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The article claims Apple would need to keep x86 around indefinitely for the Mac Pro - I'm just saying that makes no sense. Apple would definitely prefer to onl
by reitzensteinm 7y ago
The article claims Apple would need to keep x86 around indefinitely for the Mac Pro - I'm just saying that makes no sense.
Apple would definitely prefer to only use its own chips, but if they're unable to, using ARM Zen from AMD makes a million times more sense than x86 Intel.
I think you may be underestimating Apple's willingness to let the Mac Pro be an ugly duckling. This is a platform that they left stagnant for years after all.
- SkyMarshal 7y ago>but if they're unable to, using ARM Zen from AMD makes a million times more sense than x86 Intel. How do you figure? Transitioning from x86 to ARM would be a major, expensive undertaking. If it's justified at all it would mainly be by Apple gaining control over that part of their stack. I doubt they would make such an effort and investment only to switch from the current third party, Intel, to a different third party, AMD. But otherwise yes they're really not likely to make the transition at all. Given how small a proportion of their overall sales Mac sales are, they're most likely to just leave it on x86 indefinitely.
- reitzensteinm 7y agoI'm speaking specifically about the Mac Pro, which Apple doesn't really care about. I get the sense you think I'm talking about using Zen in their laptops etc. They're not going to build a chip that competes with high end Xeons just to field the new Mac Pro. Given that, in a world where MacBook Pros are powered by A15s, Apple can either cut the Mac Pro, keep it as their only x86 product or put an ARM Zen in it. I'm saying keeping it as x86 will straight up never happen. ARM Zen or cancellation are the plausible options.