We already know that Apple’s hard at work developing its own ARM-based processors for the next generation of Macs, and now we have an insight into the company’s plans for its graphics processors.
A report in the China Times/The Commercial Times (it’s the same report) includes details about Apple’s new ARM CPUs and the accompanying GPUs.
Apparently the same A14X processor, with its integrated GPU (codenamed Tonga), will be used for the new 12in MacBook and iPad.
According to the report it’s being produced using TSMC’s 5nm process.
The iMac, when it gains a Silicon processor at some point in 2021, will feature a GPU know by the codename Lifuka. (Lifuka is an island that is part of the Kingdom of Tonga in Polynesia).
We already suspected that Apple would be parting ways with AMD, who previously provided discrete GPUs for some Macs. This report confirms Apple has: “cancelled support for AMD GPUs in the macOS Arm 64-bit operating system.” [However, in January 2021 AMD CEO spoke about how AMD will continue to work with Apple].
The report states that “The new GPU will provide better performance per watt and higher computing performance.”
It also explains that it Apple’s new GPUs will use tile-based deferred rendering technology that allows application developers to write more powerful professional application software and game software – Apple has already confirmed as much in documentation for developers.
Announcing the move to Silicon, Apple set expectations high – claiming that we can expect “higher performance GPUs” inside the new Apple Silicon Macs.
The company also said the transition will lead to more powerful games on the Mac – which is quite a claim since the Mac has long been considered inadequate for gaming. We discuss this, and Apple’s Tile Based Deferred Rendering (TBDR) architecture which will be more efficient than current methods, in this article: Intel vs Apple Silicon.
Update: The new M1 Macs with Apple’s Silicon processors will not support eGPU – read more here: M1 Macs will not support eGPU.
Read more about the M1 chip here: How good is Apple’s M1 chip really?
Find out more about Apple’s plans to move to Silicon processors (aka ARM) and about how Apple’s Silicon plans threaten Intel and AMD
Author: Karen Haslam, Editor
Macworld editor since 2008, Karen has worked on both sides of the Apple divide, clocking up a number of years at Apple's PR agency prior to joining Macworld two decades ago.
Karen's career highlights include interviewing Apple's Steve Wozniak and discussing Steve Jobs’ legacy on the BBC. Her focus is Mac, but she lives and breathes Apple.