Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
What's the problem with recompiling? The 64 bit that I'm writing would most likely compile and run on a 64 bit ARM processor without any changes.

That would be true for some apps but others would require code changes. And some older apps may never get that update. Even the ones that do, it could be months if not years. No question it's not a simple jump to make especially considering the potential benefit so far.
 
And you guys call me crazy when I said the Macbook Air is destined to use the Apple ARM.

Ha !!

:p

Yes!

Actually I was one of the "crazy" ones who thought it wasn't unreasonable.

But I didn't think it was coming this fast. The A8X seems like it's pretty much a legit low-end MBA SOC right now.
 
The writing is on the wall

Let's check the Geekbench 3 scores for the iPad Air 2

ipad_air_2_geekbench_multi.jpg



And now let's compare them to the Geekbench 3 scores for the stock high-end model of the 2014 Mac mini

macmini2014.png



What these scores mean:
  • a single A8X core clocked at 1.5GHz scores a 1492.
  • a single i5 hyperthread clocked at 2.8GHz scores a 1537.

With these kinds of numbers, it's only going to take a year or two before Apple starts using their Ax CPUs in Macs.
 
If it will be 10x faster, then what? iOS devices can't replace OS X devices. It's not about performance, it's about software possibilities. Just compare iOS and OS X sizes. You just can't take app from desktop OS and use it with your fingers. Relax, your Macs were, are and will be more powerful even with more poor benchmark results.
 
Last edited:
If it will be 10x faster, then what? iOS devices can't replace OS X devices. It's not about performance, it's about software possibilities. Just compare iOS and OS X sizes. You just can't take app from desktop OS and use it with your fingers. Relax, your Macs was, are and will be more powerful even with more poor benchmark results.

Umm, you're not helping yourself and you did not dispute his point. You basically confirmed it is all about software that determines the difference between ARM and Intel x86 CPUs, not the hardware.

I can assure you without a doubt that Apple can build ARM CPUs to go into their Macs. OS X can be recompiled and the core of OS X has already been recompiled for ARM, alas iOS. Apple can recompile the rest of the stack to run on ARM.

The only problem with using ARM chips in Macs is that it prevents users from being able to use Windows since there is no consumer ARM version of Windows you can buy as far as I can tell.

Keep in mind that the A* series of CPU is designed to be as efficent as possible and in a power-constraint design. The Macs does not require this, give Apple 10 more watt, and that CPU can explode in performance.
 
I have ordered mine and being delivered tomorrow. Can't wait!
What real usage examples do you know of where more ram and extra processor will improve performance?

I'm not knocking it, just wondered what people thought. I use iMovie a lot so hoping video export time should be reduced dramatically.
 
Love to see a list of apps that push this platform.

----------

A8X and 2 GB of RAM : ok ! CAN WE HAVE SPLIT-SCREEN MULTITASKING NOW ?

Hell no! The Microsoft Surface split screen is buggy as all hell and prone to crashes. I bet somewhere deep in the Loop, this is running with not much success.
 
I have ordered mine and being delivered tomorrow. Can't wait!
What real usage examples do you know of where more ram and extra processor will improve performance?

I'm not knocking it, just wondered what people thought. I use iMovie a lot so hoping video export time should be reduced dramatically.
I use filmic pro and pinnacle studio can wait to seethe difference between the air and air2
 
Last edited:
I do not get these numbers. Does the nexus have a 1.6 core!!?

It's a combination quad core/dual core chipset. Likely not all cores run simultaneously ever so it gives a somewhat wonky single/multi core comparison.

That's just my guess though. I initially thought the same thing, but the K-1 is not the average chipset.
 
The issue isn't lack of power, it's that apps wouldn't run unless they were all recompiled. And mac developers won't go for that.

Recompiling for a new CPU is rarely a big deal, like it used to be.

Actually recompiling by itself was never a big deal, but historically there was a lot of unavoidable additional baggage.

Apple, in particular, has virtually eliminated this baggage, making supporting a new CPU a minor update (in most cases -- and usually these days, if supporting a new architecture isn't easy, you've probably done some really screwed up things as a developer).
 
So I guess this thread from yesterday was correct.

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/1805148/

In any case, this blows the Tegra K-1 in the Nexus 9 out of the water.

The K-1 actually scored higher in the single core performance- around 1900 in the 32 bit test (the 64 bit performance will be higher). But it's dual core so the 32 bit multi-core performance was measured at around 3200.

One thing to consider and probably the reason behind K-1 higher score is the faster clock rate (2.5GHz vs 1.5 for the A8X). The downside to this plus the fact the K-1 is using the less efficient 28nm die size, is that it will throttle much earlier. The A8X is probably built around a more stable performance hence the much lower clock speed (plus the 20nm die shrink).
 
The only problem with using ARM chips in Macs is that it prevents users from being able to use Windows since there is no consumer ARM version of Windows you can buy as far as I can tell.
Consumers don't need Windows, they need software from it. Most software can be recompiled, but think about games. Nobody will recompile them. What to do? ARM<->x86<->Wine<->WinAPI?
 
More CPU performance than my MacBook Pro mid-2010, 2.4 Ghz, 4GB

Interesting times ahead, I guess!

Imagine at least 4 core (A9X or A9Mac) with bigger cache, at least 2.4 Ghz, at least 4 GB Ram (LPDDR4), PCIe storage support, Thunderbolt - Displayport - USB 3.1 Type C, Custom Apple - Imagination (desktop suitable GPU) ===

ARM Based OS X Machine ===

= And here we GO!

Something like an iPad Pro 12" perhaps :) ?

Keep in mind that the A* series of CPU is designed to be as efficent as possible and in a power-constraint design. The Macs does not require this, give Apple 10 more watt, and that CPU can explode in performance.

except macbook air?
 
Finally.

Wish they would've given it to us 6 buyers, but I understand the iPad technically would need it before the phone.

May get this thing now.
 
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.