac Studio and brand-new Mac Pro systems. With this release, Apple completes its transition away from Intel's CPUs, solidifying its commitment to in-house silicon.

The M2 Ultra connects two M2 Max dies. Apple boldly claims that it is the most powerful chip for a personal computer. Boasting an impressive 24 CPU cores, divided into 16x performance cores and 8x efficiency cores, the M2 Ultra offers a 20% performance boost compared to its predecessor, the M1 Ultra. Additionally, users will have the option to configure the M2 Ultra with up to 76 GPU cores and the maximum amount of RAM supported on the system has increased to 192GB.

Moving on to the new devices, the new Mac Studio retains the familiar design of its predecessor. However, incorporating the new M2 Ultra chip promises tangible benefits, particularly in multi-core workloads. It's worth noting that the M2 Max, which is already available in the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pros, will be included in the starting configurations of the Mac Studio. This ensures that users at least have some options in terms of performance.

As for the new Mac Pro, the physical design of the Mac Pro remains consistent with the previous Intel Xeon model, offering both vertical and rack-mounted options to suit different needs. One notable improvement is the integration of ProRes video capabilities. Instead of relying on the AfterBurner card as an optional add-on, the new Mac Pro harnesses the power of seven AfterBurner cards. This advancement allows for ingesting 22 camera feeds directly to ProRes, catering to the needs of video professionals. Connectivity options are also robust, with 8x Thunderbolt ports and dual Gigabit Ethernet available. Additionally, users now have the option to incorporate PCIe Gen 4 expansion cards, offering five slots for video, networking, audio, and video IO cards. At the moment, there's no specific information on third-party graphics compatibility.

Apple has confirmed that the Mac Studio will carry a starting price of $1,999, while the new Mac Pro will start at $6,999. Both systems will become available on June 13th.

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KitGuru says: Has Apple's in-house silicon effort impressed you so far? 

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