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My guess is that they are releasing the M1 right now because it's the smallest SoC they're going to make and its yields are just barely enough to be viable. Onc

My guess is that they are releasing the M1 right now because it's the smallest SoC they're going to make and its yields are just barely enough to be viable. Once they get better yields on the 5nm process, they will start making the larger, more yield-sensitive SoCs with more RAM in them.

jeffbee 6y ago
I don't think that makes any sense, considering that the RAM is not on the same die as the processor. It's on the module, yes, but they're not making it on the same process. I realize this image is a schematic representation rather than an actual photograph, but here it is. https://www.apple.com/v/mac/m1/a/images/overview/chip__fffqz3ljssi2_large.jpg https://www.apple.com/v/mac/m1/a/images/overview/chip__fffqz...
- psds2 6y ago
  The point being made is that the processors that they will package with more memory are going to exist on larger dies. When you increase die size you decrease yield so you need to have a mature process.
  - jeffbee 6y ago
    Why does that follow? 4 cores and 32GB makes fine sense.
    - zeusk 6y ago
      It's actually 8 core, 4 big (Fire) and 4 small (Ice)
    - psds2 6y ago
      But why would you offer your i3 with 32GB when you know you are going to make i5 and i7 processors soon? Apple could offer 32GB here but choose to not offer every configuration at every level.
  - scottlamb 6y ago
    > The point being made is that the processors that they will package with more memory are going to exist on larger dies. Are they? I don't think this is how AMD does things—all their desktop and Threadripper processors are constructed out of 8-core chiplets. The higher-core count processors just use more chiplets per package, not necessarily larger dies. If Apple's already putting multiple chiplets on one package (core + RAM), I wonder if they'll use the same approach to scaling.
- a1369209993 6y ago
  > this image is a schematic representation rather than an actual photograph If so, it's a incredibly shitty schematic. 0/10, would flunk any draftsman who turned this in for a class.
zeusk 6y ago
The ram is not on the same chip/die as M1, it's another chip that's put in the same package. Increasing RAM will not affect apple's yields at all since the RAM dies are not made by apple and are not 5nm
- kemiller 6y ago
  Oh, I see. It's still nevertheless likely that stronger chip packages will be bundled with more RAM.

jeffbee 6y ago

I don't think that makes any sense, considering that the RAM is not on the same die as the processor. It's on the module, yes, but they're not making it on the same process. I realize this image is a schematic representation rather than an actual photograph, but here it is. https://www.apple.com/v/mac/m1/a/images/overview/chip__fffqz3ljssi2_large.jpg https://www.apple.com/v/mac/m1/a/images/overview/chip__fffqz...

psds2 6y ago
The point being made is that the processors that they will package with more memory are going to exist on larger dies. When you increase die size you decrease yield so you need to have a mature process.
- jeffbee 6y ago
  Why does that follow? 4 cores and 32GB makes fine sense.
  - zeusk 6y ago
    It's actually 8 core, 4 big (Fire) and 4 small (Ice)
  - psds2 6y ago
    But why would you offer your i3 with 32GB when you know you are going to make i5 and i7 processors soon? Apple could offer 32GB here but choose to not offer every configuration at every level.
- scottlamb 6y ago
  > The point being made is that the processors that they will package with more memory are going to exist on larger dies. Are they? I don't think this is how AMD does things—all their desktop and Threadripper processors are constructed out of 8-core chiplets. The higher-core count processors just use more chiplets per package, not necessarily larger dies. If Apple's already putting multiple chiplets on one package (core + RAM), I wonder if they'll use the same approach to scaling.
a1369209993 6y ago
> this image is a schematic representation rather than an actual photograph If so, it's a incredibly shitty schematic. 0/10, would flunk any draftsman who turned this in for a class.

zeusk 6y ago

The ram is not on the same chip/die as M1, it's another chip that's put in the same package. Increasing RAM will not affect apple's yields at all since the RAM dies are not made by apple and are not 5nm

kemiller 6y ago
Oh, I see. It's still nevertheless likely that stronger chip packages will be bundled with more RAM.