When comparing the memory bandwidth of the MacBook Pro M4 to the latest Dell XPS models, there are significant differences in both architecture and performance.
MacBook Pro M4
The MacBook Pro M4 series includes several configurations, each with varying levels of memory bandwidth:
- Apple M4 Chip: This base model features a 10-core CPU and a 10-core GPU, with a memory bandwidth of 120GB/s. It supports up to 32GB of unified memory[1][4].
- Apple M4 Pro Chip: This model offers a 12-core CPU (configurable to 14-core) and a 16-core GPU (configurable to 20-core), with a memory bandwidth of 273GB/s[1][5].
- Apple M4 Max Chip: The most powerful configuration includes a 14-core CPU (configurable to 16-core) and a 32-core GPU (configurable to 40-core), with memory bandwidth options of 410GB/s and 546GB/s, respectively[1][5].
Dell XPS Models
The latest Dell XPS models, such as the XPS 15, typically use DDR4 or DDR5 memory, depending on the specific model year and configuration. For example:
- Dell XPS 15 7590: This older model uses DDR4 memory at 2666 MHz, with a maximum capacity of 64GB across two SODIMM slots[2].
- Newer Models: More recent Dell XPS models might use DDR5, which offers higher speeds and potentially better performance, though specific details on memory bandwidth are not provided in the search results.
Comparison
The MacBook Pro M4 series, particularly the M4 Pro and M4 Max configurations, offer significantly higher memory bandwidth compared to typical Dell XPS models. The M4 Pro's 273GB/s and the M4 Max's up to 546GB/s far exceed what is commonly found in Dell XPS laptops, which generally rely on DDR4 or DDR5 memory without such high bandwidth specifications. This makes the MacBook Pro M4 series more suitable for demanding tasks like video editing, 3D modeling, and AI workloads that require high memory bandwidth.
Citations:[1] https://www.apple.com/macbook-pro/specs/
[2] https://www.dell.com/support/manuals/en-us/xps-15-7590-laptop/xps-15-7590-setup-and-specifications/memory?guid=guid-f07064b8-2eb4-49ec-88a8-43b102e42417&lang=en-us
[3] https://nanoreview.net/en/laptop-compare/dell-xps-13-9345-2024-vs-apple-macbook-pro-14-m4-2024
[4] https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2024/10/new-macbook-pro-features-m4-family-of-chips-and-apple-intelligence/
[5] https://support.apple.com/en-us/121553
[6] https://www.dell.com/community/en/conversations/xps-desktops/xps-8940-memory-speed-concern-new-system/647f8fe6f4ccf8a8de109cc4
[7] https://www.digitaltrends.com/computing/apple-macbook-pro-14-max-vs-dell-xps-15/
[8] https://www.tomsguide.com/computing/laptops/macbook-pro-m4-vs-macbook-pro-m3-biggest-upgrades
[9] https://everymac.com/systems/apple/macbook_pro/specs/macbook-pro-m4-pro-14-core-cpu-20-core-gpu-16-2024-specs.html
[10] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dell_XPS
[11] https://everymac.com/systems/apple/macbook_pro/specs/macbook-pro-m4-pro-14-core-cpu-20-core-gpu-14-2024-specs.html
[12] https://www.dell.com/community/en/conversations/xps-desktops/xps-8920-upgraded-16gb-to-64gb-memory-speed-reduced-from-2400-mhz-to-2133-mhz/65f146366f77eb5fca245b90