MacPro

blastdoor said:

tundraboy said:

I think the market overreacted severely.  If the new programming techniques can match existing LLMs using less advanced chips.  Imagine what can be achieved using cutting edge chips.  It's not as if LLMs have already been perfected.  The last mile of development is usually the most difficult and most expensive.  Maybe cutting edge chips are needed to cross that last mile.

For example, I still don't trust AI generated summaries and shortcuts because they are still too prone to making up stuff.  AI hasn't solved the problem of how does an AI learn to distinguish what's true and not true, right and wrong?  Maybe going from 98% accurate to 99.999% accurate requires the most advanced AI chips, and lots of them.  I'm no expert, I don't know.  In fact nobody knows.

I think the market got it right with respect to Nvidia. Nvidia was vastly over-valued anyway, but the methodological innovations from deepseek seem to make Nvidia's advantages less relevant. In particular, they reduced the need for high speed interconnects across GPUs. They also greatly reduced the cost of inference, which means more inference can be done on devices -- like Apple's -- that have no Nvidia chips. 

The market got it dead wrong with respect to TSMC. This development is good news for TSMC because it means a wider diversity of firms can develop their own silicon for AI and be less dependent on Nvidia. Those firms then become customers of TSMC, cutting Nvidia out. It might even be good news for Intel, though Intel's board seems determined to sink the company.

AAPL actually went up yesterday and the market got that right, too. This is great news for Apple. It validates their approach to on-device computing and their unified memory architecture. It might even mean that they can use their own silicon for all of their AI needs, including training. 

ITGUYINSD said:

You're a fool to support Apple charging $800 for an upgrade from 256GB to 2TB SSD. 

• Apple uses custom NVMe SSDs soldered directly to the motherboard, which are optimized for:

• Performance: Speeds are exceptionally high, typically up to 3.5 GB/s in the Mac Mini.

• Low Latency: Custom controllers ensure faster response times compared to off-the-shelf SSDs.

• Integration: The storage is tightly coupled with the SoC (M2, M2 Pro, M2 Max), providing seamless operation and power efficiency.

• Apple’s storage communicates with the SoC through a custom PCIe interface, reducing bottlenecks.

• Unlike traditional systems where storage operates as a separate component, this tight integration allows for higher sustained throughput and minimal latency.

• Apple designs its storage controllers and firmware to maximize performance, endurance, and reliability. Features include:

• Wear-leveling: Extends the lifespan of the SSD.

• Encryption: All data is hardware-encrypted for security, without performance overhead.

• Error Correction: Ensures data integrity.

• Apple uses high-quality NAND flash with better endurance than many consumer SSDs. This makes the drives more reliable over time, especially under heavy workloads.

Why Solder? The soldered SSDs contribute to:

• Compact Design: Essential for the Mac Mini’s small form factor.

• Speed Optimization: By eliminating removable connectors, Apple minimizes potential signal losses.

• Security: Soldered storage is harder to tamper with, enhancing data security.

 Alternatives for Mac Mini Storage

• For those who find Apple’s storage pricing prohibitive, external storage options are popular:

• Thunderbolt 4/USB 4 SSDs: External SSDs can offer comparable speeds (up to 3 GB/s) at a lower cost.

• RAID Arrays: Users can configure external RAID setups for high-capacity, high-speed storage.

• Downside: These solutions aren’t as seamless or compact as Apple’s internal storage.

Even in the Mac Mini, Apple’s SSDs are not just “off-the-shelf” components:

• They deliver consistent high performance.

• They integrate tightly with the SoC for optimal efficiency.

• They feature enhanced security and reliability.

This is my internal storage on my Mac Studio.