Apple's Transition To Intel Processors

Apple's Transition To Intel Processors

Apple's Intel transition was the process of changing the CPU of Macintosh computers from PowerPC processors to Intel x86 processors. The transition became public knowledge at the 2005 Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC), when Apple's then-CEO Steve Jobs made the announcement that the company would make a transition from the use of PowerPC microprocessors supplied by Freescale (formerly Motorola) and IBM in its Macintosh computers, to processors designed and manufactured by Intel, a chief supplier for most of Apple's competitors.

The transition marked Apple's third migration of its computer line to a new CPU architecture. The first was the switch from the 8-bit 6502 in the Apple II series to the Motorola 68k architecture of the original Macintosh 128k and the second was the changeover of the Macintosh platform from the 68k to PowerPC. Apple is one of the few personal computer companies to have successfully completed such a transition – including Commodore and Atari (from 6502 to 68k).

Apple's initial press release indicated the transition would begin by June 2006 and finish by the end of 2007, but it actually proceeded much more quickly. The first generation Intel-based Macintoshes were released in January 2006, and Steve Jobs announced the last models to switch in August 2006, with the Mac Pro available immediately and with the Intel Xserve available by October 2006. The Xserve servers were available in December 2006.

Apple released Mac OS X v10.6 "Snow Leopard" on August 28, 2009 as Intel-only, removing support for the PowerPC architecture.