Understanding Apple Silicon vs. Intel Macs
- Colin McNeil
- A.J. Newman
- Former user (Deleted)
As of November 2020, new Mac computers are made with Apple's custom-built M-series processors. These processors use a different instruction set and are different from the traditional personal computing processors traditionally made by Intel and AMD. This article will outline the changes that are present on the new Apple silicon-based Macs.
Affected devices
No Mac purchased before November 2020 will be affected.
If your Mac was purchased on or after November 2020, you should check to see if your computer has an Apple or Intel processor.
Select the Apple icon in the top left to open the About This Mac section
Under Processor or Chip, check if Intel is listed or if Apple Silicon (M1, M2 Pro, etc.) is listed.
Intel/x86_64 program compatibility
Programs that haven’t been developed for Apple silicon will be launched automatically with Rosetta 2, a translation layer on macOS that converts old programs into the new system. However, this runs slower than if the app supported Apple silicon. For this reason, some apps may start and run more slowly than expected. You should check with the applicable software vendor to make sure an application will work on computers using the new chipset.
Most programs used by many users' daily workflows are now natively supported on Apple silicon.
External display compatibility
Macs with the base variant of the Apple silicon processors (M1 vs. M1 Pro/Ultra/Max) only support one external display. On the 2020 Mac Mini with the Apple M1 chip, you can connect two displays: one via a Thunderbolt port and one via the HDMI port. Pro, Ultra, and Max variants of the processors can support multiple external displays.
Boot Camp compatibility
The new Macs running Apple silicon are NOT compatible with Boot Camp to run Windows.
Virtualization compatibility
Currently, Parallels is the best solution for most users to virtualize ARM-based Windows or Linux. These operating systems are designed for the same architecture as the Apple silicon and will run best on them. It is important to note that most PCs are not “ARM-based” and some programs that are used on Windows may not work perfectly or at all due to the Windows app translation process (like Rosetta 2). Additionally, some Windows administration tools are either not present or not fully functional in Windows on ARM. This includes Active Directory management tools and some PowerShell modules. Users who rely on consistent and dependable Windows access should maintain a traditional Dell laptop running Windows 11 Enterprise.
VMware Fusion is also fully supported on Apple silicon. Oracle VM VirtualBox is in beta for Apple silicon.
Upgradeability
Apple computers using Apple silicon processors cannot have memory (RAM) or integrated storage upgraded.