Re:Why Apple ditched PowerPC, and what it says about Apple d...
by bsder on Saturday June 20, 2020 @10:08PM
(#23589144)
> The transition from PowerPC to Intel was about IBM and Motorola not being able to deliver parts.
Actually, it was about nobody wanting to deliver a Northbridge for Apple.
I interviewed at Apple in this timeframe and was stunned that they used Northbridge ASICs with synchronizers everywhere. No clock forwarding to be found.
This kills memory and graphics performance dead.
On top of that the support ASICs were using more power than the CPU!
Once Apple switched to x86, they could use the Northbridge and Southbridge chips that everybody in the universe was using.
Actually, it was about nobody wanting to deliver a Northbridge for Apple.
I interviewed at Apple in this timeframe and was stunned that they used Northbridge ASICs with synchronizers everywhere. No clock forwarding to be found.
This kills memory and graphics performance dead.
On top of that the support ASICs were using more power than the CPU!
Once Apple switched to x86, they could use the Northbridge and Southbridge chips that everybody in the universe was using.