WHAT’ S SO SPECIAL ABOUT APPLE’ SM 1?

When Apple’s M1 processor was unveiled last year it caused a sensation, delivering performance far beyond what analysts had expected from an ARM-based chip. In some benchmarks it put high-end Core i7 and even Core i9 desktop systems to shame, while maintaining astounding energy efficiency – we found the M1-powered MacBook Pro ran for more than 17 hours on a single battery charge.

How was this achieved? The M1 uses eight ARM cores running at up to 3.2GHz, which Apple partners with a slew of custom on-chip modules, to accelerate tasks like image and video processing, mathematical transformations, encryption and even machine learning, all using Apple’s “neural engine”. The pairing of ARM efficiency with x86-type specialisms and extensions delivers the best of both worlds.

The M1 benefits from a unique memory structure too. Rather than using external memory modules, the entire provision of system RAM is built into the CPU package. This means you can’t upgrade it; once you’ve picked an 8GB or 16GB model, you’re stuck with it. But it keeps the system’s power consumption down, and slashes the wait time involved in accessing system memory.

Additional benefits are achieved through the M1’s unified memory architecture, which allows all parts of the CPU (including the sound and graphics subsystems) to share access to the pool of RAM. Data-intensive applications such as video production get a real responsiveness boost, with little of the stuttering and struggling that can plague x86 systems.

Since Apple owns both the silicon and the software platform, it’s even been able to direct the design of the chip to fit the needs of the operating system. Most notably, the M1 includes bespoke translation hardware that accelerates the emulation of x86 code – meaning it can run older software written for Intel-based Macs with almost no slowdown. It’s easy to see why this remarkable new chip has persuaded a fair few Windows die-hards to dip their toes into the Mac world.