New Mac Mini M1 chip and compatibility

[Rakanoth]

The older Mac Minis used Intel CPUs that were based on x86 architecture. The latest Mac Mini has M1 chip and doesn't have a CPU with x86 architecture. How is the software and operating system compatible with the new chip? I just don't get how this architecture works.

[Electronics Wizardy]

Did you look ata any of the public info out there for how they mke it work?

 

The os has arm and x86 builds, depends on the device.

 

Software is either native, or runs in a emulator. Most software will work fine with the emulator.

[Rakanoth]

2 minutes ago, Electronics Wizardy said:

Did you look ata any of the public info out there for how they mke it work?

 

The os has arm and x86 builds, depends on the device.

 

Software is either native, or runs in a emulator. Most software will work fine with the emulator.

I was too lazy. I just found this:

 

Quote

Rosetta 2 dynamic binary translation technology enables M1-equipped products to run software built for Intel x86 CPUs.

Source: Wikipedia article about Apple M1, Link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apple_M1

[Coolmaster]

Basically Apple made MacOS work with ARM, and some developers are adding support for ARM as well. If it's not supported by ARM then it gets translated.

[elsandosgrande]

This makes me wonder what the Linux support will be like.

[SupaKomputa]

Basicly there are 3 mode of operation:
- native apps, use ARM code, no emulation needed, this is the fastest.  This is how all the mac software eventually programmed.

- universal apps, can be use with both ARM and x86. no need for emulation.

- rosetta 2, x86 apps running with emulation, this will be the slowest theoretically.

 

Looking at the reviews Rosetta 2 emulation is pretty good.

Usually emulated software runs at 20-50% the native speed, we see Rosetta 2 emulated software to be around 50-80%, which is amazing.

If you're looking to buy an apple computers, definitely go for the M1.

[Coolmaster]

30 minutes ago, elsandosgrande said:

This makes me wonder what the Linux support will be like.

Linus Torvalds, the guy who makes Linux, said he would like there to be Linux support. But Apple isn't cooperative and he work work with companies that don't want to work with them too.

[ProjectBox153]

1 hour ago, elsandosgrande said:

This makes me wonder what the Linux support will be like.

If it is anything like what we have right now it probably won't be great. Linux on Macs with the T2 chip is a pain. 

[elsandosgrande]

Sigh

[Hitrate]

Anyone tried it with Ableton?

[Alexeygridnev1993]

21 hours ago, Coolmaster said:

Linus Torvalds, the guy who makes Linux, said he would like there to be Linux support. But Apple isn't cooperative and he work work with companies that don't want to work with them too.

The only reason why I'll never buy a Mac. I'd be really curious to see what this ARM chip is really capable of (and MacMini is actually not that expensive), but all those hardware and software locks are simply offensive and disrespectful towards customers. And let them shut up about "security", none of their customers is a James Bond who would actually need their stuff to be unhackable.