​Apple Computer / Intel 486SX Processor Chip Paperweight (1993)

  History of CPU processor chips used in Apple Computers

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​1976 to Present

                   What processors did Apple Computer use in their computers?

From the mid 1980's to mid 1990's the two largest personal computer manufacturers, IBM and Apple, had different approaches to their microprocessor suppliers, with IBM favoring Intel processors while Apple used Motorola processors.    

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                      CPU's used in early Apple Computers:
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• Apple I                           MOS 6502                              8-bit                           1976 

 

• Apple II                          MOS / Synertek 6502             8-bit                           1977

 

• Apple III                         Synertek 6502A                      8-bit                           1980

 

• Apple Lisa                     Motorola 68000                      32-bit                         1983

 

• Apple IIc                        Motorola 65C02                      8-bit                           1984    

 

• Apple Macintosh          Motorola 68000                      32-bit                          1984

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IBM / Motorola PowerPC processor used in the Apple Power Macintosh 601 computers (1994)

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    Evolution of processors used inside Apple Mac Computers:
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• Motorola 68x CISC series - 68000,68020, 68030 & 68040 processors    1984 to 1994

     (original Macintosh used Motorola 68000 CPU,  Macintosh II used Motorola 68020, & Macintosh Portable used Motorola 68000)

• Motorola 68LC040 processor + Intel 486SX processor                                         1993

    (this dual processor design was offered in a few Macintosh models, including the Macintosh Quadra 610 DOS computer, Macintosh LC 630 DOS Computer, and Macintosh Performa 640 DOS computer. It could be switched to run either IBM DOS, or MAC OS operating systems and software. These were the first line of Apple computers to come from the factory with an Intel CPU inside.)
 

• AIM - Apple / IBM / Motorola (Freescale)  PowerPC RISC processors   1994 to 2006

        (used in all Mac desktop & laptops)

• AIM / Intel  PowerPC 601 RISC processor + Intel 486 DX2 x86 processor            1994

        (this unique dual-processor system from Apple was used exclusively in one model, the Power Macintosh 6100/ 66 DOS desktop computer. The Intel processor was installed in the Macintosh via an expansion card.) 
 

• Intel Core & XEON x86 processors                                                                     2006 to 2020

     (Apple's project to transition away from Motorola processors to Intel processors in all their desktop and laptops, code named "Marklar")
 

• Apple M1 / TSMC ARM SoC processor                                                                          2020 to now

      (The new M1 processors were the first in Apple's transition from using Intel processors to their own in-house designed processors, initially offered in low-end Mac's: MacBook Air, 13-inch MacBook Pro, Mac mini)
 

• Apple M1 PRO / M1 MAX  / TSMC ARM SoC processor                                2021 to now

     (The new M1 PRO and M1 MAX SoC chips were initially offered by Apple for use exclusively in their high-end Macs, like the MacBook Pro)    


                
 


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Apple Computer paperweight with processor inside

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​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)

Apple's Steve Jobs and Intel's Paul Otellini with Intel Core CPU chips on a Silicon wafer at MacWorld (2006)

Related:             Integrated Circuits             Apple Computer Collectibles & Memorabilia

Silicon Wafers
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