Macs and Intel - Was it a good choice?

[Saladinos]

Yes, it was a great move. Intel machines are much faster, and the increased compatibility with Windows is a great boost. The fast move to 64-bit has also given Apple a massive advantage over Microsoft.

AMD just aren't cutting it any more. Their prices have only recently been significantly lower than Intel's, and that's because it's only recently that Intel have been dominating in terms of performance. AMD can't compete on the performance basis, so they're forced to try and price themselves back in to the game. If it were the other way around, Intel would be the cheaper firm.

Intel also have vastly superior resources than AMD, which allows them to do things like repackage the Core2 for the MacBook Air (which was a test product. After it's success, Intel broadened availability to over manufacturers).

Larrabee also looks like a promising move. Of course, as a result of the switch, it will be well supported by OSX and OpenCL.

As far as the future of the Mac goes (technology advancements), the switch to Intel was the best move Apple have made in a long time. It gave them incredible room to innovate and expand the technology in OSX. Just wait for the Snow Leopard benchmarks if you don't believe me.

 

[edesignuk]

The 1st Gen Air was an Atom processor.

No, it wasn't. It was a slightly customised something or other, but it wasn't an Atom.

 

[kainjow]

Look at Paralells. No one heard of them before Apple switched. Now they're huge. Running Windows on the Mac is probably the #1 best thing that has come from the switch.

First was 68k -> PPC, then OS 9 -> OS X, and then PPC -> Intel. What next?

 

[iObama]

No, it wasn't. It was a slightly customised something or other, but it wasn't an Atom.

It was an ULV Merom-based Core 2 Duo. Can't remember if it was 65nm or 45nm, but I'm leaning towards 65.

 

[PowerFullMac]

Intel processors are better than PPC ones.

What shortcomings are there on Intel processors, by the way?

 

[yoyo5280]

Build quality seems worse since intel...just a thought.

 

[nick9191]

It was an ULV Merom-based Core 2 Duo. Can't remember if it was 65nm or 45nm, but I'm leaning towards 65.

It was a 65nm custom Core 2 Duo. Technically the new processor is the same chip shrunk to 45nm, but since a lot of companies are using it now, its not custom anymore.

Intel processors are better than PPC ones.

What shortcomings are there on Intel processors, by the way?

No there not, the latest Power 6 chips blow Intel through the roof. Apple moved to Intel because of power consumption, and to attract Windows switchers. IBM had no incentive to try and cram their heavy weight server processors into a Powerbook, which is why we never had a Powerbook G5.

Oh, and also to keep Hollywood happy by supporting Hardware DRM I'm guessing, another great Intel move.

Its a constant battle for speed between Intel and AMD. Don't worry AMD will be back on top before you know it, and when they are Apple wont be hanging around with Intel.

 

[PowerFullMac]

From what I hear, though, AMD components are very unreliable.

 

[slooksterPSV]

From what I hear, though, AMD components are very unreliable.

I know how people can have seen a lot of that. An AMD go out before an Intel or vice versa, it really does vary. I'll be honest, I've only seen certain kinds of machines go out because of the quality of parts used in it (e.g. PCChips motherboards & eMachines).

In what I've seen, I've had a Duron 1.1 GHz out perform a Celeron 2.5 GHz; granted, you have to take into account L1 & L2 Cache, FSB, etc.:
Duron - 128KB L1 Cache, 64KB L2 Cache - 100mhz fsb
Celeron - 20KB L1 Cache, 128KB L2 Cache - 400mhz fsb

Just with that, I prefer AMD more. Right now I have a Phenom 9600 (specs changed so I'll post at the end), and it's performing quite phenomenal. + The cost + if I upgrade, I don't need a whole new system to install a new processor (not going into this one haha). But that's what I like AMD + ATI has always been my favorite graphics chipset company, so with them merging like they have, it's been awesome.

Point being I've seen Intels go out, I've seen AMDs go out. All in all, all the AMD's I've had, are still up and going today, where as the Intel, they've burnt up on me. Can't say that's true for everyone, but that's my story.

Computer Specs:
Gigabyte 780G Motherboard
AMD Phenom 9600 - 2.3GHz/Core (x4) - 4x 128KB L1 Cache, 4x 512KB L2 Cache, 1x 2MB L3 Cache
4GB DDR2 PC6400 RAM - CLI 5-5-5-15
ATI Radeon HD 3200 Integrated - soon to be ATI Radeon 4670
250GB SATA II HDD
Windows Vista Premium 64-bit

I'm going to try and save up for a Mac Mini though, I want to see Snow Leopard and have a Mac, I just don't care for Intel too much.