A close examination of CPU %, GPU % and Energy Impact measurements in Activity Monitor, compared with reference values, demonstrates their current shortcomings.
GPU
How different parts of a Mac acquired their own memory, such as VRAM, and why Apple silicon chips have unified that, and the limitations that brings.
Which type of CPU cores are most active during Visual Look Up? How their frequencies and active residencies change? How demanding is it?
Why is an M2 Pro or Max preferable to an M1 Pro or Max? Is 8 GB of memory sufficient? Can I extend the internal SSD with an external drive? Can I buy and upgrade?
How macOS can not only regulate CPU cluster frequencies to control power use, but also moves threads to E cores. This reduces power use of over 50 W to less than 13 W.
How Apple silicon CPUs control core frequencies and power use when running in Low Power mode. Includes M4 Pro and M3 Pro data, and estimates of energy requirements.
Apple refers to Energy Modes and Power Modes, and despite older MacBook Pro models offering Low Power mode, tells us that isn’t what Low Power mode is now. Here are the observations and explanations.
The CPU view in Activity Monitor is the starting point for tuning the performance of software. Here are its virtues, and a few vices to beware of when using it.
Is an M4 next week a better risk than the promise of a better model next year? Understand how to select the M4 chip suited to your needs, and specify your new Mac.
Memory, from L1 instruction cache to main memory, and how it came to be Unified. Why the internal SSD isn’t like others, and why it’s so essential.
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