Getting rid of Intel, is Apple also going to establish its own GPU?

According to foreign media reports, Apple's recent announcement that it will manufacture its own ARM architecture processors for future Apple laptops instead of using Intel's x86 processors has made headlines, but now it seems that Apple is not only ditching Intel, the company may also be preparing to ditch AMD and manufacture its own graphics processors.

It is well known that the two most important types of processors in personal computers are central processing units and graphics processing units (CPU and GPU). In the field of computer CPUs, Intel has always been the industry leader, and AMD plays the role of "accompanying the prince to study". However, in the graphics processor market, AMD is one of the important players in the industry, competing with companies such as Nvidia for the market.

The above news comes from the disclosure of Twitter whistleblower Longhorn, who recently posted a table. The information in the table seems to indicate that in the future, personal computers using Apple's ARM processors will no longer support third-party graphics cards such as AMD, but will use "Apple graphics processors."

In the past, powerful Apple desktops and laptops (such as the 16-inch MacBook Pro) have been equipped with independent AMD graphics processors, but this may change in the future when computers are equipped with Apple's own CPUs.

Foreign media pointed out that Apple's new laptops lack support for third-party graphics processors, which also means that the company will not use Nvidia graphics processors.

So will a laptop with an Apple CPU also have a new Apple GPU? It's quite possible -- after all, Apple already uses its own custom-designed GPU microarchitecture in smartphones and tablets.

It is reported that Apple has provided developers with a dedicated mini desktop (only host) Mac Mini in the past. The graphics function of this computer is driven by Apple's own A12Z chip (also found in iPad Pro 2020). Benchmark test results show that its eight-core graphics processor exceeds the graphics processor integrated in AMD's Ryzen 5 4500U and Intel Core i7-1065G7 chips.

However, the performance of the above processors cannot replace the AMD graphics processors used in Apple Mac Pro and MacBook Pro. Of course, it is unlikely that Apple's future personal computers will directly use the above A12Z chip.

So until Apple designs a GPU that can compete with AMD graphics, Apple desktops and MacBooks aimed at creative professionals will likely have to use Intel processors and AMD graphics - at least for now.

Apple is going further and further on the road of designing its own chips. Relying on TSMC and Samsung Electronics, two technologically advanced semiconductor foundries, Apple can focus on chip design and outsource the manufacturing process. In fact, Samsung Electronics and TSMC have already started a process competition to compete for Apple's orders. Both companies have already put 5nm process into production and are preparing to transition to 3nm process in the future.

In the past, Apple has been very successful in using its own A-series application processors in smartphones, and the powerful performance brought by this chip has become an exclusive selling point for Apple. Now, Apple has spent $1 billion to acquire Intel's 5G baseband processor business and is preparing to design another important chip for smartphones. If successful, Apple will completely get rid of its dependence on Qualcomm.

In some other small hardware, such as Apple Watch, Apple also designed several chips by itself.

In personal computers, Apple announced at the just-concluded 2020 Worldwide Developers Conference that it will take two years to transition from Intel processors to its own ARM processors. This also means that Apple applications developed for smartphones and tablets in the past will be able to run directly on Apple laptops, while traditionally developed Apple computer software will need to be modified and ported to adapt to ARM's new architecture.

Data shows that Apple's R&D investment has grown rapidly in recent years, and most of it has gone into the design of its own chips. Various sources show that Apple is also poaching chip design talent from semiconductor companies (including its own long-term suppliers) to design more chips as needed. By being self-sufficient in chips, Apple can not only reduce the cost of purchasing parts, but also better match the upgrade rhythm of new products such as smartphones, and even form a certain "I have what you don't" consumer electronics hardware competitive advantage through its own chips.