Apple Reportedly Developing Its Own Custom Silicon For AI Servers
(Wednesday April 24, 2024 @11:30PM (BeauHD)
from the vertically-integrated-supply-chain dept.)
- Reference: 0173632222
- News link: https://apple.slashdot.org/story/24/04/24/2331204/apple-reportedly-developing-its-own-custom-silicon-for-ai-servers
- Source link:
Hartley Charlton reports via MacRumors:
> Apple is said to be [1]developing its own AI server processor using TSMC's 3nm process , targeting mass production by the second half of 2025. According to a post by the Weibo user known as "Phone Chip Expert," Apple has ambitious plans to design its own artificial intelligence server processor. The user, who claims to have 25 years of experience in the integrated circuit industry, including work on Intel's Pentium processors, suggests this processor will be manufactured using TSMC's 3nm node.
>
> Apple's purported move toward developing a specialist AI server processor is reflective of the company's ongoing strategy to vertically integrate its supply chain. By designing its own server chips, Apple can tailor hardware specifically to its software needs, potentially leading to more powerful and efficient technologies. Apple could use its own AI processors to enhance the performance of its data centers and future AI tools that rely on the cloud. While Apple is rumored to be prioritizing on-device processing for many of its upcoming AI tools, it is inevitable that some operations will have to occur in the cloud. By the time the custom processor could be integrated into operational servers in late 2025, Apple's new AI strategy should be well underway.
[1] https://www.macrumors.com/2024/04/23/apple-developing-its-own-ai-server-processor/
> Apple is said to be [1]developing its own AI server processor using TSMC's 3nm process , targeting mass production by the second half of 2025. According to a post by the Weibo user known as "Phone Chip Expert," Apple has ambitious plans to design its own artificial intelligence server processor. The user, who claims to have 25 years of experience in the integrated circuit industry, including work on Intel's Pentium processors, suggests this processor will be manufactured using TSMC's 3nm node.
>
> Apple's purported move toward developing a specialist AI server processor is reflective of the company's ongoing strategy to vertically integrate its supply chain. By designing its own server chips, Apple can tailor hardware specifically to its software needs, potentially leading to more powerful and efficient technologies. Apple could use its own AI processors to enhance the performance of its data centers and future AI tools that rely on the cloud. While Apple is rumored to be prioritizing on-device processing for many of its upcoming AI tools, it is inevitable that some operations will have to occur in the cloud. By the time the custom processor could be integrated into operational servers in late 2025, Apple's new AI strategy should be well underway.
[1] https://www.macrumors.com/2024/04/23/apple-developing-its-own-ai-server-processor/
EU investigation (Score:2)
by registrations_suck ( 1075251 )
The EU needs to investigate this, fine Apple and put a stop to it.
Not just anybody (Score:2)
by backslashdot ( 95548 )
but a "Phone Chip Expert". .. doesn't reek of dying to be taken seriously?
Apple servers (Score:3)
They've tried this, twice. Why would I go with Apple for four times the price, vs. Supermicro?
Re: (Score:1)
It's not for you. It's for internal use. You can cut down AI training cost by 2/3 if you have your own thing.
Apple cpu can use IPMI hotswap storage raid1,1,5,6 (Score:2)
Apple cpus can use
IPMI (or even just reload OS with out needing an 2th mac)
hotswap storage for os
raid10,1,5,6 (Not the raid 0 that the mac pro has)
more pci-e
Re: (Score:2)
LOL posted nearly the exact same thing.
Re: (Score:2)
Not all products are intended for you.
Re: (Score:3)
You probably wouldn't unless you're already using Macs for whatever reason. Most of the people who have Apple "servers" are just buying a ton of cheap Mac Minis and putting them on the same network. For a lot of workloads it's apparently not all that bad and Apple's SoCs are already in the server-class in terms of power draw. It's just a matter of not getting the same raw core count, but you can buy a lot of cheap Mac Minis to string together if you're buying a $10,000 Xeon or Epyc processor.
This is prob
Re: (Score:2)
Mini's aren't used because they're a great choice, they're used because they're the only choice. Cloud provider have demand for Mac VMs, those need to run somehow. And those "lot of workloads" are Mac desktop workloads, what a surprise a Mac desktop is "not all that bad". You have incredible insights, but how is this relevant to Apple doing their own custom AI processor? Yeah, that AI processor is for a "render farm".
Re: (Score:2)
It's not being made to sell to you, it would be internal use. By all means, stay with Supermicro for your personal LLM needs.
Re: (Score:2)
It won't happen or won't last long, servers are too much of a long term commitment for Apple. Apple's pricing models don't make sense for businesses either. If Apple wanted a commitment they'd make MacOS compete with Windows and install on modern PCs and servers, even if only ARM platforms.