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{{Short description|
{{Infobox event
| title = Mac transition to PowerPC processors
Line 10 ⟶ 5:
| image_size = 200px
| caption = IBM [[PowerPC 601]] used in early [[Power Macintosh]] models (1994)
| date =
| participants = [[Apple Inc.]], [[IBM]], [[Motorola]] ([[AIM alliance]])
| outcome = All [[Macintosh]] models migrated to [[PowerPC]] CPUs
}}
{{Classic Mac OS sidebar}}
The '''Mac transition to PowerPC processors''' was the process of switching the [[central processing unit]]s (CPUs) of [[Apple Inc.|Apple]]'s line of Macintosh computers from the [[Motorola 68000 series]] to [[PowerPC]] processors co-developed with [[IBM]] and [[Motorola]]. The transition began in March 1994 with the launch of the [[Power Macintosh]] series and was largely completed by mid-1996, though Apple continued supporting 68k systems in its software until 1998.
== Background ==
=== RISC exploration (1988–1990) ===
The first Power Macintosh models were released in March 1994, but the development of Power Macintosh technology dates back to mid-1988.
[[Jean-Louis Gassée]], president of Apple's product division, started the "Jaguar" project to create a computer that would be the fastest desktop computer on the market, capable of voice commands.<ref name=pmbook>{{cite book
| url = https://archive.org/details/mac_The_PowerPC_Macintosh_Book_1994
| title = The PowerPC Macintosh Book – The Inside Story on the New RISC-Based Macintosh
| chapter = 1 – How We Got Here From There
| pages = [https://archive.org/details/mac_The_PowerPC_Macintosh_Book_1994/page/n20 1]–29
| date = August 1994
| isbn = 0-201-62650-0
| first = Stephan
| last = Somogyi
| publisher = [[Addison-Wesley]]
}}</ref> This was originally envisioned to be a new computer line altogether, not a Macintosh, and the Jaguar team was initially kept independent of the Macintosh team. This separation included operating system development, with the newly conceived "[[Apple Pink|Pink]]" operating system considered for the new computer. Jaguar was also not intended to be a high-volume, mainstream system. Gassée's preference, as it was with the upcoming [[Macintosh IIfx]], was to create a product that would compete in the high-end workstation market, previously not an area of strength for Apple. The decision to use [[Reduced instruction set computer|RISC architecture]] was representative of a shift in the computer industry in 1987 and 1988, where RISC-based systems from [[Sun Microsystems]], [[Hewlett-Packard]], and [[IBM]] were significantly outpacing the performance offered by systems based on [[Motorola]]'s [[Motorola 68020|68020]] and [[Motorola 68030|68030]] processors and [[Intel]]'s [[i386|80386]] and [[i486|80486]] [[Central processing unit|CPUs]].<ref>{{cite magazine
| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=ADoEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PT43
| title = RISC – A fringe technology or the next rage in microcomputing?
| magazine = InfoWorld
| date = November 28, 1988
| pages = 41–46
| volume = 10
| issue = 48
| first = Martin
| last = Marshall
| access-date = December 19, 2020
| archive-date = May 10, 2021
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210510142931/https://books.google.com/books?id=ADoEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PT43
| url-status = live
}}</ref> Initially, Apple invested considerable time and effort in an attempt to create their own RISC CPU in a project code-named "Aquarius",<ref>{{cite web|url=https://thechipletter.substack.com/p/the-first-apple-silicon-the-aquarius-7cb|title=The First 'Apple Silicon' : The Aquarius Processor Project|access-date=January 8, 2024|publisher=[[Substack]]|date=May 28, 2023}}</ref> even to the point where a [[Cray-1]] supercomputer was purchased to assist with designing the chip. The company lacked the financial and manufacturing resources to produce a working product and the project was cancelled in 1989.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://lowendmac.com/2006/growing-apple-with-the-macintosh-the-sculley-years/|title=Growing Apple with the Macintosh: The Sculley Years|author=Tom Hormby|date=February 22, 2006|publisher=lowendmac|access-date=January 20, 2018|archive-date=March 25, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140325231124/http://lowendmac.com/orchard/06/john-sculley-years-apple.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Intel's [[Andy Grove]] tried to persuade Apple to migrate to [[x86]], but Apple concluded that Intel's [[complex instruction set computing|CISC]] architecture would not be competitive with RISC.<ref name="forbes20031009">{{Cite magazine |date=2003-10-09 |title=Ex-Apple CEO Regrets Nixing Intel |url=https://www.forbes.com/2003/10/09/1009intelpinnacor.html |access-date=2025-06-28 |magazine=Forbes |language=en}}</ref>
By early 1990, Apple was in contact with a number of RISC vendors to find a suitable hardware partner. The team that had created the IIfx independently started experimenting with creating a new Macintosh product that would combine a [[Motorola 68030]] processor with an [[AMD Am29000]] (29k) RISC chip. Apple had already released a product built on the 29k, the Macintosh Display Card 8•24 GC, a so-called "[[Macintosh Toolbox]] accelerator" [[NuBus]] card that provides significantly faster drawing routines than those included on the Macintosh ROM.<ref>{{cite web
| title = Macintosh Display Card 8•24 GC
| date = March 14, 1990
| url = http://lowendmac.com/1990/macintosh-display-card-8-24gc/
| publisher = lowendmac
| access-date = January 20, 2018
| archive-date = January 18, 2018
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180118034713/http://lowendmac.com/1990/macintosh-display-card-8-24gc/
| url-status = live
}}</ref> The team's experiments resulted in a 68020 emulator implemented in RISC, but the 29k project was dropped in mid-1990 due to financial infeasibility.
Apple evaluated CPU architectures including [[MIPS architecture|MIPS]], [[SPARC]], [[Intel i860|i860]], and [[ARM architecture|ARM]]{{mdash}}of which the last would, much later, be used across many Apple product families. Negotiations with Sun included the condition that Sun would use the Macintosh interface for its [[SPARC]] workstation computers in exchange for Apple using Sun's SPARC processors in Macintosh workstations; the deal was canceled due to Apple's concern that Sun could not produce enough processors. Negotiations with MIPS to use the [[R4000]] processor also included the condition that the Macintosh interface would be available as an alternative to the [[Advanced Computing Environment]]. This deal was canceled due to [[Microsoft]] being a major partner in the ACE Consortium, as well as concerns about manufacturing capability. The Intel i860 was eliminated from consideration due to its high complexity. Apple did not consider IBM's [[POWER1]] processor as an option, believing that IBM would not be willing to license it to third parties.
[[File:Motorola XC88110RS50G CPU overhead view.jpg|thumb|Motorola 88110 RISC CPU]]
In mid-1990, Apple chose the [[MC88110|Motorola 88110]], an as-yet unfinished chip that combined the 88100 CPU and 88200 FPU into a single package.{{r|pmbook|p=7}} For the rest of the year, Apple's engineers developed a 68k emulator that would work with this future chip. This project became known as "RLC", short form "RISC LC", a play on the name of Apple's upcoming [[Macintosh LC]] computer. By January 1991, the engineering team had produced a prototype of a Macintosh LC with its 68020 CPU being swapped out for an 88100 and a 68020 emulator. This prototype was able to use an unmodified [[Macintosh Toolbox]] ROM and could boot into [[System 7]]. A few months later, a second prototype was created, utilizing a [[Macintosh IIsi]] case with the now-completed Motorola 88100 chip.{{r|pmbook|pp=10-11}}
Jaguar wasn't initially intended to be a high-volume mainstream system. Instead, mass-market RISC systems would follow sometime later. After Gassée left Apple in early 1990, the goal of the Jaguar project was refocused to be a mainstream Macintosh system instead of a new platform. The Jaguar project was folded into the Macintosh team in early 1991.{{r|pmbook|p=10}} While the Jaguar project itself never came to fruition, and Taligent never resulted in a functional operating system, many of the elements originally developed by the Jaguar hardware and software teams were brought to market in mid-1993 with the [[Macintosh Quadra 660AV|Centris 660AV]] and [[Macintosh Quadra 840AV|Quadra 840AV]], including the [[Apple Adjustable Keyboard]], [[Apple AudioVision 14 Display]], [[GeoPort]], and [[PlainTalk]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.storiesofapple.net/tempest-cyclone-the-first-audio-video-macs.html|title=Tempest & Cyclone: the first Audio Video Macs|date=July 29, 2013|website=storiesofapple.net|access-date=January 20, 2018|archive-date=January 21, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180121072041/http://www.storiesofapple.net/tempest-cyclone-the-first-audio-video-macs.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The new case designs introduced with the [[Macintosh Quadra 610|Centris 610]] and [[Macintosh Quadra 800|Quadra 800]] had also originated in the Jaguar team.
=== Development and partnership with IBM (1991–1993) ===
By mid-1991, there was internal concern at Apple that the 88100 may not be the correct processor to move forward with as no other computer manufacturers had committed to using the processor.{{r|pmbook|p=11}} Using IBM's POWER was again considered, but it was a seven-chip design at the time, which was not desirable from a cost perspective. Engineers from Apple and IBM's Advanced Workstations and Systems Division met in Austin, Texas to discuss creating a single-chip version of IBM's [[POWER1]] RISC architecture. Motorola was also present at Apple's request. IBM had already been working on such a chip, called the [[RISC Single Chip]] (RSC), to reduce the production cost of their entry-level [[RS/6000]] workstation systems.{{r|pmbook|p=7}} In these meetings, a number of changes were proposed to RSC that would facilitate lower costs, lower power usage, and higher yield production suitable for both the Macintosh and future RS/6000 products.
In early July, executives at the three companies reached an agreement<ref>{{cite magazine
| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=iVAEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA1
| title = Rivals IBM, Apple team up for open platform
| date = July 8, 1991
| magazine = InfoWorld
| publisher = InfoWorld Media Group, Inc.
| volume = 13
| issue = 27
| first = Kristi
| last = Coale
| page = 1
| language = en
| access-date = December 19, 2020
| archive-date = April 26, 2022
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220426044328/https://books.google.com/books?id=iVAEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA1
| url-status = live
}}</ref> which was formally announced to the public in October.<ref>{{cite magazine
| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=zT0EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA1
| title = IBM, Apple ink historic deal
| date = October 7, 1991
| magazine = InfoWorld
| publisher = InfoWorld Media Group, Inc.
| volume = 13
| issue = 40
| first = Tom
| last = Quinlan
| page = 1
| language = en
| access-date = December 19, 2020
| archive-date = April 11, 2022
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220411160635/https://books.google.com/books?id=zT0EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA1
| url-status = live
}}</ref> In addition to the new RISC architecture, which was given the name [[PowerPC]], this "[[AIM alliance]]" had several goals, including creating an operating system based on Pink, an object-oriented scripting language called ScriptX, and a cross-platform media player called the [[Kaleida Labs|Kaleida Media Player]]. Of the alliance, John Sculley said, "The Macintosh strategy paid off very well for us in the 1980s, but we didn't think we could establish the next generation of computing by using that model in the 1990s. Working with IBM, and making it available to everyone, we can have a much wider impact with these technologies than we did with the Macintosh."<ref>{{cite magazine
| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=nFAEAAAAMBAJ
| title = Sculley stirs revolution
| magazine = InfoWorld
| publisher = InfoWorld Media Group, Inc.
| volume = 13
| issue = 13
| date = August 5, 1991
| first = Tom
| last = Quinlan
| pages = 1, 111
| access-date = September 20, 2020
| archive-date = May 9, 2021
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210509145645/https://books.google.com/books?id=nFAEAAAAMBAJ
| url-status = live
}}</ref>
Development of the [[PowerPC 601]] chip started in October 1991 and was completed in 21 months, with volume production starting in July 1993.{{r|pmbook|p=17}} The first computers to ship with a PowerPC chip were a line of IBM [[RS/6000]] workstations in September 1993.<ref>{{cite magazine
| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=7joEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA12
| title = First PowerPC system finally hits the street
| magazine = InfoWorld
| publisher = InfoWorld Media Group, Inc.
| volume = 15
| issue = 39
| date = September 27, 1993
| first = Cate
| last = Corcoran
| pages = 1, 12
| access-date = September 20, 2020
| archive-date = April 11, 2022
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220411160515/https://books.google.com/books?id=7joEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA12
| url-status = live
}}</ref> Many Macintosh application developers used these machines for the development of the initial PowerPC ports of their products, as Macintosh-based PowerPC development tools were not ready. The [[PowerPC 603]] (which focused on lowering power usage) and [[PowerPC 604|604]] (which focused on high performance) projects were also underway at the same time.
In July 1992, the decision was made to scale back the ambition of the initial system software release; instead of attempting to create a completely new kernel, Apple focused on producing a version of System 7 where portions of the existing [[Macintosh Toolbox]] ROM were rewritten to use native PowerPC code instead of emulating a 680x0. This provided a significant performance boost for certain highly utilized parts of the operating system, particularly [[QuickDraw]].
== Transition ==
The first public demonstration of the new Power Macintosh — specifically, a prototype of what would become the [[Power Macintosh 6100]] – was at an Apple Pacific sales meeting in Hawaii in October 1992.<ref name=pmbook/> The demo was a success, and in the following months, the product plan expanded to include three models: the entry-level 6100, a mid-range [[Power Macintosh 7100|7100]] housed in the [[Macintosh IIvx]]'s desktop case, and a high-end [[Power Macintosh 8100|8100]] based on the [[Macintosh Quadra 800|Quadra 800]]'s mini-tower case. A fourth project, the [[Macintosh Processor Upgrade Card]], was started in July 1993 to provide a straightforward upgrade path to owners of Centris- and Quadra-based Macintosh computers.{{r|pmbook|p=23}} The importance of this was especially significant for the [[Macintosh Quadra 700|Quadra 700]], [[Macintosh Quadra 900|900]], and [[Macintosh Quadra 950|950]], which were not going to receive full logic board replacements. Computers upgraded in this fashion received new names such as "Power Macintosh Q650" and "Power Macintosh 900".
The original plan was to release the first Power Macintosh machine on January 24, 1994, exactly ten years after the release of the [[Macintosh 128K|first Macintosh]].{{r|pmbook|p=26}} Ian Diery, who was EVP and general manager of the Personal Computer Division at the time, moved the release date back to March 14 in order to give manufacturing enough time to build enough machines to fill the sales channels and to ensure that the Macintosh Processor Upgrade Card would be available at the same time. This was a departure from prior practice at Apple; they had typically released upgrade packages months after the introduction of new Macintoshes.
Apple unveiled the first Power Macintosh models on March 14, 1994.<ref name=pmbook/> These used the 32-bit [[PowerPC 601]] CPU, manufactured by IBM/Motorola. The first portable Mac models to use PowerPC processors were the [[PowerBook 5300]] series, released on August 25, 1995, and featuring the [[PowerPC 603e]] chip.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Macintosh PowerBook 5300ce/117: Technical Specifications |url=https://support.apple.com/kb/SP180 |publisher=Apple |access-date=February 1, 2021 |archive-date=July 29, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120729131941/http://support.apple.com/kb/SP180 |url-status=live }}</ref>
All PowerPC Macs shipped with [[Mac 68k emulator|a built-in emulator]] that ran unmodified 68k code, including much of the system software, at about 60–70% of native 68040 performance.
Developers distributed [[Fat binary#Apple's fat binary|fat binaries]] containing both 68k and PowerPC code, allowing a single application package to run on both architectures. Development tools and documentation from Apple enabled rapid developer adoption. By late 1995, most major Mac software had PowerPC-native versions.
== Aftermath ==
Apple continued selling some 68k-based Macs into 1996 but ended production of new 68k models by mid‑1996 with the discontinuation of the [[PowerBook 190]]. The Mac system software continued supporting 68k through [[Mac OS 8.1]],
The PowerPC transition restored Apple’s performance competitiveness, especially in multimedia and graphics-intensive markets.<ref name="macworld"/> The successful use of emulation and fat binaries influenced two later Apple transitions: [[Mac transition to Intel processors|to Intel x86 in 2006]] and [[Mac transition to Apple silicon|to Apple silicon (ARM) in 2020]].
However, Apple's [[classic Mac OS]] left little room for modern OS features, prompting a later shift to the [[NeXTSTEP]]-derived [[macOS]] platform. Eventually, PowerPC lost competitiveness in power efficiency, leading to
== See also ==
* [[List of Mac models grouped by CPU type]]
== References ==
{{Reflist}}
{{Classic Mac OS}}
[[Category:Macintosh platform]]
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