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How to Identify Your Exact Mac Computer CPU Model Number

Knowing your Mac’s exact CPU model number can be useful for various reasons. You may want to check the CPU specs to see if an app or game’s minimum requirements are met, compare performance between Macs, identify compatibility issues, or simply out of curiosity.

Fortunately, there are several easy methods to find out this information on any Mac computer.

Using About This Mac

The quickest way to see your Mac’s CPU model is through the About This Mac window:

  1. Click the Apple menu in the top left corner of your screen
  2. Select About This Mac
  3. Look for the Processor or Chip listing

This will show your CPU’s basic model number and clock speed.

However, the exact CPU model is not shown here. For that, you’ll need to use another method.

Using System Information

For more detailed CPU specifications, use the System Information app:

  1. Click the Apple menu and select About This Mac
  2. Click System Report…
  3. Go to Hardware > Processor

In the right pane, you’ll see your CPU’s exact model name, number of cores, cache sizes, and other technical details.

Using Terminal

You can also find your exact CPU model number using Terminal:

  1. Open Terminal (in /Applications/Utilities/)
  2. Type sysctl -n machdep.cpu.brand_string and press Enter
  3. The CPU model will be printed

This shows the detailed CPU brand string directly, without needing to browse through multiple System Information sections.

Checking Online Resources

If you don’t have access to the Mac computer itself, there are a few online Apple tools and resources that can identify models based on serial numbers and other details:

You can also search sites like MacRumors Buyer’s Guide and filter by year and model. Often the CPU details are listed there as well.

Tips for Identifying Mac CPU Models

Here are some additional tips when trying to identify your Mac’s processor:

  • For older Macs, checking documentation, boxes, or labels can provide model numbers
  • Finding the processor generation (e.g. Intel 6th gen) helps narrow CPU possibilities
  • ARM-based Apple Silicon chips can be identified more easily than the many Intel chip variants
  • The first two digits of a chip model number indicate its generation and positioning in the product stack

Why Identifying CPUs Matters

There are good reasons for identifying your exact Mac CPU model:

  • Verify an app’s minimum system requirements
  • Compare performance between Mac computers
  • Determine compatibility with software, macOS versions, and eGPUs
  • Find out upgrade eligibility for future macOS releases
  • Identify causes of system instability or kernel panics
  • Help diagnose hardware failure when troubleshooting
  • Check if eligible for free repair programs like staingate, flexgate

So while most users won’t need to look this up on a regular basis, it’s useful information to have on hand. Knowing your Mac’s processor can help answer compatibility questions and make better-informed decisions if issues arise.

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