Apple M3 Max: 16-Core CPU and 40-Core GPU

The Apple M3 Max was released in October 2023 as the highest-end processor in the M3 family. In its maximum configuration, it features a 16-core CPU with 12 performance cores and 4 efficiency cores, a 40-core GPU, 92 billion transistors, and support for up to 128 GB of unified memory with 400 GB/s of bandwidth.

This page examines the M3 Max version with 16 CPU cores and 40 GPU cores. The lower-end configuration with a 14-core CPU and 30-core GPU is covered separately.

Architecture and CPU

The main CPU change compared with the M2 Max is the increase in the number of performance cores from 8 to 12. The total core count increased from 12 to 16, while the number of efficiency cores remained unchanged at four.

The additional performance cores had a particularly strong effect on multi-threaded performance. In Cinebench R23, the MacBook Pro 16 with the M3 Max scores about 24,024 points, compared with 14,767 for the M2 Max model. This is an increase of approximately 63%. The Single-Core score rose from 1625 to 1968 points, an increase of about 21%.

Performance in Specific Devices

In Geekbench 6, the M3 Max outperforms the M2 Max by approximately 11% in Single-Core and 39% in Multi-Core.

The 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models with the same 16-core M3 Max produce nearly identical results in short CPU tests. The difference appears under sustained full load: the larger MacBook Pro 16 chassis is better at maintaining maximum performance.

In Cinebench 2024, the MacBook Pro 16 scores about 1612 points in Multi-Core, while the MacBook Pro 14 scores about 1532. Single-Core results are virtually identical, at approximately 139-140 points.

The M4 Max later increased performance again. In Cinebench R23, its advantage over the M3 Max is approximately 12% in Single-Core and 15% in Multi-Core.

40-Core Graphics

The full version of the M3 Max features a 40-core GPU based on an architecture new to the Apple Silicon family. It introduced Dynamic Caching, hardware-accelerated ray tracing, and mesh shading support.

Graphics Tests

In Geekbench Metal, the M3 Max with its 40-core GPU outperforms the 38-core M2 Max by approximately 15%. In Blender, rendering time is reduced from about 51 seconds to 30-32 seconds.

The 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models with the same 40-core GPU produce similar results. There is no noticeable difference between the chassis in these short tests.

The GPU received a smaller speed increase than the CPU, but the M3 added hardware-accelerated ray tracing, Dynamic Caching, and mesh shading.

Memory

Memory bandwidth on the full M3 Max remained at the M2 Max level-up to 400 GB/s. At the same time, the maximum amount of unified memory increased from 96 to 128 GB.

The CPU and GPU share a common memory pool, allowing the graphics subsystem to work with large amounts of data without dedicated video memory. The 128 GB capacity is especially useful when rendering complex scenes and editing high-resolution video.

Conclusion

The CPU saw the largest improvement over the M2 Max. Increasing the number of performance cores from 8 to 12 raised the Cinebench R23 Multi-Core score by approximately 63%, while the Geekbench 6 Multi-Core score increased by about 39%.

The GPU received a more moderate speed increase: in Geekbench Metal, its advantage over the 38-core M2 Max is approximately 15%. At the same time, the M3 Max added Dynamic Caching, mesh shading, and hardware-accelerated ray tracing.