When comparing the MacBook Pro M4 to the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 in real-world rendering benchmarks, several key points emerge:
1. Blender Performance: The M4 Max GPU in the MacBook Pro shows impressive performance in Blender. It can render scenes significantly faster than previous Apple models and even outperforms some high-end NVIDIA GPUs in certain tests. For instance, the M4 Max is reported to be nearly as fast as an RTX 4090 in some Blender benchmarks, though it's generally positioned between the RTX 4090 and the RTX 4070 Super in overall GPU performance[3][4].
2. Cross-Platform Gaming Benchmarks: In cross-platform gaming benchmarks like Wildlife Extreme, the M4 Max nearly ties with an RTX 4090, showcasing its strong GPU capabilities. However, this performance is not directly comparable to the RTX 4070, which is generally considered mid-range compared to the RTX 4090[3]. The M4 Max is estimated to perform similarly to an RTX 4070 or slightly better in some scenarios[6].
3. General GPU Performance: The M4 Max GPU is about 20% more powerful than the M3 Max, which was comparable to a mobile RTX 4080. This suggests that the M4 Max could perform similarly to an RTX 4070 in many tasks, though it might not match the RTX 4070's performance in all scenarios due to differences in architecture and software optimization[6].
4. Memory and Bandwidth Limitations: While the M4 Max offers impressive GPU performance, it may face limitations in terms of memory bandwidth and VRAM compared to dedicated NVIDIA GPUs like the RTX 4070. This can affect performance in tasks requiring large amounts of video memory or high bandwidth[8].
In summary, the MacBook Pro M4, particularly the M4 Max, demonstrates strong GPU performance that can rival or even surpass some high-end NVIDIA GPUs in specific tasks. However, its overall performance compared to the RTX 4070 depends on the specific application and scenario, with the M4 Max generally being positioned as a strong competitor in the mid-to-high-end GPU range.
Citations:[1] https://fstoppers.com/reviews/review-m4-macbook-pro-real-world-power-practical-refinements-684607
[2] https://gamersnexus.net/gpus/nvidia-geforce-rtx-4070-super-review-benchmarks-vs-rtx-4070-rx-7800-xt-more
[3] https://www.justjosh.tech/articles/m4-macbook-pros-ultimate-review-graphics-creative-tasks
[4] https://www.reddit.com/r/blender/comments/1gnb5k9/blenders_benchmarks_rank_apples_m4_max/
[5] https://www.pugetsystems.com/labs/articles/nvidia-geforce-rtx-40-super-series-content-creation-review/
[6] https://www.reddit.com/r/macgaming/comments/1ggz0iw/m4_max_is_probably_almost_as_powerful_as_an_rtx/
[7] https://www.theverge.com/24319419/apple-macbook-pro-m4-max-pro-review-price-specs
[8] https://www.reddit.com/r/hardware/comments/1983l4u/gamers_nexus_nvidia_geforce_rtx_4070_super_review/