Stupid wide? Pins, memory controllers, and traces (and layers) on motherboards aren't cheap. Apple just decided that the paying memory bandwidth was worth it.

Stupid wide? Pins, memory controllers, and traces (and layers) on motherboards aren't cheap. Apple just decided that the paying memory bandwidth was worth it. Is there some reason why you think the extra memory bandwidth was stupid? Sure it's easy to ask for 1024 bit wide memory bus, but it's not cheap. Done with the traditional x86-64 method you'll need two 280 watt CPUs (a few $k each), on a $1k motherboard, with 24 dimms, a 1kw power supply, ear plugs, and at least $10k. The minimum physical size is going to be substantial since you need two large CPU sockets (6096 pins each), 24 dimm sockets, and of course a substantial number of fans, dimms, and power supply. Even managing airflow over 800 watts or so of chips isn't going to be easy, cheap, or quiet. Because of the above size, cost, noise, and heat it's targeted at enterprise and cloud folks with the related cost, service contract, and sales pipelines. Or you could buy an Apple studio and hide it somewhere, you'll likely not be able to find it by listening for it.