The main types of Mac currently available in the market are MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, iMac, and Mac Mini. Each type has subtypes that vary in terms of size, features, and specs. Apple, the manufacture of Mac, is moving away from the traditional Intel processors and launching the new Apple processors.
When you go to the market to buy a new Mac, you might be asked if you want an i5, i7, duo core, quad-core, etc., and this can be confusing. The following steps will help you to choose the best quality processor for Mac.
Types of processors available in Mac
Each Mac model uses a different type of processor and every type within a specific model has different processors too. Each year, Apple improves on its processors and what was available in 2018 could be very different from what is there currently. As a result, if you are looking for a new MacBook Pro, check the most reliable MacBook Pro processor, and if you are not sure, seek advice before you buy.
Starting from 2006, Apple has been using Intel processors on all Macs. Although their speed may significantly vary, the processors are mostly i5 or i7. Intel is the manufacturer of processors and each time they release an improved processor, they code it by a new name. You will find names such as Sandy Bridge, Sky Lake, Haswell, etc. but Apple does not expressly indicate the names on Mac.
To help you understand better how processors work, you must know their components. The GHz of a processor measures the speed of processing data in one central processing unit (CPU).
You may also hear the term core/s and this is what dominates the number of central processing units in a given Mac. Next is the intel model number, which indicates the processor’s model. These can be i9, i5, i7, etc.
The speed of the processor gets boosted by the Turbo Boost while the processor’s memory is called CPU cache. Finally, there is Hyperthreading which enables your Mac to do more tasks according to the number of cores you have.
When buying a Mac, the processor’s features are usually shown as follows: – the Mac model, speed, core, generation, and turbo. It would read something such as MacBook Pro, 2.4 GHz, 8 core, i9, 5.0 GHz Turbo Boost, 9th generation.
The Mac processor that is best for you
Considering all the features of the processor, your choice will be based on speed, turbo boost, core, and generation. However, each Mac model uses a different type of processor and thus, the issue of the model will have to come into the list.
Currently, the processor cores available for Mac are the i5, i7, and the latest Core M. The latest choice was created to help lower the amount of power the processor uses when it’s running. It is important to note processors with a greater speed consume more power than the slower ones.
The iMac and the MacBook models are currently running on either i5 or i7 only. Other models such as Mac mini and MacBook Air use the older versions. The Mac Pro is more advanced and you have the option for a Xeon workstation processor, which comes with multiple cores.
If the only options you get are the i5 and i7, then choose between dual-core and quad-core. Dual-core is slower compared to quad-core and i5 is also slower compared to i7. For example, if you have options for the i5 quad-core and i7 quad-core, choose the latter because it will have a faster speed.
Another important factor to consider is the purpose of your Mac. If, for example, you buy a Mac i7 quad-core and you will only be using it to check the internet and type, you might not get every benefit of such great speeds.
It would be better if you go for an i5 dual or quad-core. Someone who plays video games, watches movies often and uses software for graphics design and music editing will benefit more from the i7 quad-core.
On the other hand, i7 provides more benefits to users than i5. The processors have a larger cache and their hyperthreading is bigger. That means users can store a lot of information in the system and will not experience a slowing system due to data volumes.
The i7 also opens fast and retrieves data fast, which saves time, especially when you are working on multiple files. An i7 is best for 4k video editing options and 3D animation creations.
Conclusion
Apple recently announced it’s moving away from Intel processors and starting to use its own silicon processors, which promises greater speeds and higher productivity. Most Macs currently run on i5 and i7, although each model’s processor has its unique features. The choice between processors is determined by use and the experience you are looking for in a processor. Compared to i5, i7 is faster, although it might drain the battery faster.