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CPU

In the background: Putting threads to work

From a simple linear Basic program, or a command tool like tar, to working with macOS to get threads allocated to the most appropriate cores and run at the right frequency.

February 17, 2026 Macs, Technology

Explainer: % CPU in Activity Monitor

It’s the percentage of time a core in active, when not idle or shut down. That’s confounded by Intel Hyper-threading, and frequencies of Apple silicon cores.

February 14, 2026 Macs, Technology

Last Week on My Mac: What do those CPU frequencies mean?

Given what we know about the base M5, is it really a significant improvement on the base M4. What features should we be looking at?

November 2, 2025 Macs, Technology

Updated CPU core frequencies for all current Apple silicon Macs

T T Read More

How operating frequencies of CPU cores used by the latest base M5 chip compare with those from previous families in the M series, and what that means. Complete with updated tables for all current chips.

October 30, 2025 Macs, Technology

Updating CPU frequencies for Apple silicon Macs

A call for help: can you help complete this table of all the CPU core frequencies of M-series chips? M3 Ultra and M5 values are requested, please.

October 28, 2025 Macs, Technology

Which cores does Visual Look Up use?

T T Read More

Which type of CPU cores are most active during Visual Look Up? How their frequencies and active residencies change? How demanding is it?

September 16, 2025 Macs, Technology

What is Quality of Service, and how does it matter?

How apps and processes set their priority, and on Apple silicon that determines which type of core they can be run on. What you can do to alter that.

May 9, 2025 Macs, Technology

Choosing an Apple silicon Mac

Why is an M2 Pro or Max preferable to an M1 Pro or Max? Is 8 GB of memory sufficient? Can I extend the internal SSD with an external drive? Can I buy and upgrade?

May 7, 2025 Macs, Technology

M4 Pro full on: when CPU and GPU draw over 50 W, and how Low Power mode changes that

T T Read More

How macOS can not only regulate CPU cluster frequencies to control power use, but also moves threads to E cores. This reduces power use of over 50 W to less than 13 W.

January 22, 2025 Macs, Technology

What are CPU core frequencies in Apple silicon Macs?

T T Read More

Provides maximum frequencies for E and P cores in each of the M-series, a table of all frequency steps used by current M-series chips, and explanation of how they have come about and their importance.

January 20, 2025 Macs, Technology

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