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AMD Instinct MI250 vs Apple M1 Pro 16-Core GPU: Comparison
AMD Instinct MI250 vs Apple M1 Pro 16-Core GPU memory bandwidth compared
On memory bandwidth the spread is 94%, AMD Instinct MI250 3200 GB/s against Apple M1 Pro 16-Core GPU 200 GB/s, so AMD Instinct MI250 takes it. Architecture is not the same on both, CDNA2 on the AMD Instinct MI250 versus Apple Silicon on the Apple M1 Pro 16-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 Pro 16-Core GPU.
Which should you buy, AMD Instinct MI250 or Apple M1 Pro 16-Core GPU?
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 the wrong buy for overclocking-focused enthusiasts (reference clocks only). It is the wrong buy for buyers wanting a specific retail card with cooler and warranty details. The Apple M1 Pro 16-Core GPU is the one to take for photographers and designers using Metal-accelerated Lightroom or Photoshop workflows, though it is not built for native Windows gaming or CUDA-dependent professional software. It also earns its place with video editors and podcasters running Final Cut Pro or Logic Pro on a 2021-era MacBook Pro. Avoid it 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 MI250 and Apple M1 Pro 16-Core GPU differ on gpu brand?
Yes. GPU Brand reads AMD on the AMD Instinct MI250 versus Apple on the Apple M1 Pro 16-Core GPU.
Specs and benchmarks
GPU Brand
- AMD Instinct MI250
- AMD
- Apple M1 Pro 16-Core GPU
- Apple
Product Type
- AMD Instinct MI250
- Datacenter Accelerator
- Apple M1 Pro 16-Core GPU
- SoC GPU
Series
- AMD Instinct MI250
- Instinct
- Apple M1 Pro 16-Core GPU
- Apple Silicon
Tier
- AMD Instinct MI250
- Datacenter
- Apple M1 Pro 16-Core GPU
- Upper Mid-Range
Memory Type
- AMD Instinct MI250
- HBM2E
- Apple M1 Pro 16-Core GPU
- Unified LPDDR5Best
Architecture
- AMD Instinct MI250
- CDNA2
- Apple M1 Pro 16-Core GPU
- Apple Silicon
Process Node
- AMD Instinct MI250
- TSMC 6nm FinFET
- Apple M1 Pro 16-Core GPU
- 5nm (TSMC N5)
Memory Bandwidth
- AMD Instinct MI250
- 3200 GB/sBest
- Apple M1 Pro 16-Core GPU
- 200 GB/s-94%
PCIe Generation
- AMD Instinct MI250
- PCIe 4.0
- Apple M1 Pro 16-Core GPU
- Not Applicable
Which one should you pick?
Choose AMD Instinct MI250 if you want the higher memory bandwidth (3200 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.