Apple introduces m6 and m5 ultra chips, boosting AI performance on desktops

Apple has officially launched the new Mac Studio and Mac mini models, featuring the M6 and M5 Ultra chips. The M6 represents the company's first chip built using 2-nanometer process technology, with a 12-core CPU, 12-core GPU, and two 16-core neural engines. Performance tests show the M6-powered Mac mini outperforms the M1 version by 13.5 times and the M4 version by 4.8 times in large language model (LLM) prompt processing. The Mac mini (M5 Pro) also delivers impressive results, with LLM prompt processing speeds 8.5 times faster than the M2 Pro and 4 times faster than the M4 Pro. The M5 Ultra, Apple's most powerful chip to date, introduces a groundbreaking 'four-Die' architecture through UltraFusion technology. It offers up to 36-core CPU, 80-core GPU, and a unified memory bandwidth of 1.2TB/s, which is 50% higher than the previous M3 Ultra. These advancements signal a significant shift in desktop computing, enabling local AI processing without heavy reliance on cloud resources. This marks the beginning of a new era for personal computers in edge-side large model computing.