Current CPU % given in Activity Monitor can be misleading and has limited value for M1 models. Here’s how to improve it.
CPU
In Activity Monitor, % CPU isn’t on a scale of 0-100. In M1 Macs, it also makes no distinction between E and P cores, nor does it allow for their changing frequency.
Each additional Safari window increases WindowServer’s memory use by 1.7 MB on an Intel Mac, but 50 MB on an M1 Mac – thirty times more.
The P cores in the M1 Pro/Max CPU are managed in two groups of four, sparing load on the second group, and distributing it unevenly within each group. Its two E cores outperform the four in the M1 too.
How does unified memory make Apple Silicon Macs faster? Why can’t you add your own memory? How much do you need?
Summary and links for the latest information about what’s in the current M1 chip, from differences in caches between cores, to the Matrix Coprocessor and Fabric limitations.
What you can learn about the processes running on your Mac, its processor cores, even the files which an app has open.
By segregating macOS background tasks on Efficiency cores, M1 Macs can run user apps unfettered on their Performance cores. And that feels really fast.
How the M1’s asymmetric cores can run background tasks more efficiently, or deliver high performance, according to Quality of Service.
iOS and iPadOS apps run on M1 Macs in an environment managed by RunningBoard, FrontBoard, FuseBoard, and several assistants.
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