So, the big bang I was hoping for was the possibility that Apple’s M5 Pro/Max Fusion Architecture* would result in the ability to special order a Studio with M5 Max CPU with M5 Ultra GPU, for example. (*Split die manufacturing for CPU & GPU clusters, that are fused together afterward, creating the final unified Apple Silicon design).
Instead, we see the four tiers of M5 Studio: two M5 Max (binned and non-binned), two M5 Ultras (binned and non-binned). The “binned” chips being those with lower core counts.
At least for now, it would appear the M5 Fusion system is just being used to reduce cost (?) and size of the dies. This is a benefit in manufacturing, to be sure. If a CPU chip run results in a lower-core yield, a GPU chip run is not relegated to the “binned” (lower core cound) pile along with it, as it would be if they were created together (as was the case in all previous M-series chips including the base M5).
Additionally, the base M6 reportedly will be the only run of that design. Apple will instead create Pro/Max (and presumably Ultra) for the M7 line.
I wonder if Apple will ever offer a custom (mix-n-match) Fusion option in their high-end Macs?