Apple–Intel architecture: Difference between revisions
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{{Otheruses4|the [[CPU design|architecture]] of Intel-based Apple computers|the [[Apple Inc.|Apple]]’s transition from [[PowerPC]] to [[Intel Corporation|Intel]] processors|Apple Intel transition}} |
{{Otheruses4|the [[CPU design|architecture]] of Intel-based Apple computers|the [[Apple Inc.|Apple]]’s transition from [[PowerPC]] to [[Intel Corporation|Intel]] processors|Apple Intel transition}} |
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The '''Apple-Intel architecture''' is |
The '''Apple-Intel architecture''' is an unoffical name used for [[Apple Macintosh]] [[personal computer]]s developed and manufactured by [[Apple Computer]] that use [[Intel]] [[x86]] processors, rather than the [[PowerPC]] and <!-- Pre-PowerPC -->[[68k]] processors used in their predecessors. |
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==Running operating systems other than Mac OS X== |
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{{main|Boot Camp (software)}} |
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[[Image:Mac mini Intel Core.jpg|right|thumb|250px|Intel Mac Core (Mac Mini)]] |
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On [[April 5]] [[2006]] Apple made available for download a public [[Development stage#Beta|beta]] version of [[Boot Camp (software)|Boot Camp]], a collection of technologies which allows users of Intel based Macs to boot [[Windows XP]] Service Pack 2.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/4880022.stm Apple makes Macs run Windows XP]</ref> On [[March 28]], [[2007]], [http://www.apple.com/macosx/bootcamp Boot Camp 1.2 Beta] was released which supports [[Windows Vista]]. The final version of Boot Camp is included in [[Mac OS X v10.5]], "Leopard". |
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[[Linux]] can also be booted with Boot Camp.<ref name=linuxonmac>[http://www.mactel-linux.org/wiki/Main_Page Mactel Linux]</ref> |
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Prior to Boot Camp, which provides most hardware drivers for Windows XP, drivers for XP were very difficult to find. |
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Being able to boot between multiple [[operating system]]s has the following benefits: |
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* Being able to choose the user's preferred system and its interface. |
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* Being able to use more software by being able to run programs designed only for Windows, which would likely be faster than [[emulation]] or a [[compatibility layer]]. |
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* Being able to use software that is designed only for, works faster on, or is more intuitive on one OS. |
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* Being able to make transitions between operating systems easier by using the same familiar hardware. |
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* Being able to use an Apple-Intel computer to provide support for both systems using the same hardware. |
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* Being able to test applications across different operating systems without having to invest in twice as much hardware, or to test files/documents between different platform-specific software suites. |
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==Technologies== |
==Technologies== |
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Apple uses a subset of the standard [[PC_System_Design_Guide||standard PC architecture]], which provides support for Mac OS X and limited support for other operating systems. Hardware and firmware components that must be supported to run an operating system on Apple-Intel hardware are listed below. |
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===Extensible Firmware Interface=== |
===Extensible Firmware Interface=== |
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{{main|Extensible Firmware Interface}} |
{{main|Extensible Firmware Interface}} |
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'''Extensible Firmware Interface''' (EFI) is the firmware-based replacement for the PC [[BIOS]] from Intel. Designed by Intel, it was chosen by Apple to replace [[Open Firmware]], used on [[PowerPC]] architectures. Since older Microsoft operating systems, such as Windows XP and early versions Windows Vista are incompatible with EFI, Apple released a firmware upgrade with a compatibility support module that provides traditional BIOS support on their [[Boot Camp (software)|Boot Camp]] product. |
'''Extensible Firmware Interface''' (EFI) is the firmware-based replacement for the PC [[BIOS]] from Intel. Designed by Intel, it was chosen by Apple to replace [[Open Firmware]], used on [[PowerPC]] architectures. Since older Microsoft operating systems, such as Windows XP and early versions Windows Vista are incompatible with EFI, Apple released a firmware upgrade with a compatibility support module that provides some traditional BIOS support on their [[Boot Camp (software)|Boot Camp]] product. |
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===GUID Partition Table=== |
===GUID Partition Table=== |
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'''GUID Partition Table''' (GPT) is a standard for the layout of the partition table on a physical hard disk. It is a part of the Extensible Firmware Interface (EFI) standard proposed by Intel as a substitute for the more common PC BIOS. The GPT replaces the Master Boot Record (MBR) used with BIOS. |
'''GUID Partition Table''' (GPT) is a standard for the layout of the partition table on a physical hard disk. It is a part of the Extensible Firmware Interface (EFI) standard proposed by Intel as a substitute for the more common PC BIOS. The GPT replaces the Master Boot Record (MBR) used with BIOS. |
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===Trusted Platform Module=== |
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{{main|Trusted Platform Module}} |
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A '''Trusted Platform Module''' (TPM) is a [[microcontroller]] that stores secured information. It was thought that Intel Macintoshes use the chip to prevent [[Mac OS X]] from running on non-Apple [[Personal Computer|PC]]s.{{Dubious|date=March 2008}} However, Amit Singh has claimed that the TPM is not used by Apple and is in fact absent from recent Intel Apple computers [http://www.osxbook.com/book/bonus/chapter10/tpm/]. TPM technology is considered controversial by some users due to its presumed role in future [[Digital Rights Management|DRM]] technologies, but to date Apple seems to have chosen not to implement its functions. |
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===Dont Steal Mac OS X.kext=== |
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'''Dont Steal Mac OS X.kext''' is a file present in Intel-capable versions of the [[Mac OS X]] [[Operating System]] requesting that users of Mac OS X not "[[copyright infringement|steal]]" it. Currently the extension is only included with the version of OS X that runs on the [[Intel Core]] processor family and is located at /System/Library/Extensions on the volume containing the operating system.<ref name="softpedia">{{cite web | url=http://news.softpedia.com/news/Don-t-Steal-Mac-OS-X-16276.shtml | title=Don't Steal Mac OS X! | author=Victor Mihailescu | date=[[January 13]], [[2006]] | work=Softpedia | accessdate=2007-01-17}}</ref> The extension contains a kernel function called <tt>page_transform()</tt> which performs [[Advanced Encryption Standard|AES]] decryption of "apple-protected" programs. A Mac OS X system which is missing this extension, or a system where the extension has determined it's not running on Apple hardware, will be missing this decryption capability, and as a result will not be able to run the Apple-restricted binaries <tt>Dock</tt>, <tt>Finder</tt>, <tt>loginwindow</tt>, <tt>SystemUIServer</tt>, <tt>mds</tt>, <tt>ATSServer</tt>, <tt>translate</tt>, or <tt>translated</tt>.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.osxbook.com/book/bonus/chapter7/binaryprotection/ |author=Amit Singh |title=Understanding Apple's Binary Protection in Mac OS X}}</ref> |
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==Virtualization== |
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<!-- Deleted image removed: [[Image:Core2duomac.jpg|250px|thumb|The Intel Core 2 Duo processor logo designed for Apple Macs with the processor.]] --> |
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The [[Intel Core Duo]], [[Core 2 Duo]], and [[Xeon]] [[processors]] found in Intel Macs support Intel's [[Virtualization Technology|VT-X]] technology, which allows for high performance (near native) [[native virtualization|virtualization]], which gives the user the ability to run and switch between two or more operating systems simultaneously, rather than having to dual-boot and run only one operating system at a time. |
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The first software to take advantage of this technology was [[Parallels Desktop for Mac]], which was released in June 2006. [[VMware]] offers a similar product, called [[VMware Fusion|Fusion]], which was released August 2007. There are many subtle differences between the two products; however, regardless of the product used, there are always likely to be some limitations and inconveniences of using a virtualised guest OS, versus the native solution offered by Boot Camp. Therefore the best choice depends on the circumstances. Though, both Parallels and VMware's virtualization products allow users to use native (boot camp installations) of Windows XP or Windows Vista in a virtualised mode while running OS X. |
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==See also== |
==See also== |
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Revision as of 05:49, 20 August 2008
| Mac transition to Intel processors |
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The Apple-Intel architecture is an unoffical name used for Apple Macintosh personal computers developed and manufactured by Apple Computer that use Intel x86 processors, rather than the PowerPC and 68k processors used in their predecessors.
Technologies
Apple uses a subset of the standard |standard PC architecture, which provides support for Mac OS X and limited support for other operating systems. Hardware and firmware components that must be supported to run an operating system on Apple-Intel hardware are listed below.
Extensible Firmware Interface
Extensible Firmware Interface (EFI) is the firmware-based replacement for the PC BIOS from Intel. Designed by Intel, it was chosen by Apple to replace Open Firmware, used on PowerPC architectures. Since older Microsoft operating systems, such as Windows XP and early versions Windows Vista are incompatible with EFI, Apple released a firmware upgrade with a compatibility support module that provides some traditional BIOS support on their Boot Camp product.
GUID Partition Table
GUID Partition Table (GPT) is a standard for the layout of the partition table on a physical hard disk. It is a part of the Extensible Firmware Interface (EFI) standard proposed by Intel as a substitute for the more common PC BIOS. The GPT replaces the Master Boot Record (MBR) used with BIOS.
See also
Notes