Today, I submitted the following proposal to Apple through the Feedback Assistant app. I'm not confident in how I phrased it—I'd appreciate any thoughts or feedback from fellow developers.
Proposal: "Apple Silicon.app" for macOS with Apple Silicon – Enhancing Performance and Swap Memory Control
This suggestion has been machine translated into English, so there may be some discrepancies.
If you need the actual text, please feel free to reply to this or ask at the email address below.
<mail address>
If the author of this proposal is to be credited, I would appreciate being listed under the nickname “DiamondGotCat,” where possible.
Summary:
- Currently, Apple Silicon-equipped Macs have many system-level features locked down or restricted.
- This proposal suggests a new application that enables certain advanced controls for power users.
- Tentatively named "Apple Silicon.app", the name may be subject to change if a more suitable alternative arises.
- I propose this application be added as a pre-installed utility on compatible systems:
macOS (M-series), iPadOS (A-series and M-series), and iOS (iPhones with Apple-designed A5 and newer chips, provided the latest OS is available for them).
Overview:
This proposal introduces "Apple Silicon.app", a new system-level utility designed to offer power users greater flexibility and control over Apple Silicon behavior, as part of a broader feature update for Apple devices.
I propose that Apple Silicon.app be automatically installed as a pre-installed application on Apple Silicon devices (Mac, iPad, iPhone, and select Vision devices) that support upcoming major system updates.
Suggested Features of Apple Silicon.app:
1. Performance Core Control
To describe this functionality, the following terminology will be used:
- P-cores: Performance cores
- E-cores: Efficiency cores
I understand that Apple Silicon emphasizes energy efficiency, but I believe there are users—myself included—who prioritize maximum performance regardless of power usage. Therefore, I propose that the app offer a drop-down menu with the following six modes for performance core usage:
A. Automatic (Recommended) – Default macOS behavior; automatically switches between P/E cores based on workload.
B. Performance Priority – Prioritizes P-cores for high-demand tasks, restricts E-cores. Ideal for developers, video editors.
C. Power Saving – Uses E-cores only whenever possible; limits P-core usage. Great for battery saving.
D. P-Core Exclusive Mode – User-defined processes always run on P-cores. Suitable for benchmarks or low-latency tasks.
E. E-Core Exclusive Mode – Prioritizes background tasks and thermal efficiency.
F. Manual Assignment (Advanced) – Users can manually assign P/E cores per application in a dedicated settings screen.
Additionally, I propose the following optional checkbox settings:
- Thermal Safety Mode: Automatically switches from P- to E-cores when system heat exceeds a threshold.
- Restore Core Settings on Wake: Remembers P/E settings after sleep/wake.
- Power Source Adaptive Mode: Switches to power-saving on battery, and performance mode when plugged in.
2. Swap Memory Configuration
The app should also enable user-level control over swap memory (i.e., using part of the SSD as virtual memory).
Currently, macOS manages swap space automatically with no user customization available. I propose the ability to manually configure the swap system with the following options:
- Enable Manual Configuration: Checkbox to switch from automatic to manual control.
- Swap Size: Adjustable in GB units, allowing users to allocate desired swap capacity.
3. Other Settings
At this point, these are the core features I propose. If additional useful features exist that align with this concept, I welcome further suggestions or expansion.
As users—at least speaking for myself—we look forward to such customization options becoming available.
