Apple is constantly working on improving the hardware of its computers. That is why they took the step of sheltering Intel and going on to develop their own hardware on Mac. This was called Apple Silicon with a very specific architecture that will undoubtedly be familiar to you. In this article we tell you all the details about Apple Silicon.
What is Apple Silicon?
Apple Silicon is the name given to the line of processing chips that can be installed in Mac computers. They have the characteristic of being designed and manufactured by Apple itself in collaboration with TSMC. These were initially presented at WWDC 2020 for developers who had to change all their proprietary applications in order to adapt to this revolution.
What you should know about its structure
Apple Silicon stands out mainly for having an ARM architecture. Originally, this type of architecture was designed for mobile devices with the aim of not using Intel or AMD. In this way, it was possible to solve problems related to energy consumption and even cooling, which is always a priority issue for any manufacturer. ARM has a much more simplified processing system. These are designed to accept only the instructions that can be accomplished in a single memory cycle. In this way the information is limited but the maximum possible performance is always guaranteed.
In this way Apple has wanted to demonstrate in a clear way that it can surpass the desktop computer processors that have been used in a classic way in recent years. To this architecture is also added a 5 nm design that is characteristic of processors intended for mobile devices. This size also allows for better efficiency and lower energy consumption.
Everything that the M-class chip encompasses
When we talk about Apple Silicon it cannot be limited only to the processor. This is due to the fact that several classic components that exist in the hardware of any Mac computer are integrated within the M-class chip. Specifically, within an Apple Silicon chip we find:
- CPU.
- GPU: Integrated and non-dedicated graphics.
- Neural Engine.
- DRAM.
- Cache.
- Fabric.
All this is integrated thanks to the unified memory that presents the architecture of Apple Silicon. This means that low latency memory and a large bandwidth are integrated in order to have the same set of resources within the same unit. That is why the SoC has access to the same data at the same time without having to copy them into the RAM memories. This makes for incredibly good performance by increasing energy efficiency. This is undoubtedly one of the great benefits that Apple Silicon has with its architecture.
Why they are better than Intel processors
Given the passivity of Intel, Apple has taken this opportunity to begin to be much more innovative. In the studies that have been published obtained from Macs that have Apple Silicon, the improvement that it supposes with respect to the hardware offered by Intel is clearly demonstrated. It is mainly due to the better integration of developing both the hardware and the software at the same time so that they work correctly. These data to which we refer offer returns that exceed a fairly significant doubling. In addition, the task is also facilitated for developers who only work for the Apple ecosystem, since development tools are unified with the arrival of Apple Silicon.
To this are added other important advantages that can be felt at the user level. By having a processor that has an architecture similar to that included in the iPhone or iPad, it allows you to use an endless number of applications. This means that all the apps that you have on your iPhone or iPad and that are not ported to the Mac App Store can be installed and used on your Mac. For example, installing the official Instagram app on your Mac is possible thanks to this processor being one of the advantages it has over Intel in which this was totally unfeasible.
If we talk about architecture, we can find quite important differences. For example x86 processors (from Intel) have a CISC architecture that enjoyed very good performance to perform complex operations. That is why ARM rescues the RISC architecture that both Intel and AMD were ignoring. That is why already at the architectural level we see really important differences that make one processor totally antagonistic to another.
If we continue investigating, we observe differences in their objectives. Specifically, ARM always seeks the balance between consumption and performance through having fewer processing stages. This is achieved with cores that are much slower but well differentiated: some have a high performance and others a low performance, which is known as big.LITTLE . That is why depending on the task to be executed and the necessary resources, one or other processors will be used. This does not happen in Intel processors where speed is always a priority without taking into account the high consumption that it can carry.
Specifically, Intel CPUs can have a consumption that reaches up to 300 watts in load. This is counteracted with ARM that has a consumption that does not exceed 7 watts in personal computers. This means that ARM can afford to have fewer cores in its processors but very fast, than in the end what it will end up seeing in its daily use.
To this we must also add the advantage that Apple has with ARM processors in the economic aspect. By controlling all its production and design, it is possible to have a much lower manufacturing price that ends up significantly affecting the price of the final product that the device has.
Apple’s interest in its own chips
The Cupertino company certainly has a special interest in having absolute control over its hardware. This is something that is transferred to any type of company due to all the advantages that it can bring with regard to logistics and the evolution of this equipment. When you depend on external companies for a component as important as the processor of a Mac, there are the disadvantages of being totally behind the competition and always adjusting the release schedule to these.
By having Apple Silicon that as we have said previously is owned by Apple, this inconvenience is completely eliminated. With this strategy through Apple Silicon you can have absolute control of both its design and its manufacture. In this way Apple can have full control of its schedule of new product presentations as well as the ability to match the software with the hardware. This is something really important in the history of the Cupertino company.
One can take as a clear example the work they do with the chips that are used in the iPhone and that offer optimal performance by having a very good synergy. This also always translates into an improvement in the autonomy of the devices by being able to achieve better energy control.
The downsides of Apple Silicon
But not all are advantages when it comes to talking about the Apple Silicon. To no one’s surprise these types of chips also have significant problems and limitations. The first of these lies in the developers who are forced to make their applications specifically for the ARM architecture. These have a different path to development in processors for example from Intel.
With regard to this, we must also take into account the impossibility of making partitions in a simple way in the storage units. When someone wants to have Windows installed on their Mac to be able to work with applications that are not supported in a normal way. With the chips that have an ARM architecture such as Apple Silicon, Windows cannot be installed in the partition of the storage unit. This is undoubtedly a big problem for many people as there is no compatible version of Windows.
A priori a disadvantage that it has is the impossibility of using software that is only compatible with x86 processors. But the truth is that it already has a solution through the operating system itself. Roseta 2 is integrated, which is a translator of the code of applications that are only compatible with x86 and that are to be used on an x86 processor. In short, it acts as a simple simulator or emulator of these applications so that they can be used. This solves the limitations that may exist in this regard and that would make users not have access to a large number of apps as occurs in previous Intel models.
M chip generations available
In 2020 Apple launched the first of its Apple Silicon chips in order to begin a transition from Intel to its own processors. This was called the M1 chip, giving rise to the M class within Apple’s own chips. This was intended to be integrated into the MacBook Pro, MacBook Air and Mac mini that were released at the end of 2020 after the announcement of the chip at WWDC 2020. A significant generational leap began here and enough time was given to the developers to adapt all their software to these new features.
Models that integrate Apple Silicon
On a temporary basis Apple is updating all its Macs to be able to integrate the new Apple Silicon processors. This is a job that is not immediate, unfortunately and that must be extended for several years in order to have everything ready by the developers.
Macbook pro
This was one of the first Macs to come with the new Apple Silicon chips that the company developed. It had professional features as it could not be otherwise and was definitively presented on November 10, 2020 with the M1 chip. Standing out above all for the power it offered for a much lower price than previous generations.
MacBook Air
One of the most basic computers that the company has, which has also received the M1 chip from Apple Silicon in its renewal on November 10, 2020, giving it the necessary power as well as reduced energy consumption to extend its autonomy as much as possible.
Mac mini
Also presented its first version on November 10, 2020. It was released with the Apple Silicon M1 chip and is one of the cheapest equipment that can be found right now with this new generation chip. It has the peculiarity that you cannot notice the energy consumption in a real way as it does not have a battery, but it does have a higher performance.