So long as CPUs and GPUs continue to use their own local memory, simply moving data between their memory has become an unwanted overhead. GPUs are now being used for a lot more than just driving the display, and their computing potential for specific types of numeric and other processing is in demand.

There are problems with this architecture, though. Main memory isn’t shared between the CPU and GPU, although ironically more basic designs, such as laptops with simpler graphics, may use main memory rather than the faster chips of a graphics card. This has allowed graphics cards to have less, faster and more expensive memory which is only accessible to the GPU. You can also buy a basic version of that model with little main memory, and upgrade that when you can afford it. It’s eminently upgradeable by the user when you can afford a better graphics card, you can replace the existing one with a faster GPU and more graphics memory. Then there are peripherals like disks, which have their own interface modules, and the display is driven by a separate graphics card. There’s the processor and memory as memory management becomes more complex, the two get a bit more intertwined with a separate or integrated memory management unit. Previous hardware architectures have largely been modular.

This article looks briefly at what this means, its consequences, and where the M1 and its successors are taking hardware design. How much RAM and storage did you go for when buying your Mac Studio? Let us know in the comments section below.One of the major new hardware features of Apple Silicon Macs, including those launched on 10 November, is that they use “unified memory”. It's neither convenient nor budget-friendly, but that's the way Apple operates. If you've already bought a Mac Studio and really need the extra memory, your only choice would be selling your current machine and buying another one with upgraded specifications. So if you believe you will need more memory than that included in the entry-level models, you have to select that during your purchase - not after. The company allows users to choose the RAM and storage configurations when they're buying a Mac. So you're stuck with the configuration you initially went for.īut what about users who need more memory on their Macs? Apple caters for different budgets and needs with its diverse Mac lineup. Apple doesn't make these parts accessible to users. If you've bought a Mac Studio, you can upgrade neither the RAM nor the storage on it. SCROLL TO CONTINUE WITH CONTENT Can a user upgrade the RAM and storage on their Mac Studio?

M1 mac mini memory upgrade