It seems AMD 3rd gen Ryzen is out performing Intel CPU in many ways. 3rd gen Threadripper is being preparing to announce in this year.
For the Mac Pro Apple highly likely would not use Ryzen ( the entry to upper end general desktop class product line ). It has a 'checkbox' ECC capability but more than often it is not used or supported at all in real boards. Similar issues with overall bandwidth. The 3rd gen Zen ( Zen being the general microarchtiecture was possible; just not probable. ). 'Zen' is the micro arch. Ryzen ( Threadripper and EPYC ) are product lines.
TB3 was the biggest issue since Ryzen is not able to use TB3.
Technically not true. It is merely a metter of writing the boot firmware and getting certified. AMD didn't want to support ( put in the firmware work and buy Intel TB controllers ) Thunderbolt. That's primarily the block to being an Apple supplier. If Apple wants 'X' in their systems and you don't do ( or extremely deprioritize 'X' ) then not likely going to win any Apple design 'bake offs' to be the supplier.
But now, it seems Intel gave their TB3 technology to USB and DP that everyone can use TB3 performance.
If trying to win an Apple contract that shouldn't have made a difference.
The CPU vendor reference boards, firmware and OS bootstrap support , compiler support , etc. are all areas where Intel has broader reach than AMD. Intel has as many just software folks as AMD has technical staff. What they are implementing makes a difference; it isn't just tech porn benchmark 42 and and done as a selection process. ( Nvidia is outside looking in too. )
Apple has given AMD lots of leash in the GPU space and AMD hasn't always delivered. AMD stumbles on the GPU progression is on reason why Mac Pro 2013 dead ended. The Mac Pro 2019 is going to launch with a 14nm , several year old entry GPU .... ( AMD's Navi needed a big re-tapeout in 2018 and slid much deeper into 2019) . Apple isn't likely going to double bet the farm on that track record.
Unless USB-IF throws a curveball at USB4 specs, most likely Intel's next iteration TB controller will be the best and first to market "USB4' controller out there. So Apple will likely just keep using it. Other stuff may show up in peripherals but as far as computer host controllers it doesn't look like anyone is seriously on track to displace Intel in terms of 'better'.
Intel and Apple did most of the work to get TB weaved into USB-IF. They lead the work on Type-C connector . Have done most of the work on Thunderbolt evolution. AMD didn't do much of any of that.
So my question is... is it still not possible to use Ryzen series on Mac and if not, why cant it be? Business issue? technical issue? software issue? Im very curious about this topic wether Mac gets Intel or AMD.
Business issue : AMD's consistency and ability to deliver at scale. They have gotten lots better over last 2 years but are they going to shoot themselves in the foot again? ( two years ago it would have been much harder to tell which way they would go ). Their CPU track record is better now, but the ground floor playing from "now" to Mac won't bubble out for about 18-24 months.
Software issue: is more a firmware issue. AMD has BIOS fixes rolling out for new Ryzen 3 boards that were suppose to "just work" with the new chips but don't. Windows 10 scheduler 'fixes' to address performance issues. etc. On a "getting better" path but still plugging holes.
In laptop space AMD doesn't have anything for "Zen 3rd iteration" class for a long while yet. ( for outside the Mac Pro space ). Inside the Mac Pro space Threadripper 3 is sliding because the margins on EPYC are just better and that is what AMD needs. So the already years late , Mac Pro would have slid even more?
If Apple is looking to dump Intel in 2020-2021 then AMD is probably a player in the Mac desktop space (and maybe top end laptop space if slide out to 2021 and they gets some more tweaks in). If Apple is on track to splitting the Mac product line up over two different architectures then AMD has a better shot than they have had in a decade to get Mac CPU business. In 2018-2019 products ? No. ( before the 'split' and two years ago AMD didn't have the track record ).
That AMD and Intel are heavily competing most in the 8+ 'big' core space probably will make it hard for Apple to come up with a cost effective solution with their own homegrown solution for desktop and top end laptops. AMD has a chance but it is more than just a couple of tech porn benchmark wins.
