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AMD Instinct MI250 vs Apple M1 Max 32-Core GPU: Comparison
AMD Instinct MI250 vs Apple M1 Max 32-Core GPU memory bandwidth compared
Memory bandwidth is where these two genuinely part company, AMD Instinct MI250 3200 GB/s against Apple M1 Max 32-Core GPU 400 GB/s, a 88% lead for AMD Instinct MI250. Tier is not the same on both, Datacenter on the AMD Instinct MI250 versus High End on the Apple M1 Max 32-Core GPU. Architecture is not the same on both, CDNA2 on the AMD Instinct MI250 versus Apple Silicon on the Apple M1 Max 32-Core GPU. Pcie generation is not the same on both, PCIe 4.0 on the AMD Instinct MI250 versus Not Applicable on the Apple M1 Max 32-Core GPU.
Who each one is for
Buy the AMD Instinct MI250 for buyers comparing AMD's official reference specifications and researching a chip before choosing a board-partner card, though it is not the pick for overclocking-focused enthusiasts (reference clocks only). It is the wrong buy for buyers wanting a specific retail card with cooler and warranty details. it is not built for native Windows gaming or any CUDA-dependent software. It also earns its place with professional video editors still on a 2021-era MacBook Pro doing Final Cut Pro or DaVinci Resolve work. It is not the one for workloads that need hardware-accelerated ray tracing, which Apple didn't add to its GPUs until the M3 generation. Our rating of the Apple M1 Max 32-Core GPU (7.2/10): the GPU that established Apple's professional laptop graphics credibility; still capable for Metal-native creative work today, but lacking the ray tracing and AI acceleration Apple added starting with M3.
Frequently asked questions
Do the AMD Instinct MI250 and Apple M1 Max 32-Core GPU differ on gpu brand?
Yes. GPU Brand reads AMD on the AMD Instinct MI250 versus Apple on the Apple M1 Max 32-Core GPU.
Specs and benchmarks
GPU Brand
- AMD Instinct MI250
- AMD
- Apple M1 Max 32-Core GPU
- Apple
Product Type
- AMD Instinct MI250
- Datacenter Accelerator
- Apple M1 Max 32-Core GPU
- SoC GPU
Series
- AMD Instinct MI250
- Instinct
- Apple M1 Max 32-Core GPU
- Apple Silicon
Tier
- AMD Instinct MI250
- Datacenter
- Apple M1 Max 32-Core GPU
- High End
Memory Type
- AMD Instinct MI250
- HBM2E
- Apple M1 Max 32-Core GPU
- Unified LPDDR5Best
Architecture
- AMD Instinct MI250
- CDNA2
- Apple M1 Max 32-Core GPU
- Apple Silicon
Process Node
- AMD Instinct MI250
- TSMC 6nm FinFET
- Apple M1 Max 32-Core GPU
- 5nm (TSMC N5)
Memory Bandwidth
- AMD Instinct MI250
- 3200 GB/sBest
- Apple M1 Max 32-Core GPU
- 400 GB/s-87%
PCIe Generation
- AMD Instinct MI250
- PCIe 4.0
- Apple M1 Max 32-Core GPU
- Not Applicable
Which one should you pick?
Choose AMD Instinct MI250 if you want the higher memory bandwidth (3200 GB/s vs 400 GB/s).
Choose Apple M1 Max 32-Core GPU if you already have it on hand or find it at a lower price.
Verdict
Apple M1 Max 32-Core GPU
7.2 / 10 Expert Rating
The GPU that established Apple's professional laptop graphics credibility; still capable for Metal-native creative work today, but lacking the ray tracing and AI acceleration Apple added starting with M3.