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>Like, I get that shared memory architectures like a 192GB Mac Ultra are a big deal, but who’s dropping $6,000+ on that setup? AMD strix halo APU will have qua

>Like, I get that shared memory architectures like a 192GB Mac Ultra are a big deal, but who’s dropping $6,000+ on that setup? AMD strix halo APU will have quad channel memory and will launch soon so expect these kinds of setups available for much less. Apple is charging an arm and a leg for memory upgrades, hopefully we get competition soon. From what I saw at CES OEMs are paying attention to this use case as well - hopefully not following suite on RAM markups.

dagmx 2y ago
Unfortunately, Apple’s RAM and Storage upgrade prices are very in line with other class comparable OEMs. I’m sure there’ll be some amount of undercutting but I don’t think it’ll be a huge difference on the RAM side itself.
- rafaelmn 2y ago
  Highly depends on how accessible AMD makes these boards, if a lot of OEMs get it there will be good deals for sure. DDR5 prices are nowhere near Apple markups.
- nyrikki 2y ago
  The upgrade from 8GB to 16GB cost $200...in 2012!!!! The newest Lenovo workstations that use LPDDR5x with 7467MT/s gets you a 16GB jump for the price apple charges for an 8GB. 2:1 isn't "class comparable" IMHO.
sliken 2y ago
Keep in mind the strix halo APU has a 256 bit wide memory bus and the Mac Ultra has a 1024 bit wide memory bus. Here's hoping the Nvidia Digit (GB10 chip) has a 512 bit or 1024 bit wide interface, otherwise the Strix Halo will be the best you can do if you don't get the Mac Ultra.
- rafaelmn 2y ago
  I mean it remains to be seen if it will be compute or bandwidth bound, I am sure mac ultra will also have double or triple compute as well. But in either case its going to do much better than currently available CPUs with easily upgradeable ram. I would not be surprised to see 128gb configurations for around 3k (going of the ASUS g13 announced pricing of arround 2k for 32gb version and them saying it will go up to 128gb). At that point sure it might not compete with max but its at a much more acceptable price point, it will not be a device you get just for the AI, but a mobile workstation that you can also run some local models on for normal money. Will need to wait and see. I know I am not buying anything from ASUS either way.

dagmx 2y ago

Unfortunately, Apple’s RAM and Storage upgrade prices are very in line with other class comparable OEMs. I’m sure there’ll be some amount of undercutting but I don’t think it’ll be a huge difference on the RAM side itself.

rafaelmn 2y ago
Highly depends on how accessible AMD makes these boards, if a lot of OEMs get it there will be good deals for sure. DDR5 prices are nowhere near Apple markups.
nyrikki 2y ago
The upgrade from 8GB to 16GB cost $200...in 2012!!!! The newest Lenovo workstations that use LPDDR5x with 7467MT/s gets you a 16GB jump for the price apple charges for an 8GB. 2:1 isn't "class comparable" IMHO.

sliken 2y ago

Keep in mind the strix halo APU has a 256 bit wide memory bus and the Mac Ultra has a 1024 bit wide memory bus. Here's hoping the Nvidia Digit (GB10 chip) has a 512 bit or 1024 bit wide interface, otherwise the Strix Halo will be the best you can do if you don't get the Mac Ultra.

rafaelmn 2y ago
I mean it remains to be seen if it will be compute or bandwidth bound, I am sure mac ultra will also have double or triple compute as well. But in either case its going to do much better than currently available CPUs with easily upgradeable ram. I would not be surprised to see 128gb configurations for around 3k (going of the ASUS g13 announced pricing of arround 2k for 32gb version and them saying it will go up to 128gb). At that point sure it might not compete with max but its at a much more acceptable price point, it will not be a device you get just for the AI, but a mobile workstation that you can also run some local models on for normal money. Will need to wait and see. I know I am not buying anything from ASUS either way.