Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Why is Apple moving away from Intel architecture?
- Thread starter OrangeCrush980
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
By moving to their own silicon Apple gains yet more control over the hardware makeup of their Macs. This makes it easier for them to deliver the features they want, on a schedule they can better predict (global pandemics aside), while leveraging proven, performant chips that allow them to further unify their software platforms (something they see as benefitting both developers and end users).
All of these are things Intel was unable to help them with.
All of these are things Intel was unable to help them with.
This is change number 3 that Apple has switched architecture: Motorola -> PowerPC -> Intel, and now their own Silicon. And each time Apple has gained from it. This time will be no different.
Have you been under a rock? There's been significant gain, and very few problems.
To add on, Intel hasn't really kept up with its competitors. While Apple's A# series have gone to sub-10 nm processes while Intel's stuck at ~14 for years now. You could ask why not go to AMD? As others have said, using their own CPUs meaning more control on hardware, meaning better control of software, etc.
Forgot Apple II > Mac. Which was probably the messiest as there was little thought given to compatibility. A IIe compatibility card being made years later to help people transition. I'll just ignore Lisa > Mac.
Lower power, higher performance, control over their own chip design, integration of co-processors etc. Apple were never going to get this with intel.
Apple has quietly scaled up it's own cpus to be as fast or faster than x86 cpus. And they work better in the laptops that are the majority of the Macs sold, better battery life and runs cooler. I think they could have transitioned a couple years ago (the iPad cpus were that good), but they waited until their CPUs are faster than Intels even under emulation. So outside of specialized things, there really isn't any compatibility issues.
The Apple CPUs turn the Macs into more of a computer 'appliance'... which has always been their goal. They've reached a point where anything you want the computer to do 'it just works' you don't have to worry about what CPU it has.
The Apple CPUs turn the Macs into more of a computer 'appliance'... which has always been their goal. They've reached a point where anything you want the computer to do 'it just works' you don't have to worry about what CPU it has.