New MacBook Pro Features Smaller Heatsink Due to Supply Chain Issues

The M2 Pro and ‌M2‌ Max MacBook Pro models feature a considerably smaller heatsink due to supply chain issues, teardowns suggest.

macbook pro heatsink design changesTop: M1 Pro logic board with larger heatsink. Bottom: ‌M2‌ Pro logic board with smaller heatsink (via iFixit).

The new ‌MacBook Pro‌'s revised thermal architecture appears to be caused by the reduced overall footprint of the ‌M2‌ Pro and ‌M2‌ Max SoCs inside the device, as noted by iFixit and Max Tech. The ‌M1 Pro‌ and M1 Max ‌MacBook Pro‌ models contained two, large memory modules, but the ‌M2‌ Pro and ‌M2‌ Max ‌MacBook Pro‌ models contain four slimmer memory modules. Even though the ‌M2‌ Pro and ‌M2‌ Max dies are physically larger than those of the ‌M1 Pro‌ and ‌M1 Max‌, the SoCs as a whole take up less space.

macbook pro soc design changesLeft: ‌M1 Pro‌ SoC. Right: ‌M2‌ Pro SoC (via iFixit).

This means that the ‌M2‌ Pro and ‌M2‌ Max ‌MacBook Pro‌ models do not require a heatsink as large as the one used for the previous generation. It is not clear if this significantly impacts thermal efficiency.

The reason for the use of four smaller memory modules appears to be supply chain issues. The entire SoC is mounted on a substrate, so four smaller modules allow Apple to use a smaller substrate, making a saving on materials and reducing complexity as a result. Dylan Patel, Chief Analyst at SemiAnalysis, told iFixit:

ABF substrates were in very short supply when Apple made the design choice. By using four smaller modules rather than two larger ones, they can decrease routing complexity within the substrate from the memory to the SoC, leading to fewer layers on the substrate. This allows them to stretch the limited substrate supply further.

The ‌M2‌ Pro and ‌M2‌ Max deliver up to 20 percent better CPU performance and 30 percent better GPU performance than their predecessors, but since the chips continue to be based on TSMC's 5nm process, some users have noted that Apple may have made thermal tradeoffs in order to deliver improved performance.

Related Roundup: MacBook Pro
Tag: iFixit
Buyer's Guide: MacBook Pro (Neutral)
Related Forum: MacBook Pro

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Top Rated Comments

syklee26 Avatar
28 months ago
Potentially compromised performance at that price? That is unacceptable.
Score: 44 Votes (Like | Disagree)
coffeemilktea Avatar
28 months ago
Guess I'll have to stick to my M1-based MacBook Pro for now. I'm not sure these new, smaller heatsinks can handle my spicy memes and fire mixtapes. ?
Score: 39 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Realityck Avatar
28 months ago
Interesting how they claim its due to supply chain issues.
Score: 33 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Born Again Avatar
28 months ago

Ah, "supply-chain issues", the all-purpose excuse for everything these days.
It’s what I tell my boss when I’m late to work.
Score: 32 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Aenean144 Avatar
28 months ago
That's not a heatsink. That's just the interface block that you are describing. The heat is transferred to the two radiator fins. The fans then blow air across the fins. The radiator fins are the heat sink. At least, that's what I classically think of as the heatsink.

This interface block completely covers the chip. It's fine.
Score: 31 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ThisBougieLife Avatar
28 months ago
Ah, "supply-chain issues", the all-purpose excuse for everything these days.
Score: 26 Votes (Like | Disagree)