Apple M1
![]() Apple M1 chip | |
General information | |
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Launched | November 10, 2020[1] |
Designed by | Apple Inc. |
Common manufacturer | |
Product code | APL1102[2] |
Performance | |
Max. CPU clock rate | 3.2 GHz[1] |
Cache | |
L1 cache | 192+128 KB per core (performance cores) 128+64 KB per core (efficient cores) |
L2 cache | 12 MB (performance cores) 4 MB (efficient cores) |
Architecture and classification | |
Application | Desktop (Mac Mini, iMac), Notebook (MacBook family), Tablet (iPad Pro) |
Technology node | 5 nm |
Microarchitecture | "Firestorm" and "Icestorm"[1] |
Instruction set | ARMv8.4-A |
Physical specifications | |
Transistors |
|
Cores |
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GPU | Apple-designed integrated graphics (up to 8 cores) |
Products, models, variants | |
Variant | |
History | |
Predecessors | Intel Core and Apple T2 chip (Mac) Apple A12Z Bionic (iPad Pro) |
Mac transition to Apple silicon |
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The Apple M1 is an ARM-based system on a chip (SoC). It was designed by Apple Inc. as a central processing unit (CPU) and graphics processing unit (GPU) for its Macintosh computers and iPad Pro tablets.[3] It also marks the first major change to the instruction set used by Macintosh computers since Apple switched Macs from PowerPC to Intel in 2006. Apple claims that it has the world's fastest CPU core "in low power silicon" and the world's best CPU performance per watt.[3][4]
Larger versions of the same underlying technology were released in 2021 as the Apple M1 Pro and M1 Max. These differ largely in size and the number of functional units, whereas the original M1 has about 16 billion transistors, the largest M1 Max has 57 billion.
In addition to Apple's own operating systems, macOS and iPadOS, initial support for the M1 SoC in the Linux kernel was released on June 27, 2021, with version 5.13.[5]
Development path
In October 2020, Apple began trial production of Apple M1 and conducted related tests.[citation needed]
On November 11, 2020, Apple M1 was officially released.[6]
Design
CPU
The M1 has four high-performance "Firestorm" and four energy-efficient "Icestorm" cores, providing a hybrid configuration similar to ARM DynamIQ and Intel's Lakefield and Alder Lake processors.[7] This combination allows power-use optimizations not possible with previous Apple–Intel architecture devices. Apple claims the energy-efficient cores use one-tenth the power of the high-performance ones.[8] The high-performance cores have an unusually large[9] 192 KB of L1 instruction cache and 128 KB of L1 data cache and share a 12 MB L2 cache; the energy-efficient cores have a 128 KB L1 instruction cache, 64 KB L1 data cache, and a shared 4 MB L2 cache. The SoC also has a 16MB System Level Cache shared by the GPU.
GPU
The M1 integrates an Apple-designed eight-core (seven in some base models) graphics processing unit (GPU). Each GPU core is split into 16 Execution Units, which each contain eight Arithmetic Logic Units (ALUs). In total, the M1 GPU contains up to 128 Execution units or 1024 ALUs,[10] which Apple says can execute up to 24,576 threads simultaneously and which have a maximum floating point (FP32) performance of 2.6 TFLOPs.[7][11]
Other features
The M1 uses 4,266 MT/s LPDDR4X SDRAM[12] in a unified memory configuration shared by all the components of the processor. The SoC and RAM chips are mounted together in a system-in-a-package design. 8 GB and 16 GB configurations are available.
The M1 contains dedicated neural network hardware in a 16-core Neural Engine, capable of executing 11 trillion operations per second.[7] Other components include an image signal processor (ISP), an NVMe storage controller, Thunderbolt 4 controllers, and a Secure Enclave.
Supported codecs include H264 and H265 (8/10bit, up to 4:4:4), VP9, and JPEG.[citation needed]
Performance and efficiency
The M1 recorded competitive performance and efficiency in popular benchmarks (Geekbench 5, Cinebench R23).[13]
The 2020 M1-equipped Mac mini draws 7 watts when idle and 39 watts at maximum load,[14] compared with 20 watts idle and 122 watts maximum load for the 2018, 6-core Intel i7 Mac mini.[15] The energy efficiency of the M1 doubles the battery life of M1-based MacBooks from the previous Intel-based MacBooks.[citation needed]
The MacBook Air (M1, 2020) and MacBook Pro (M1, 2020) are considered to be the fastest MacBooks produced by Apple,[16] while also causing the resale value of Intel MacBooks to drop sharply.[17]
Gallery
Products that use the Apple M1
- MacBook Air (M1, 2020) - base model has 7-core GPU[18]
- Mac Mini (M1, 2020)[19]
- MacBook Pro (13-inch, M1, 2020)[20]
- iMac (24-inch, M1, 2021) - base model has 7-core GPU[21]
- iPad Pro, 11-inch (5th generation)[22]
- iPad Pro, 12.9-inch (5th generation)[22]
Issues
USB power delivery bricking
After its release, some users who charged M1 devices through USB-C hubs reported bricking their device.[23] The devices that are reported to cause this issue were third party USB-C hubs and non-Thunderbolt docks (excluding Apple's own dongle).[23] Apple handled this issue by replacing the logic board and by telling its customers not to charge through those hubs.[citation needed] macOS Big Sur 11.2.2 includes a fix to prevent 2019 or later MacBook Pro models and 2020 or later MacBook Air models from being damaged by certain third-party USB-C hubs and docks.[24][25]
Hardware errata
The M1 chip has errata given the name "M1RACLES". Two sandboxed applications can exchange data without the system's knowledge by using an unintentionally writable processor register as a covert channel, violating the security model and constituting a minor vulnerability. It was discovered by Héctor Martín Cantero.[26]
See also
References
- ^ a b c Frumusanu, Andrei (November 17, 2020), The 2020 Mac Mini Unleashed: Putting Apple Silicon M1 To The Test, archived from the original on 2021-02-01, retrieved 2020-11-18
- ^ [Teardown] Late 2020 Mac mini: Apple Silicon M1, Thunderbolt..., archived from the original on 2020-12-02, retrieved 2020-11-18
- ^ a b "The Apple M1 is the first ARM-based chipset for Macs with the fastest CPU cores and top iGPU". GSMArena.com. Archived from the original on 2021-01-25. Retrieved 2020-11-11.
- ^ Sohail, Omar (2020-11-10). "Apple's 5nm M1 Chip Is the First for ARM-Based Macs - Boasts 2x More Performance Than Latest Laptop CPU, Uses One-Fourth the Power". Wccftech. Archived from the original on 2021-01-26. Retrieved 2020-11-11.
- ^ Adorno, José (2021-06-28). "Linux Kernel 5.13 officially launches with support for M1 Macs". 9to5Mac. Retrieved 2021-06-29.
- ^ "Apple unleashes M1". Apple Newsroom. Retrieved 2021-11-07.
- ^ a b c "Apple M1 Chip". Apple.com. Apple. Archived from the original on 10 November 2020. Retrieved 11 November 2020.
- ^ "Here's what the future of Apple silicon Macs look like". iMore. 2020-11-10. Archived from the original on 2020-12-07. Retrieved 2020-12-05.
- ^ "Apple Announces The Apple Silicon M1: Ditching x86 - What to Expect, Based on A14: Apple's Humongous CPU Microarchitecture". AnandTech. 2020-11-10. Retrieved 2021-07-15.
- ^ Frumusanu, Andrei. "The 2020 Mac Mini Unleashed: Putting Apple Silicon M1 To The Test". www.anandtech.com. Archived from the original on 2021-02-01. Retrieved 2021-01-30.
- ^ Kingsley-Hughes, Adrian (10 Nov 2020). "Apple Silicon M1 chip: Here's what we know". ZDnet. Red Ventures. Retrieved 1 July 2021.
- ^ "M1 MacBook Air & Pro - EXCLUSIVE Apple Interview! | The Tech Chap - YouTube". www.youtube.com. Archived from the original on 2020-11-13. Retrieved 2020-11-14.
- ^ Antoniadis, Anastasios (November 21, 2020). "Apple M1 Benchmarks Are Here – Apple Delivered Performance and Efficiency". Borderpolar. Archived from the original on December 28, 2020. Retrieved January 6, 2021.
- ^ "Mac mini power consumption and thermal output (BTU) information". Apple Support. Retrieved 2021-08-08.
- ^ Lovejoy, Ben (January 28, 2021). "M1 Mac mini power consumption and thermal output figures highlight Apple Silicon efficiency". 9To5Mac. Retrieved May 14, 2021.
- ^ Cunningham, Andrew (December 18, 2020). "The Best MacBooks". The New York Times. Archived from the original on January 21, 2021. Retrieved January 6, 2021.
- ^ "The Mac price crash of 2021". ZDNet. 2021-02-25. Archived from the original on 2021-03-01. Retrieved 2021-03-01.
- ^ "MacBook Air (M1, 2020) - Technical Specifications". support.apple.com. Archived from the original on 2020-11-11. Retrieved 2020-11-13.
- ^ "Mac mini (M1, 2020) - Technical specifications". support.apple.com. Archived from the original on 2020-11-11. Retrieved 2020-11-13.
- ^ "MacBook Pro (13-inch, M1, 2020) - Technical Specifications". support.apple.com. Archived from the original on 2020-11-11. Retrieved 2020-11-13.
- ^ "iMac features all-new design in vibrant colors, M1 chip, and 4.5K Retina display". Apple Newsroom. Archived from the original on 2021-04-20. Retrieved 2021-04-20.
- ^ a b "iPad Pro - Technical Specifications". Apple. Archived from the original on 2019-01-04. Retrieved 2021-04-21.
- ^ a b "M1 MacBook Air won't power on". MacRumors Forums. Archived from the original on 2021-01-12. Retrieved 2021-02-26.
- ^ Miller, Chance (February 25, 2021). "macOS Big Sur 11.2.2 released with fix for using MacBooks with 'non-compliant' USB-C hubs". 9to5Mac. Archived from the original on February 25, 2021. Retrieved February 26, 2021.
- ^ "What's new in the updates for macOS Big Sur". Apple Support. February 25, 2021. macOS Big Sur 11.2.2. Archived from the original on February 26, 2021. Retrieved February 26, 2021.
- ^ Goodin, Dan (30 May 2021). "Apple's M1 Chip Has a Fascinating Flaw". Wired. Condé Nast. Retrieved 1 July 2021.