Asianometry Why the Original Apple Silicon Failed
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Nov 9, 2025 In the early '90s, Apple teamed up with IBM and Motorola to create the PowerPC chip, hoping to challenge Intel’s dominance. The journey was marred by cultural clashes, market skepticism, and software challenges. Despite initial strong sales of the Power Macintosh, the PowerPC failed to gain traction due to market competition and manufacturing issues. Apple's eventual pivot to Intel came as a strategic match for its needs, marking the end of PowerPC's era in favor of a more compatible partner.
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AIM Alliance Forms PowerPC
- In 1991 Apple, IBM, and Motorola formed the AIM Alliance to create PowerPC and challenge Intel's dominance.
- The alliance produced a new RISC-based Apple Silicon called PowerPC aimed at higher performance for Macs.
Manufacturing Beats Architecture
- Apple needed a partner with advanced semiconductor manufacturing to compete with Intel's economies of scale.
- IBM had superior chip technology like copper interconnects and CMP, making it a strategic partner despite cultural differences.
Bootstrapping PowerPC Development
- Early PowerPC development involved cultural clashes and makeshift tooling, like Apple engineers writing their own assembler.
- Despite that, the first PowerPC 601 was produced quickly and outperformed x86 counterparts at launch.