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AMD Instinct MI100 vs Apple M1 Pro 16-Core GPU: Comparison

What is the difference between AMD Instinct MI100 and Apple M1 Pro 16-Core GPU?

On memory bandwidth the spread is 83%, AMD Instinct MI100 1200 GB/s against Apple M1 Pro 16-Core GPU 200 GB/s, so AMD Instinct MI100 takes it. They differ on architecture too, CDNA on the AMD Instinct MI100 versus Apple Silicon on the Apple M1 Pro 16-Core GPU. They differ on pcie generation too, PCIe 4.0 on the AMD Instinct MI100 versus Not Applicable on the Apple M1 Pro 16-Core GPU.

Which should you buy, AMD Instinct MI100 or Apple M1 Pro 16-Core GPU?

The AMD Instinct MI100 is the one to take for buyers comparing AMD's official reference specifications and researching a chip before choosing a board-partner card, though it is not built for overclocking-focused enthusiasts (reference clocks only). It is not the one for buyers wanting a specific retail card with cooler and warranty details. The Apple M1 Pro 16-Core GPU suits photographers and designers using Metal-accelerated Lightroom or Photoshop workflows, though it is not the pick for native Windows gaming or CUDA-dependent professional software. The same goes for video editors and podcasters running Final Cut Pro or Logic Pro on a 2021-era MacBook Pro. It is the wrong buy for workloads needing hardware ray tracing, which Apple only added starting with the M3 generation. Our rating of the Apple M1 Pro 16-Core GPU (6.2/10): the chip that proved Apple Silicon could replace discrete laptop GPUs for creative work; dated next to newer ray-tracing-capable chips but still solid for Metal-native editing.

Frequently asked questions

Do the AMD Instinct MI100 and Apple M1 Pro 16-Core GPU differ on gpu brand?

Yes. GPU Brand reads AMD on the AMD Instinct MI100 versus Apple on the Apple M1 Pro 16-Core GPU.

Specs and benchmarks

  • GPU Brand

    AMD Instinct MI100
    AMD
    Apple M1 Pro 16-Core GPU
    Apple
  • Product Type

    AMD Instinct MI100
    Datacenter Accelerator
    Apple M1 Pro 16-Core GPU
    SoC GPU
  • Series

    AMD Instinct MI100
    Instinct
    Apple M1 Pro 16-Core GPU
    Apple Silicon
  • Tier

    AMD Instinct MI100
    Datacenter
    Apple M1 Pro 16-Core GPU
    Upper Mid-Range
  • Memory Type

    AMD Instinct MI100
    HBM2
    Apple M1 Pro 16-Core GPU
    Unified LPDDR5Best
  • Architecture

    AMD Instinct MI100
    CDNA
    Apple M1 Pro 16-Core GPU
    Apple Silicon
  • Process Node

    AMD Instinct MI100
    TSMC 7nm FinFET
    Apple M1 Pro 16-Core GPU
    5nm (TSMC N5)
  • Memory Bandwidth

    AMD Instinct MI100
    1200 GB/sBest
    Apple M1 Pro 16-Core GPU
    200 GB/s-83%
  • PCIe Generation

    AMD Instinct MI100
    PCIe 4.0
    Apple M1 Pro 16-Core GPU
    Not Applicable

    Which one should you pick?

    Choose AMD Instinct MI100 if you want the higher memory bandwidth (1200 GB/s vs 200 GB/s).

    Choose Apple M1 Pro 16-Core GPU if you already have it on hand or find it at a lower price.

    Verdict

    Apple M1 Pro 16-Core GPU

    6.2 / 10 Expert Rating

    The chip that proved Apple Silicon could replace discrete laptop GPUs for creative work; dated next to newer ray-tracing-capable chips but still solid for Metal-native editing.

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