{"id":1779982,"date":"2024-01-03T16:39:16","date_gmt":"2024-01-03T21:39:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sweetwater.com\/sweetcare\/?post_type=articles&p=1779982"},"modified":"2025-09-13T12:59:18","modified_gmt":"2025-09-13T16:59:18","slug":"intel-based-mac-or-mac-with-apple-silicon","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/www.sweetwater.com\/sweetcare\/articles\/intel-based-mac-or-mac-with-apple-silicon\/","title":{"rendered":"How to tell if you have an Intel-based Mac or a Mac with Apple silicon"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

In 2020, Apple announced that they were transitioning the Mac platform from being based on the Intel central processor (CPU) to the Apple Arm-based system-on-a-chip (SoC), which they refer to as Apple silicon. The first Mac with an Apple M1 chip was released in late 2020. The new Mac with Apple silicon computers enable a level of system integration that provides a great deal more computing power, and that\u2019s of interest to content creators working in pro audio, music, and video.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2023, Apple discontinued the last models of Mac with an Intel processor. From that point forward, all new Mac computers use an Apple silicon chip.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You need to know whether the Mac you are using is an Intel-based Mac <\/strong>or a Mac with Apple silicon<\/strong>, as configuration and troubleshooting procedures and software compatibility are different between the two. Here\u2019s how to find out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Is Yours an Intel-based Mac or a Mac with Apple silicon?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

On your Mac, pull down the Apple icon in the upper-left corner of your screen. Choose About This Mac<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If the window shows an item labeled Chip<\/strong>, you have a Mac with Apple silicon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"About<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Identifying a Mac with Apple silicon<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

As of this writing, Apple has released four series of Apple silicon chips for Mac: the M1, M2, M3, and M4.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If the window shows an item labeled Processor<\/strong>, you have an Intel-based Mac.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"About<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Identifying an Intel-based Mac<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The window will specify the name of the Intel processor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Learn more about specific models in the Apple support article Mac computers with Apple silicon<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":1779997,"template":"","categories":[6,350442],"tags":[535206,535205,54398,535207,34259,34717,34261,534066,492043,481143,419889],"storecat":[],"itemids":[],"manufacturers":[],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\n\n\t\n