The first developer beta of macOS Big Sur 11.4 includes new graphics drivers that permit Intel-based Macs to connect to some GPUs from AMD based on the Navi RDNA2 architecture.
While Intel and the rest of the industry have been in a state of shock since Apple unveiled its M1 laptop chip last month, Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) is not standing still. According to a leaker, the Santa Clara, California-headquartered semiconductor company has two Apple M1 competitor chips in prototype stages that are apparently “almost ready”.
Apple should unveil a new iMac at its upcoming virtual WWDC event that kicks off June 22.
Right now, Macs use Intel processors, but there is a growing suspicion that Apple is starting to make headway into making a change.
Intel and AMD are still two of the most powerful chip companies out there, but it sounds like they have an upstart to keep an eye on.
Apple seeds beta releases of software ahead of a public launch to iron out the kinks, making sure its ready for the public. That pre-release software can also hold other details in the mix, too, like a series of unreleased products from another company altogether.
In addition to refreshing the consumer iMac line this morning with a 2x faster performance via up to six-core Intel Core i9 CPU options and new GPU upgrades (Vega 20 for 21.5-inch models and Vega 48 for 27-inch models), Apple just added some fresh new RAM and GPU options to its iMac Pro all-in-one, which launched in December 2017.
Apple this morning announced an iMac refresh with a 2x performance boost in the CPU department for a wide range of computing tasks, as well as new AMD Vega graphics options.
If you own an Apple computer, especially a modern one, then you’ve probably come to notice how particularly thin these machines have become. Despite that, most Macs still sport internal cooling fans to keep the CPU and GPU temperatures in check.
By default, Apple’s internal cooling fans run as silently as possible for a quiet user experience, but this isn’t without its caveats. Thinner machines like the MacBook Pro are more susceptible to heat soak because the cooling capabilities of such a compact chassis are limited; this is something you’ve undoubtedly felt while the machine sits on your lap during intensive tasks.
The exceptionally scary design flaw in Intel's processors (as well as other manufacturers silicon), that could put nearly all Mac, Windows, and Linux users at risk, appears to have been primarily addressed in the recent macOS 10.13.2 update.
Apple has started to release more orders to AMD for high-end Vega GPUs needed for its upcoming 27-inch iMac Pro all-in-one desktop ahead of its scheduled launch in December.
Following up on a comment from Apple's Phil Schiller regarding upcoming iMacs with pro-grade features, Pike's Universum today shared a few specifics on what said upgrades might entail. Citing a “pretty accurate” source, the blog claims next-gen iMacs will feature Intel's more powerful Xeon E3 chips with up to sixty-four gigabytes of Error-Correcting Code (ECC) RAM, faster flash storage with capacities up to two terabytes, Thunderbolt 3, USB-C and more.