M5 Ultra vs M6 Chip: Graphics Benchmark Results
▼ Summary
– Early GPU benchmark results for Apple’s M5 Ultra and M6 chips have been released ahead of the Mac Studio and Mac mini launches.
– The M5 Ultra achieved a Metal score of 366,744 on Geekbench 7, representing a 59% increase over the M3 Ultra.
– The M5 Ultra’s OpenCL performance is comparable to that of NVIDIA’s GeForce RTX 4080 graphics card.
– The new M6 chip scored 93,217 in Metal tests, showing a 34% improvement compared to the previous M5 chip.
– A comprehensive ranking lists various Apple silicon chips, with the M5 Ultra leading significantly above models like the M5 Max and M2 Ultra.
Early GPU benchmark results for Apple’s upcoming silicon have emerged, offering a glimpse into the performance capabilities of the new M5 Ultra and M6 chips. These figures arrive just before the official launch of the refreshed Mac Studio and Mac mini, which are scheduled to go on sale this Tuesday. While earlier reports focused on central processing unit metrics, these new data points highlight significant graphical leaps in Apple’s latest lineup.
The standout performer is undoubtedly the M5 Ultra, which has demonstrated a substantial lead over its predecessors. In Geekbench 7 testing, the M5 Ultra achieved a Metal score of 366,744, marking a 59% increase compared to the average score of 230,420 recorded by the M3 Ultra. This generational jump underscores the raw power available in the high-end segment. Furthermore, the chip’s OpenCL performance places it in direct competition with discrete graphics solutions, specifically aligning with the capabilities of NVIDIA’s GeForce RTX 4080. This parity suggests that professional workflows relying on OpenCL standards may see desktop-class performance from these integrated systems.
Performance Hierarchy and Comparisons
For the broader consumer market, the new M6 chip also shows meaningful improvements. Benchmarks indicate that the M6 delivers a Metal score of 93,217, representing a 34% boost over the previous generation M5 chip, which averaged 69,563. This uplift ensures that entry-level and mid-range Macs continue to receive tangible benefits in graphical rendering and gaming compatibility.
The following table illustrates where these new chips sit within the current ecosystem, highlighting the steep performance curve leading up to the M5 Ultra:
| Chip | Metal Score | | :— | :— | | M5 Ultra | 366,744 | | M3 Ultra | 230,420 | | M5 Max | 225,606 | | M2 Ultra | 201,144 | | M4 Max | 189,301 | | M1 Ultra | 150,098 | | M3 Max | 146,550 | | M5 Pro | 130,896 | | M2 Max | 130,091 | | M1 Max | 107,711 | | M4 Pro | 107,354 | | M6 | 93,217 | | M2 Pro | 77,176 | | M3 Pro | 72,637 | | M5 | 69,563 | | M1 Pro | 63,531 | | M4 | 51,818 | | M3 | 46,033 | | M2 | 40,529 | | M1 | 27,277 |
While synthetic benchmarks provide a clear hierarchy of performance, it is crucial to remember that real-world performance will vary depending on specific applications, cooling conditions, and software optimization. Users should expect varying degrees of efficiency gains as developers continue to adapt their software to leverage the new architectural features.
(Source: MacRumors)
