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AMD Instinct MI250 vs Apple M2 Max 38-Core GPU: Comparison
AMD Instinct MI250 vs Apple M2 Max 38-Core GPU: the memory bandwidth difference
On memory bandwidth the spread is 88%, AMD Instinct MI250 3200 GB/s against Apple M2 Max 38-Core GPU 400 GB/s, so AMD Instinct MI250 takes it. Tier is not the same on both, Datacenter on the AMD Instinct MI250 versus High End on the Apple M2 Max 38-Core GPU. Architecture is not the same on both, CDNA2 on the AMD Instinct MI250 versus Apple Silicon on the Apple M2 Max 38-Core GPU. Pcie generation is not the same on both, PCIe 4.0 on the AMD Instinct MI250 versus Not Applicable on the Apple M2 Max 38-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). Avoid it for buyers wanting a specific retail card with cooler and warranty details. Take the Apple M2 Max 38-Core GPU for video editors and motion graphics artists working natively in Final Cut Pro or Motion. The same goes for 3D rendering and CAD workloads in Metal-accelerated applications that benefit from a large unified memory pool. It is not the one for native Windows PC gaming, where this chip cannot match a comparable discrete laptop GPU's frame rates. 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38-Core GPU (7.8/10): A genuinely capable professional laptop GPU that has aged well for Metal-native creative work, superseded but not embarrassed by the M3 and M4 Max chips that followed it.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 MI250 and Apple M2 Max 38-Core GPU differ on gpu brand?
Yes. GPU Brand reads AMD on the AMD Instinct MI250 versus Apple on the Apple M2 Max 38-Core GPU.
Specs and benchmarks
GPU Brand
- AMD Instinct MI250
- AMD
- Apple M2 Max 38-Core GPU
- Apple
Product Type
- AMD Instinct MI250
- Datacenter Accelerator
- Apple M2 Max 38-Core GPU
- SoC GPU
Series
- AMD Instinct MI250
- Instinct
- Apple M2 Max 38-Core GPU
- Apple Silicon
Tier
- AMD Instinct MI250
- Datacenter
- Apple M2 Max 38-Core GPU
- High End
Memory Type
- AMD Instinct MI250
- HBM2E
- Apple M2 Max 38-Core GPU
- Unified LPDDR5Best
Architecture
- AMD Instinct MI250
- CDNA2
- Apple M2 Max 38-Core GPU
- Apple Silicon
Process Node
- AMD Instinct MI250
- TSMC 6nm FinFET
- Apple M2 Max 38-Core GPU
- 5nm enhanced (TSMC N5P)
Memory Bandwidth
- AMD Instinct MI250
- 3200 GB/sBest
- Apple M2 Max 38-Core GPU
- 400 GB/s-87%
PCIe Generation
- AMD Instinct MI250
- PCIe 4.0
- Apple M2 Max 38-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 M2 Max 38-Core GPU if you already have it on hand or find it at a lower price.
Verdict
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.