Apple Replaces Last Remaining Intel-Made Component in M2 MacBook Air

[MacRumors]

In the M2 MacBook Air, Apple has replaced an Intel-made component responsible for controlling the USB and Thunderbolt ports with a custom-made controller, meaning the last remnants of Intel are now fully out of the latest Mac.

Earlier this month, the repair website iFixit shared a teardown of the new MacBook Air, revealing a look inside the completely redesigned machine. One subtle detail that went largely unnoticed was that unlike previous Macs, the latest MacBook Air introduces custom-made controllers for the USB and Thunderbolt ports.

iFixit mentioned it in their report, noting they located a "seemingly Apple-made Thunderbolt 3 driver, instead of the Intel chips we're familiar with." The new component was shared on Twitter earlier today, where it received more attention.

Few details are known about the controllers, including whether they're custom-made by Apple or a third party. In May 2021, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reported that Apple planned to "replace the last remaining Intel part with an in-house version. Apple's current M1 Macs still use an Intel component known as a USB Retimer, which helps power the USB-C and Thunderbolt ports on its computer."

Article Link: Apple Replaces Last Remaining Intel-Made Component in M2 MacBook Air

 

[Leon Ze Professional]

Take note: Pat Gelsinger. Their ain't no going back, Apple's business is forever lost to Intel!

 

[exoticSpice]

Interesting. AMD also does not use Intel retimers as well.

 

[darngooddesign]

That's what Intel gets for releasing chump chips instead of innovating.

 

[jonnysods]

No more royalties for Intel - that’s a blow to their bottom line.

 

[tpannier]

Has anyone tried a Thunderbolt speed test on these new M2 devices?

 

[Manzanito]

Take note: Pat Gelsinger. Their ain't no going back, Apple's business is forever lost to Intel!

Nonsense. Businesses don’t work like that, if it makes sense for both companies, they’ll work together in the future.

 

[ph001bi]

Nonsense. Businesses don’t work like that, if it makes sense for both companies, they’ll work together in the future.

Correct, any business goes where it makes the most sense at a given time. There is no such thing as "bad blood" when it comes to business. The exception being Nvidia I suppose.

 

[peteyD]

Nonsense. Businesses don’t work like that, if it makes sense for both companies, they’ll work together in the future.

There is no place on the internet for grown up comments like this.

 

[Shirasaki]

Wonder how the tech world will change should Intel go bust. Ain’t gonna happen in short term of course, and Intel isn’t sitting duck either.

With that being said, now Apple everything in the Mac is fully self-designed, lets See how much jump apple can make on M3.

 

[AppleTO]

Do these M2 machines still have the USB and Thunderbolt bandwidth issues the M1 have?

 

[TVreporter]

Now Apple’s fingers are both all over it inside and out… literally.

 

[bommai]

At my work, we were supposed to buy some intel made FPGAs for our product and there have been big supply chain issues from them. So we switched to another vendor.

 

[AAPLGeek]

Do these M2 machines still have the USB and Thunderbolt bandwidth issues the M1 have?

I hope they have. M1's USB/thunderbolt I/O is laughably gimped.

 

[Nicole1980]

Wonder how the tech world will change should Intel go bust. Ain’t gonna happen in short term of course, and Intel isn’t sitting duck either.

With that being said, now Apple everything in the Mac is fully self-designed, lets See how much jump apple can make on M3.

I actually don't think we'll see big leaps with the Mx architecture anymore. The big transformational change was the M1, so I think now we'll see the same basic 10-20% increases (at best) with each new chip release.

People were always squawking when Intel was only making a 12% increase with any new chip and now we're probably going to see the same pace with Apple's silicon.

Mind you, I'm not saying there's anything wrong with that, and the Mx is fantastic. I just don't think you'll see anything close to the huge jump again like we did from Intel to the M1.

 

[EugW]

Good to know.

When buying USB-C/Thunderbolt peripherals for Macs, it always makes sense to make sure the device is fully compatible with your specific Mac model. However, there are certain model years that are more picky with pre-existing peripherals than others, and I suspect the M2 models could be one of these, because of this chip and driver change.

 

[nt5672]

Wonder how long it will take Apple to get the new chips to work correctly given their current strategy of release for the keynote and make it work later when complaints arise.

 

[ProfessionalFan]

Wonder how long it will take Apple to get the new chips to work correctly given their current strategy of release for the keynote and make it work later when complaints arise.

What's wrong with M2 currently?

 

[huge_apple_fangirl]

Awesome! I was waiting for Apple to do this. Now it’s truly “Apple Inside”.

 

[huge_apple_fangirl]

Take note: Pat Gelsinger. Their ain't no going back, Apple's business is forever lost to Intel!

Nonsense. Businesses don’t work like that, if it makes sense for both companies, they’ll work together in the future.

Yeah I was very skeptical of Apple and Intel getting back together but Intel just got an order from MediaTek, a Taiwanese company that is close to TSMC, so I guess their serious about this foundry business. Maybe there is a small chance Apple uses them at some point too.

 

[the future]

There is no such thing as "bad blood" when it comes to business.

Maybe so, but there definitely is such a thing as „loss of trust“ in business.

 

[repoman27]

To clarify, the Thunderbolt/USB4 host controller and PHY are integrated into the M1/M2 SoC and are based on Synopsys DesignWare IP. The Intel JHL8040R is just a Thunderbolt 4 retimer chip. The M2 version of the 13-inch MacBook Pro also uses the new U09PY3 retimer. iFixit missed that, but competitive analysis firm TechanaLye noticed it and has already opened the chip and reported on their findings.

Nobody has publicly reported whether the U09PY3 is a semi-custom offering from a third party supplier, or if it was developed in-house by Apple. The latter strikes me as unlikely, because it's an odd component to dedicate resources to when third-party solutions are already available from long-time Apple supplier Parade and recent startup Kandou.

 

[albert421]

lol. Intel wanted more device to have thunderbolt. Open the standard up. Now their only major OEM left them.

 

[benedetti]

I actually don't think we'll see big leaps with the Mx architecture anymore. The big transformational change was the M1, so I think now we'll see the same basic 10-20% increases (at best) with each new nznzchip release.(...)

Yep. Apple is a new 'Intel' now.

 

[Blackstick]

Take note: Pat Gelsinger. Their ain't no going back, Apple's business is forever lost to Intel!

Pffft. It's not a marriage, businesses get in bed together when it makes financial sense. You know how many sub-contractors work with both Airbus and Boeing? Despite them being direct competitors...

Apple and Samsung are bitter rivals, but take it from a former Mac Genius, you'd find Samsung-labeled components inside Macs all the time.

These companies aren't football teams, they'll partner up and compete with each other when it makes financial sense to do so.