Intel Mac Computers: What Processors are Inside?

Image courtesy of Intel

Apples first Intel Mac computer was released in 2006, which surprised and in some cases stunned its user base. Apple had finally ditched the PowerPC after many years of using it.

Many critics thought that Apple were doomed, and that users would desert Apple in their thousands.

In fact it has been shown to be a very shrewd move on the part of Steve Jobs, Apple's CEO.

By making your Mac compatible with the Windows operating system Apple have managed to attract more users to make the switch from the humble PC to the Mac.

The Intel processor is one of the most important parts of your Mac. It is the heart of your Mac, constantly executing the instructions that allow Mac OS X to really perform at its best.

But what do we actually know about the processors in our Intel Mac computers? Not a lot! Possibly just their names from the Apple marketing information!

This article is intended to be a reference, some of you will find it interesting and some of you would rather stay well clear - that's ok! But it is a fascinating read!

The very first Intel Mac computer had the so called Core Solo or Core Duo processors which were only 32-bit processors.

These have long since been replaced with newer technology.

So lets start, below, by looking at the more modern Intel Core 2 Duo processor.

We will then move onto the more modern Intel Core Processor Family and then take a look at the powerful Intel Xeon processors, both of which are being used in the latest Intel Macs as well as possible future Macs!

Intel Core 2 Duo Processor

The Intel Core 2 Duo processor was released in July 2006 and put Intel firmly back in control of the processor wars against its arch rival AMD.

Intel classed this processor as their third generation processor and it was one of the first true 64-bit processors to be made available.

The first Intel Mac to get this new processor was the iMac, which had already been given the Intel face lift early in 2006 when it first got the Core Duo processor.

Between 2006 and 2009 the whole Mac range was moved over to the Intel Core 2 Duo processor. In fact, due to its power it was still being used in the Mac mini and the MacBook Air right up to the 2011 updates in July.

The technology inside the Core 2 Duo is fascinating. As the name suggests it has two cores, in a single package, which provide the processing capabilities.

Intel Core Processor Family

One thing that is always certain about the computer industry is that things don't stand still for very long. Immediately a product sees the light of day it is history!

The developers move onto the next big step forward in technology, and so the cycle starts all over again.

There is a constant need to improve speed, keep processors cooler, make processors smaller and lighter, save energy and add more features!

The Core 2 Duo although still in use is gradually being phased out by Apple. The latest Intel Mac computers are moving across to the latest Intel processors which are called their Core Processor Family.

As the name suggests the Core Processor Family consists of more than one processor. Infact there are three distinct processor types named the Core i3, Core i5 and the Core i7. So lets have a quick look at each;

Intel Core i3 Processor

The Intel Core i3 processor is very much the entry level processor in the family. It is intended for standard desktop computers where there is no heavy processing required.

The Core i3 is only available as a dual core processor. It has smaller cache sizes than it's parents and only utilises the new Hyperthreading and Smart Cache technology.

It has available clock speeds ranging from 2.5GHz to 3.3GHz.

Intel Core i5 Processor

The Intel Core i5 processor is the starting point for the serious Mac computing experience getting the full range of functionality including;

Dual Core or Quad Core configurations
Hyperthreading technology
Turbo Boost technology
Larger Cache sizes and Smart Cache
Integrated Graphics On-chip

Intel Core i7 Processor

Now we come to the Intel Core i7 processor. The God Father of the family and the reason they are found in the top of the range Macs!

The Core i7 utilises the same technology as the Core i5, but has better Multi-tasking, bigger cache sizes and faster clock speeds.

Click here for a more in-depth overview of the Intel Core Processor Family.

Intel Xeon Processor

Intel Westmere Chip Image courtesy of Intel

The Mac Pro is different to the other Macs. It looks different with it's striking tower case, it doesn't have a regular update cycle and it is not cheap!

The reason for this is that it is intended to be for the discerning professional user.

It has serious power under the hood and is used for tasks requiring a lot of computing power, such as film or video editing with Final Cut Pro or for use as a server.

The last update left the Mac Pro with the option of either Quad-Core, 8-Core or an amazing 12-Cores of processing power.

The processing power is provided by various configurations of the Intel Xeon processor shown below;