Apple Computer / Intel 486SX Processor Chip Paperweight (1993)
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Apple Computer paperweight with processor inside
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IBM / Motorola PowerPC processor used in the Apple Power Macintosh 601 computers (1994)
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This section provides additional technical background on the processors and processor architectures used inside Apple Macintosh computers. It follows the major transitions from Motorola 68k, to PowerPC, to Intel x86/x86-64, and finally to Apple silicon.
The main CPU table above provides the chronological reference. The notes below explain the major processor families, architecture changes, and significant Macintosh systems in more detail.
65C02 8-bit CMOS 6502 derivative
65C816 16-bit CMOS successor; 6502-compatible
Apple IIe 6502
Apple IIe Enhanced 65C02
Apple IIc 65C02
Apple IIGS 65C816
The 65C02 was produced by several licensed manufacturers, including WDC (Western Design Center), Synertek, Rockwell, NCR, and GTE Microcircuits.
The Apple IIc is documented with an NCR 65C02.
Individual Enhanced Apple IIe machines can have 65C02 chips from different suppliers, so "Multiple suppliers" is used rather than assigning one manufacturer to every Enhanced IIe.
The original Macintosh generation used Motorola's 68000-family CISC processors. The 68k family powered Macintosh computers through the first major Macintosh processor generation.
68020 — 32-bit CISC
68030 — 32-bit CISC with MMU
68040 — 32-bit CISC with integrated FPU/MMU
Macintosh II 68020
Macintosh IIx / SE/30 68030
Macintosh Quadra 68040
Several Macintosh models offered a second Intel processor for running DOS or Windows-compatible software while retaining a Motorola processor for Macintosh operation.
Macintosh LC 630 DOS Compatible
Macintosh Performa 640 DOS Compatible
The Intel processor handled DOS/Windows-compatible software; the Motorola processor remained the primary Macintosh CPU.
Apple transitioned the Macintosh platform from Motorola 68k processors to the PowerPC RISC architecture through the AIM partnership involving Apple, IBM, and Motorola.
PowerPC 603/604 — Desktop and portable systems
PowerPC 750 — G3 generation
PowerPC 7400 — G4 generation; AltiVec SIMD
PowerPC 970 — G5 generation; 64-bit PowerPC
1997 Power Macintosh G3
1999 Power Mac G4
2003 Power Mac G5
PowerPC 601 + Intel 486DX2
The PowerPC 601 was the primary Macintosh processor. An Intel 486DX2 was installed on the DOS Compatibility Card for running DOS and Windows software.
The Intel processor was an expansion-card processor rather than the primary Macintosh CPU.
Beginning in 2006, Apple transitioned Macintosh computers from PowerPC processors to Intel x86 and x86-64 processors.
Intel Core 2
Intel Core i3 / i5 / i7 / i9
Intel Xeon
Intel processors remained in Macintosh computers until Apple's transition to Apple silicon began in 2020.
Apple silicon represents Apple's transition away from Intel processors to Apple-designed ARM-based systems-on-chip (SoCs). CPU, GPU, memory controllers, Neural Engine, and other functions are integrated into a single chip package.
M1 was the first Apple silicon processor used in Macs. Initial M1 Macs included the MacBook Air, 13-inch MacBook Pro, and Mac mini.
M1 Pro
M1 Max
M1 Ultra
M2 Pro
M2 Max
M2 Ultra
M3 Pro
M3 Max
M3 Ultra
The M3 family introduced Apple's 3-nanometer process technology to the Mac processor generation. M3 Ultra followed in 2025.
M4 Pro
M4 Max
The M4 generation continued Apple's 3-nanometer Apple silicon architecture across consumer and professional Mac systems.
Current Mac Studio note: Apple currently lists M4 Max and M3 Ultra for Mac Studio; there is no M4 Ultra model listed by Apple.
Introduced 2025.
4 super cores
6 efficiency cores
Introduced 2026.
6 super cores
12 performance cores
Introduced 2026.
6 super cores
12 performance cores
M5 Pro and M5 Max use Apple's Fusion Architecture, combining two dies into a single system-on-chip. Apple specifies up to an 18-core CPU, with 6 super cores and 12 performance cores.
The Macintosh processor story can be summarized as four major architecture transitions:
↓
1994–2006 PowerPC
↓
2006–2020 Intel x86 / x86-64
↓
2020–Present Apple Silicon
1984 Macintosh begins with Motorola 68000
1994 Apple begins transition from 68k to PowerPC
2006 Apple transitions Macintosh to Intel processors
2020 Apple begins transition from Intel to Apple silicon
2025 M5 generation begins
2026 M5 Pro / M5 Max introduced
Apple silicon processors are Apple-designed ARM-based systems-on-chip (SoCs), rather than conventional standalone CPUs.
CPU core counts, GPU configurations, memory capacity, and other features vary by chip and Macintosh model.
Apple's Steve Jobs introduces PowerPC & Intel Core CPU's used in Mac computers
Steve Jobs with a Motorola / IBM PowerPC wafer showing CPU chips (2003)
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Apple's Steve Jobs and Intel's Paul Otellini with Intel Core CPU chips on a Silicon wafer at MacWorld (2006)
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