Apple Seeks Custom Processor for Mac

Apple Inc. remains dependent on Intel processors for its computers, but the company plans to end this dependency by developing its own custom processors. Apple intends to use ARM architecture processors for its MacBooks in the coming years, having already adopted these processors in its mobile phones and tablets. The company aims to transition to its custom Mac processors by 2020. If successful, Apple will pose a serious challenge to Intel, potentially disrupting the American company's dominance in processor manufacturing. The first Macintosh was built with a Motorola processor, and in 1994, Apple switched to PowerPC processors as Motorola's 68K processors became outdated. At that time, Apple collaborated with IBM and Motorola to develop a new series of processors based on the PowerPC architecture. However, by 2006, this technology had fallen behind Intel's x86 processors, prompting Apple to switch to Intel. Steve Jobs believed that Apple should own the necessary technologies for its products rather than relying on processors from companies like Intel. In 2008, Apple acquired Palo Alto Semiconductor for $278 million, a company involved in processor manufacturing, which led to the development of custom processors for the iPhone. The A-series processors, resulting from this investment, have become a key differentiator for the iPhone in the hardware market. While many computers were still using Intel's 32-bit processors in 2013, Apple introduced the 64-bit A7 processor for the iPhone 5S. This trajectory has now led Apple to seek to move away from Intel's x86 architecture. ARM is a type of computer processor architecture designed by the British company ARM Holdings, with ARM standing for Advanced RISC Machine. This architecture requires several thousand transistors for the CPU core, while conventional x86 processors require millions. The low energy consumption of ARM-based processors is a significant reason for their widespread use in devices like smartphones and tablets. RISC stands for Reduced Instruction Set Computing, which refers to a CPU design that simplifies instructions to enhance efficiency and speed. In contrast, CISC stands for Complex Instruction Set Computing, the basis for Intel's x86 architecture. Currently, most computers and laptops utilize this method. The original RISC idea was proposed by John Cocke of IBM in 1974, who believed that a computer only needs 20% of instructions, with the remaining 80% being unnecessary. Processors based on this design support fewer instructions, requiring fewer transistors and being less costly to manufacture. ARM processors are built on this concept. However, Apple's challenge in using ARM architecture for its new processors lies in the necessary software changes for its computers.