The personal computer market is not living its best days. This is challenging for all players in the niche. On the other hand, this also opens perspectives for them. For instance, recently, we learned that Apple would launch several new machines in the next few months. The Cupertino-based company is also accelerating research and development and mass production of the second-generation Silicon M2 processors. The series might include the M2 Extreme edition with up to 48 cores. Thus, it will defy rivals specialized in high-end PC and workstation products. As expected, TSMC will be responsible for making 3nm process nodes for the chip.
Apple’s recently launched M2 processor uses TSMC’s second-generation 5nm process. It has an octa-core CPU and a 10-core GPU. Compared with the previous-generation M1 processor, the CPU speed and GPU performance are significantly improved.
Because of global inflation, the PC market suffered a lot in the second half of the current year. But it didn’t touch the Apple computer sales. Particularly, sales of the new MacBook Air and new 13-inch MacBook Pro with M2 processors were better than expected. Apple plans to launch a new MacBook Pro, Mac mini, and Mac in the next few months. The MacBook Pro ought to come with an enhanced version of the M2 processor.
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Apple M2 Extreme Will Be Very Powerful
In this regard, the upcoming M2 chip should come with more cores and effectively cope with heat dissipation and increase computing performance. This is an ideal product to demonstrate Arm architecture processors’ low power consumption advantage. Among various chips, the M2 Pro processor, codenamed Rhodes Chop, will come with a 10-core CPU and a 20-core GPU. Also, it should be produced by TSMC at 3 nanometers.
Like last year’s M1 series processors, we guess Apple will also launch the M2 Max processor code-named Rhodes 1C. The latter should come with a 12-core CPU and 38-core GPU. Finally, the highest-level M2 Ultra processor should be code-named Rhodes 2C.
Apple already knows how to design powerful chips. Also, TSMC has no equals when it comes to packaging technology. Due to these two, Apple might launch an M2 Extreme processor next year. This chip is going to integrate two M2 Max. In effect, the chip will have a 48-core CPU and a 152-core GPU. Apple’s M2 Pro/Max/Extreme and other series processors use TSMC’s 3nm process. So if the M2 Extreme news is true, next year, Apple’s PC processor performance will catch up with Intel’s footsteps and become the leader in the Arm-based processor market.
There are still no comments from TSMC. But we know that TSMC has cooperated with many partners when working on the 3nm process. Also, the order number of 3nm is twice that of the 5nm node.
