According to informed sources, the future of Apple Silicon processors for the next two generations is all mapped out and Intel may pay the price.
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Computer hardware is something that changes rapidly. As early as the late 1960s, Dr. Grodon E. Moore predicted that every two years the number of transistors in a microprocessor would double. In 2021, what is called “Moore’s Law” is still relevant, but is reaching its limit. The crisis affecting components, prolonged because of the lack of skilled labor, does not help manufacturers to pursue innovation and the next manufacturing processes are lagging behind.
According to a report by The Information, Apple has already finalized the second generation of its Mac processors and is actively working with TSMC to have the third generation manufactured with the 3nm process.
A new postponed process
Apple and TSMC face the same problem as Samsung, manufacturing in 3nm will have to be postponed again for a year. The iPhone 14 will therefore not benefit from a new generation of processor and will embed technology equivalent to its two predecessors, a first in the history of the brand.
As for the Mac, Apple has prepared a second generation of chips, made with a 5nm process like the M1, M1 Pro and M1 Max, but in an improved version. Performance would be improved, but not as much as if they had been able to immediately benefit from the new process..
For devices with more space, such as Mac Pros, Apple plans to use two dies instead of one. A radical solution to increase performance, but which requires too much space for mobile devices.
Outstanding performance
Each change in manufacturing process irreparably brings a leap in performance. With the possibility of engraving more and more finely, manufacturers manage to create more and more powerful chips while keeping a small footprint.
As for manufacturing in 3nm, Apple plans to be able to build chips offering up to 4 dies of 10 cores each, enough to make a new leap in performance. According to the report, the new chips would be, when released, “far more powerful than anything Intel can offer the general public.” “
If this part of the report holds true, it could greatly upset Intel, which boasted of being able to have a better gaming experience than 100% of MacBooks and which is now seeking to regain favor with Apple, either as a processor supplier for Macs. , or as a manufacturer for Silicon chips.
Source : Arstechnica
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