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An 8 GB Mac is not a 16 GB with defective RAM; it literally only has 8 GB. The RAM is separate dies and Apple presumably buys known good DRAM so the yield isn't their problem.

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Both the memory controllers and RAM on the Mx are on die components. The number of controllers (binned) count here. I should have been more specific in what I was saying.

"The 14-core M3 Max only enables 24 out of the 32 controllers, therefore it has 300 GB/sec vs. the 400 GB/sec for all models of the M1 and M2 Max, while the 16-core M3 Max has the same 400 GB/sec as the prior M1 and M2 Max models."

The DRAM is not on die.

Okay, in looking at tear downs I agree. The point about the on die memory controller is still valid. Cheers!

FWIW, almost every x86 computer made in the past 10 years has an on-die memory controller. The only exception is a handful of decade-old machines with "Northbridge" chips inside.

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