Apple Plans to Ditch Intel and Use Custom Mac Chips Starting in 2020

[jinnj]

Super skeptical that this will be a good move. Being able to efficiently run Windows apps in a VM and being able to run Windows games natively is pretty important to me. I really don't want to return to the dark days of PowerPC when barely anything runs on OS X. Yeah, I know this will mean that all the iOS games will be able to run on Macs ... could care less ... I don't really care for those games.

Games on Mac is a very very small market. It's cheaper to buy a crappy i5 Windows machine and play with that or get a console.

Windows is as dead as Intel. It just takes a little time for people to realize.

Funny. Did you read this article? https://stratechery.com/2018/the-end-of-windows/

Not really. Many cameras and printers already work with iOS through Lightning to USB Camera Adapter, Wifi transfer and AirPrint. Apple is pushing a wireless future so by 2020 there'll be even less need for cables for connecting peripherals, hence completely new drivers for wired devices.

Yeah and by 2020 everyone will be complaining about needing USB-C to USB-W(ireless) adapters! LOL

Ummmm my 2006 Mac Pro had 16gb of ram replacing my G5 with 8GB. I think you mean the MacBook Pro had a limit of 4GB( technically6)
Oops. Your right with the iMac. NM
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My Atari had the 6502 where I learned to code in Assembly.
[doublepost=1522721853][/doublepost]I love these trial balloons.

Atari?! Commodore used 6500s as well! (The original fanboy war! Unless you wanna count Pen vs. Pencil)

 

[fpnc]

Not really. Just a little over a year ago, many if not most Apple aficionados still didn't think it's possible. https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...ouchscreen-macs.2040426/page-17#post-24479386
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Couldn't find the MacRumors post where you called it. Would be awesome if you did. I thought I was one of the very first to call it.

I really don't know who may have been first to suggest a switch from Intel to an ARM or an A-series processor. But, I'm pretty sure this discussion has been going on since shortly after the introduction of the original iPhone in 2007, so probably at least one decade. That probably predates any of the above claims about being the "first."

 

[cansuds]

Apple produces new devices by transforming. The old iPhone chips are also using the iPad, Homepod and Apple TV.
That's how money is earned from the garbage.

 

[jjduru]

If they go this direction, I see the following happening:
1) It will be an ARM-based processor. Macbook will have an ipad ARM processor and Macbook Pro will have an actively cooled 15 watt version of generally the same ARM processor.
2) In the first year, Macbook will be ARM only. Macbook Pro will have an intel processor that it will switch on when running x86 apps kind of like how a GPU turns on when using certain programs. I only see this sticking around for a gen or two.
3) Cost will not decrease, except on the very low-end
4) MacOS will just be the same code-base as iOS except a UI layer with mouse/keyboard support. Apps will run on either one seamlessly except the UI will be changed.
5) Every legacy program will be "broken" and have to be reprogrammed for ARM compatibility. Many programs will never be reprogrammed, mostly games and niche apps. Many of the programs that are reprogrammed will not be as fully featured as the ones lost, possibly for years as they catch up.
6) Apple will lock down the ecosystem just like iOS. All app installs must be through the store, and apple takes their 30% cut. Some applications will never be approved that people may otherwise want to install.
7) iPhones still will not have USB C. iMacs will become docking stations for iPhones to turn into a desktop environment and run the keyboard, mouse, and monitor.

It is an interesting move because it's getting to the point where most of their market is in the iOS realm, so why not just convert it all over to iOS and streamline? It solves a lot of problems. On the other hand, this is a very risky move as they have to rely on developers to redo all their apps or risk a very bumpy migration. They also risk having Intel leave them in the dust as to performance, while Intel is already the standard so no risk in keeping the same chips as competitors. I have a very hard time believing that Apple will come up with a Mac Pro-level Xeon processor replacement using ARM...

Really curious to see how it plays out, but definitely not getting another mac if this turns out to be true. I like dual-booting into Windows and Virtualbox too much to give that up.

As much as I dislike what you just said, it sounds more than plausible. Time to exit the apple ecosystem.

 

[killr_b]

"We'll build you a modular Mac Pro"

yay!

"...and then NEVER update it or release upgrades because we're changing architecture."

of course

 

[nutjob]

Not really. Just a little over a year ago, many if not most Apple aficionados still didn't think it's possible. https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...ouchscreen-macs.2040426/page-17#post-24479386
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Couldn't find the MacRumors post where you called it. Would be awesome if you did. I thought I was one of the very first to call it.

Nah, you were very late to the game, I called it months before you: https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...intel-processors.2030589/page-6#post-24262675

 

[duervo]

Atari?! Commodore used 6500s as well! (The original fanboy war! Unless you wanna count Pen vs. Pencil)

That would probably be something like Fire vs. Wheel, or Rock vs. Club.

 

[thewroots]

#Courage

 

[dukebound85]

This would be the single best decision to come out of Apple since Tim took over! I am REALLY hoping this rumor is true!

Why?

 

[bopajuice]

I was beginning to wonder about Apple and some of it's decisions but now I am sure. For me the Mac Mini is relevant. Yet, no updates in FOUR YEARS. Heck most of their stuff is in the "Caution" category or worse on Mac Rumors except for their phones of course. Buggy iOS software, constantly late to the party but expecting their customers to support their "we do it better but it will cost more" attitude. Now we hear about Apple going their own route with processors and support for custom chips, which is code for eco-system lock down. No thanks. Time to move on.

 

[HiRez]

Surprised it took them this long. I thought this project would have started not long after Apple designing their own iPhone chips proved so successful, and would have accelerated after several debacles where Intel couldn't meet their roadmap, and couldn't provide Apple with the specs they desired.

 

[rme]

Why is it impossible for some to grasp this?

Why is it impossible for some to understand that datacenter systems isn't a market apple is aiming for?

 

[scottinlexky]

2020 is about the time i plan on upgrading from this iMac 5K. I think a shiny new Surface Pro Desktop could be in my future based on this info.

 

[nutjob]

I don't agree, it's not that easy and that's not how it's designed. That's why you don't have ARM anything being faster than Intel. Or Microsoft could just make an ARM tablet that runs as fast as the Intel counterpart.

You've got it the wrong way around. Intel can't make a CPU as fast as ARM at low power. Intel uses a lot of silicon which uses more power to implement complicated designs to squeeze out the best performance from a complicated legacy architecture. Intel's advantage has mostly been in having advanced fabrication processes, but it is losing that advantage rapidly.

The reason no-one makes high-performance ARMs is becuase users of that arch are mostly interested in low power usage and don't want to invest in the substantial R&D required to implement high performance features. Unfortunatley for Intel Apple has been doing exactly that with their low power ARMs and are now taking the next step to implement them in laptops with somewhat higher performance and power usage.

We will likely never see them in desktops though becuase Apple makes relatively little money there and it's not worth the effort. Intel chips will probably stay there.

 

[slooksterPSV]

Looks like I'm waiting until 2020 to get my new Mac =) - really excited about this. =D I remember buying the last gen G4 iBook. I was so upset when Intel came out the next year, because that new iBook only lasted about 2 years is all. =/

 

[HiRez]

This may merely be a story to gauge the reaction.

I'm pretty sure this is not the type of move Apple's going to make based on anyone's reaction outside of Apple. But it makes sense from the standpoint of controlling the full stack, which is consistent with one of Apple's core principles since forever.

 

[a.gomez]

Lol!... Lets make Macs even more irrelevant.

 

[slooksterPSV]

Think maybe the Mini will be the first to see this? I’d like to see it with the A11 maybe two A11s 8GB ram and a 256GB ssd standard

 

[unobtainium]

A version of MacOS already runs on ARM-based chips. It's called iOS. It already has an enormous developer community and easy-to-use SDKs. Anyone who didn't think this was the future hasn't been paying attention.

And for those planning to "switch to Windows", keep in mind that Microsoft has Windows on ARM already, and will likewise be moving further in this direction. The future doesn't stand still.

 

[FasterQuieter]

It’s not that long since we thought there would be an Apple Car in 2020. This rumor is way less exciting.

 

[pearvsapple]

This will definitely be the defining lowlight of Tim Cook if this rumor is true. Mac will lose many desktop applications and I highly doubt many developers will waste their time porting their stuff to a platform with a pitiful marketshare, but hey it has those useless iOS apps that Tim Cook love!

 

[SeaFox]

Its an operating system from a small startup called Microsoft. That OS has a tiny marketshare of 90%, so its quite understandable that you never heard of them

You must forgive him. He probably doesn't even know what a computer is.

 

[alien3dx]

if true, i see apple product dying. Is not just about software but compatibility code which might they borrow from BSD . retest retest i don't think it will quick themselves .. Not to forget third party developer need to retest retest all the app.

** hope this is not april fool joke.

 

[rme]

** hope this is not april fool joke.

Sure you do

 

[oldmacs]

remember the days where the architecture was so different that everything had to be "made for Apple" specifically or it didnt work? sounds like you do.

That could be a potential outcome here.

Enjoy using that logitech mouse? TOUGH! must have a PC based one AND a seperate more expensive Apple one. Want to use the same USB printer? TOUGH, must buy the Apple specific compatible list ones


Remember when you couldn't even take a document from one to another? Because Peperidge farms remembers.

Oh, I remember. They were pretty terrible days. I mean Mac OS made it worthwhile, but the relative openness and compatibility of today's Macs make it so much better. My Mac is the ultimate compatibility machine. I can run pretty much every MacOS application and Windows application. Part of how hugely overpaying for a Mac pays off.