Apple MacOS Big Sur Beta Driver Code Hints towards AMD Navi 31 GPU and APUs
When you dig through driver code for AMD Radeon graphics that ships with Apple's MacOS "Big Sur" developer beta 1,you'll notice an entry called AMD NAVI31 GPU.
Rogame, who started his website Hardware Leaks noticed exactly that. It is the first mention of a chip called like that. Of course there is Navi 21, the RDNA 2 chip which we think could be 'Big Navi', so Navi 31 seems to be a future Navi chip with perhaps RDNA 3 architecture. Radeon Instinct MI100 and MI200 also are listed. AMD's chief technology officer officially mentioned earlier on that MI100 should be released sometime in the second half of this year, MI200 is a mystery though.
Furthermore, it can be seen that support should be provided for Cézanne and Van Gogh chips from AMD. These are APUs , processors with an IGP. Never have we seen Apple make products with AMD CPUs. It's in the code alright.
Apple MacBook Update Offers New CPUs, Longer Battery Life, and Rose Gold Color - 04/19/2016 04:54 PM
Apple today updated MacBook with the latest Intel processors, improved graphics performance, faster flash storage and an additional hour of battery life, making the thinnest and lightest Mac better. F...
New Apple Mac Pro Available Starting Today - 12/19/2013 09:58 AM
Apple today announced the all-new Mac Pro will be available to order starting Thursday, December 19. Redesigned from the inside out, the all-new Mac Pro features the latest Intel Xeon processors, dual...
Cylindrical Apple Mac Pro goes retail - 10/23/2013 09:29 AM
Apple released the cylindrical Mac Pro that it showed off a couple of months is now available. Prices start at a whopping $2,999. Apple today redefined pro computing with the launch of the all-new Mac...
New Apple MacBook Air suffers from 802.11ac WiFi issues - 06/25/2013 08:58 AM
Buyers of Apple's new MacBook Air laptops with 802.11ac WiFi report that they are suffering from wireless connectivity issues. Users complain about sudden and unexpected drops in WiFi reception, an i...
New Apple MacBook Air from ColorWave - 11/24/2010 03:35 PM
Hey Apple guys, there is a new MacBook in the air! ColorWare has already finished their color scheme work and offers you the latest line-up of MacBooks in a variety of schemes. The default color seems...
Senior Member
Posts: 7145
Joined: 2012-11-10
I'm utterly lost with Apple...
Wasn't it a week ago they were talking about dropping Intel and the x86 architecture for in-house ARM processors?
I mean, forgive my ignorance, but wouldn't that effectively kill what little gaming they already had? And even that aside, why are we still hearing about APU's?
Not at all. The ARM-based Macs will still be able to play x86 games (they'll be a lot slower though) and there's all the iOS games.
Also... there's more to a GPU than playing games. Macs are still used for creative and engineering production purposes. They warrant such a GPU/APU.
Edit: I guess I never really considered their Mac pro's--I can't really imagine them throwing an ARM processor in those and still having the gall to charge the price of a car for one--does this point to them using AMD processors for their workstations? Is there finally hope for native AMD Hackintosh's?
Apple isn't using your everyday ARM Cortex chip. They have their own additional instructions. I wouldn't be surprised if the first ARM-based Macs end up being cheaper.
No chance Apple is going with AMD CPUs. So, not only will you not be seeing native AMD hackintoshes, but you're not going to be seeing any more future x86 hackintoshes either.
Senior Member
Posts: 1024
Joined: 2010-02-24
It's a shame they crippled the thermals on the Intel 10th gen CPU's for their 2020 MacBook Air lineup. I mean who puts a heatsink in a device that barely touches the CPU and a fan that doesn't even blow air over it?
Senior Member
Posts: 150
Joined: 2015-01-12
Apple does.
Senior Member
Posts: 101
Joined: 2014-12-03
I guess I read the article wrong, from the standpoint that this was pointing to APU's in Macs, when it's simply pointing to the same core CPU found in APU's.
Senior Member
Posts: 101
Joined: 2014-12-03
I'm utterly lost with Apple...
Wasn't it a week ago they were talking about dropping Intel and the x86 architecture for in-house ARM processors?
I mean, forgive my ignorance, but wouldn't that effectively kill what little gaming they already had? And even that aside, why are we still hearing about APU's?
Edit: I guess I never really considered their Mac pro's--I can't really imagine them throwing an ARM processor in those and still having the gall to charge the price of a car for one--does this point to them using AMD processors for their workstations? Is there finally hope for native AMD Hackintosh's?