Apple M1X/M2 and Resolve 17.x for M1

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Ellory Yu

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Apple M1X/M2 and Resolve 17.x for M1

PostThu Sep 23, 2021 4:07 pm

Rumors has it that the upcoming Apple Macbook Pro and Mac Mini will have the M1X chip and silicon architecture. This new chip is touted to have 10 CPU cores (8 performance cores/2 efficiency cores) which is double the number that of the current M1 chip, and 32 (possibly 64) GPU cores. The current M1 chip has 8 GPU cores. It's been said that it will have more RAM as well (16 Gb, 32 Gb, and 64 Gb configuration).

Although everything said are coming off the rumor mills, if this becomes a reality, this could be a big game changer for Resolve 17.x Studio for M1, probably turning a MBP or a Mac Mini that can handle complex workflow. It might require a new version of Resolve too.
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roger.magnusson

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Re: Apple M1X/M2 and Resolve 17.x for M1

PostThu Sep 23, 2021 4:49 pm

Unless there are new features I wouldn't expect an updated Apple silicon chip to require a new Resolve release as it uses the operating system APIs, like Metal. It was only the initial port to the ARM architecture that was required.

For workstation class GPUs, Apple has a long way to go but it will be interesting to see where they position the next chip.
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Andy Mees

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Re: Apple M1X/M2 and Resolve 17.x for M1

PostThu Sep 23, 2021 5:35 pm

Ellory Yu wrote:Rumors has ... new chip is touted ... It's been said ... if this becomes a reality... "game changer" etc
Come on Ellory, you're old enough and wise enough not to get caught up in this surely? I bet you've got a far more important project you should be working on! :)
Let's have a return to the glory days, when press releases for new versions included text like "...with over 300 new features and improvements that professional editors and colorists have asked for."
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Ellory Yu

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Re: Apple M1X/M2 and Resolve 17.x for M1

PostMon Oct 18, 2021 5:43 pm

Andy Mees wrote:
Ellory Yu wrote:Rumors has ... new chip is touted ... It's been said ... if this becomes a reality... "game changer" etc
Come on Ellory, you're old enough and wise enough not to get caught up in this surely? I bet you've got a far more important project you should be working on! :)

Andy, I waited for today to get back to your post and to let you know that the rumors are no longer just that. It actually manifested to be true. :) I'm looking forward to an Apple M1 MAX silicon performance to be my future workstation replacement.

The MBP with the M1 Max is awesome. It's unfortunate they don't have a Mac Mini that sports the new silicon chip. :(
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Andrew Kolakowski

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Re: Apple M1X/M2 and Resolve 17.x for M1

PostMon Oct 18, 2021 6:06 pm

Those new M chips look quite good.
For those working with ProRes who don't use much noise reduction etc there is about no need for any workstation: 30 x 4K and 7x 8K streams decode (also on chip encode as well). Now Apple may actually deserve using 'pro' in name.
Screen with 120Hz with dynamic change to 24Hz may end up be so efficient (also fixed refresh at: 47.95Hz, 48.00Hz, 50.00Hz, 59.94Hz, 60.00Hz is great for video needs)

All of this not cheap though.
Last edited by Andrew Kolakowski on Mon Oct 18, 2021 7:08 pm, edited 2 times in total.
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Andrew Kolakowski

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Re: Apple M1X/M2 and Resolve 17.x for M1

PostMon Oct 18, 2021 6:35 pm

For post work on the go Intel is almost dead.
Last edited by Andrew Kolakowski on Mon Oct 18, 2021 7:05 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Sid Jervis

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Re: Apple M1X/M2 and Resolve 17.x for M1

PostMon Oct 18, 2021 6:58 pm

Ellory Yu wrote: It's unfortunate they don't have a Mac Mini that sports the new silicon chip. :(



YET...
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Andrew Kolakowski

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Re: Apple M1X/M2 and Resolve 17.x for M1

PostMon Oct 18, 2021 7:30 pm

It's time for industry to properly show video content on monitors. Reliable auto switching (hidden to the user) which follows content fps (at least in full screen mode). Some open source tool support this for ages (as long as monitor supports many refresh rates).
In worse case scenario you may have to go to settings and choose correct refresh rate, but at least needed options are there now.
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Ellory Yu

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Re: Apple M1X/M2 and Resolve 17.x for M1

PostMon Oct 18, 2021 8:08 pm

Sid Jervis wrote:
Ellory Yu wrote: It's unfortunate they don't have a Mac Mini that sports the new silicon chip. :(

YET...

I'm not optimistic to see a Mac Mini with an M1 Max chip this year. I was hoping for it because I want to replace my workstation. I hope I am wrong.

The MBP 16" M1 MAX with 10/32 CPU/GPU cores and 64Gb RAM with 1TB is around $3900 + tax. I like the display too and could be accurate for grading without needing a Decklink (or similar). The price sounds reasonable but it still hard on the pocket book. :(
URSA Mini Pro 4.6K G2, Blackmagic Design Pocket Cinema Camera 6K, Panasonic GH5
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Andrew Kolakowski

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Re: Apple M1X/M2 and Resolve 17.x for M1

PostMon Oct 18, 2021 8:13 pm

For many M1 MAX it will be overkill, but for some still not fast enough ( it really depends what you expect and how your projects look like).
It hits pocket even harder outside US :(
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Andy Mees

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Re: Apple M1X/M2 and Resolve 17.x for M1

PostMon Oct 18, 2021 8:43 pm

Ellory Yu wrote:
Andy Mees wrote:
Ellory Yu wrote:Rumors has ... new chip is touted ... It's been said ... if this becomes a reality... "game changer" etc
Come on Ellory, you're old enough and wise enough not to get caught up in this surely? I bet you've got a far more important project you should be working on! :)

Andy, I waited for today to get back to your post...


Ha ha... fair play. :)
Let's have a return to the glory days, when press releases for new versions included text like "...with over 300 new features and improvements that professional editors and colorists have asked for."
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Andrew Kolakowski

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Re: Apple M1X/M2 and Resolve 17.x for M1

PostMon Oct 18, 2021 8:48 pm

Last remanning question is if Apple can really scale this into workstation class CPU. It may not be that easy, but if it happens then they won't get back to Intel quickly (or ever).
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rsf123

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Re: Apple M1X/M2 and Resolve 17.x for M1

PostTue Oct 19, 2021 2:17 am

Here are the benchmarks for the M1 Max.

bmcvb.png
bmcvb.png (95.33 KiB) Viewed 2632 times


Whereas the plain M1 is around:

Single Core: 1,739
Multi-Core: 7,646

There's not a great leap in single core performance.

It must be remembered, this is still an iteration of the M1.

It's similar to comparing the AMD Ryzen 5900X vs 5950X and also 3900X vs 3950X. The former has better single clock speed, while the latter has better multicore speed.

For Davinci Resolve and Fusion, it appears there are some tasks that benefit from higher single core, whereas other tasks benefit from higher multicore.

So far, I have not seen GPU benchmarks for these M1 Pro and M1 Max.
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Krishna Pada

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Re: Apple M1X/M2 and Resolve 17.x for M1

PostTue Oct 19, 2021 6:20 am

Expected a Mac Mini Pro too. Alas!
FILMWALLAH.
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Hendrik Proosa

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Re: Apple M1X/M2 and Resolve 17.x for M1

PostTue Oct 19, 2021 6:42 am

Andrew Kolakowski wrote:Last remanning question is if Apple can really scale this into workstation class CPU. It may not be that easy, but if it happens then they won't get back to Intel quickly (or ever).

They would have to eat up all the efficiency talk to do this. Workstation would also need expandability of ram etc and this means killing the concept of SoC. Unless they redefine workstation as a closed box with cabled peripherials, basically a bigger mac mini. Which would be fine if it powerful enough and if something breaks buying whole new is mkay.
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Andrew Kolakowski

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Re: Apple M1X/M2 and Resolve 17.x for M1

PostTue Oct 19, 2021 2:14 pm

M1 Max based machine is not a high-end workstation for me. It's still quite far from it. RAM amount doesn't define workstation.

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