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AMD Instinct MI210 vs Apple M2 Max 38-Core GPU: Comparison
AMD Instinct MI210 vs Apple M2 Max 38-Core GPU memory bandwidth compared
On memory bandwidth the spread is 75%, AMD Instinct MI210 1600 GB/s against Apple M2 Max 38-Core GPU 400 GB/s, so AMD Instinct MI210 takes it.
AMD Instinct MI210 vs Apple M2 Max 38-Core GPU: which one fits your build
The AMD Instinct MI210 suits double-precision workloads that don't need MI250X-level throughput, though it is the wrong buy for any desktop or workstation build - compute-only, no display output and maximum-throughput HPC nodes (use MI250X instead). It is equally the pick for HPC and AI deployments in standard PCIe-slot servers without OAM sled support. Take the Apple M2 Max 38-Core GPU for video editors and motion graphics artists working natively in Final Cut Pro or Motion. It also earns its place with 3D rendering and CAD workloads in Metal-accelerated applications that benefit from a large unified memory pool. Avoid it for native Windows PC gaming, where this chip cannot match a comparable discrete laptop GPU's frame rates. Our rating of the AMD Instinct MI210 (7.3/10): A practical, PCIe-slot-friendly way to get CDNA 2 compute into a standard server, useful for smaller HPC and AI deployments, but clearly the entry point of its generation next to the dual-die MI250X and now well behind the MI300 series. Our rating of the Apple M2 Max 38-Core GPU (7.8/10): A genuinely capable professional laptop GPU that has aged well for Metal-native creative work, superseded but not embarrassed by the M3 and M4 Max chips that followed it.
Frequently asked questions
Do the AMD Instinct MI210 and Apple M2 Max 38-Core GPU differ on gpu brand?
Yes. GPU Brand reads AMD on the AMD Instinct MI210 versus Apple on the Apple M2 Max 38-Core GPU.
Is the Ray Tracing Support the same on the AMD Instinct MI210 and Apple M2 Max 38-Core GPU?
It is. Both are listed at No, so it is not a reason to pick one over the other.
Specs and benchmarks
GPU Brand
- AMD Instinct MI210
- AMD
- Apple M2 Max 38-Core GPU
- Apple
Series
- AMD Instinct MI210
- Instinct MI200
- Apple M2 Max 38-Core GPU
- Apple Silicon
Tier
- AMD Instinct MI210
- Datacenter / AI Accelerator
- Apple M2 Max 38-Core GPU
- High End
Memory Type
- AMD Instinct MI210
- HBM2E
- Apple M2 Max 38-Core GPU
- Unified LPDDR5Best
Ray Tracing Support
- AMD Instinct MI210
- No
- Apple M2 Max 38-Core GPU
- No
Architecture
- AMD Instinct MI210
- CDNA 2 (single Graphics Compute Die)
- Apple M2 Max 38-Core GPU
- Apple Silicon
Process Node
- AMD Instinct MI210
- TSMC 6nm
- Apple M2 Max 38-Core GPU
- 5nm enhanced (TSMC N5P)
Memory Bandwidth
- AMD Instinct MI210
- 1600 GB/sBest
- Apple M2 Max 38-Core GPU
- 400 GB/s-75%
PCIe Generation
- AMD Instinct MI210
- PCIe 4.0 x16
- Apple M2 Max 38-Core GPU
- Not Applicable
Which one should you pick?
Choose AMD Instinct MI210 if you want the higher memory bandwidth (1600 GB/s vs 400 GB/s).
Choose Apple M2 Max 38-Core GPU if you already have it on hand or find it at a lower price.
Verdict
AMD Instinct MI210
7.3 / 10 Expert Rating
A practical, PCIe-slot-friendly way to get CDNA 2 compute into a standard server, useful for smaller HPC and AI deployments, but clearly the entry point of its generation next to the dual-die MI250X and now well behind the MI300 series.
Apple M2 Max 38-Core GPU
7.8 / 10 Expert Rating
A genuinely capable professional laptop GPU that has aged well for Metal-native creative work, superseded but not embarrassed by the M3 and M4 Max chips that followed it.