It seems like it should be -- especially if Apple licensed AMD's Infinity Fabric. Apple could buy discounted dual or quad-core chiplets and add them onto their system. x86 performance would decrease to encourage shifting architectures, but it would allow a couple years of transition time.
All the talk about x86 emulation doesn't seem feasible. x86 is crufty enough when implemented in silicon and would be much, much worse being implemented by a team that hasn't spent their entire life learning all the weird little performance tricks for the architecture. Even if they somehow succeeded, Intel has deep pockets too and lots of lobbyists and would probably push for (and get) an injunction while in court. Even if Intel lost, the injunction would hurt Apple severely during the transition period. Apple would need still-patented x86_64, SSE x.x, AVX, virtualization instructions, etc that are all patented. In addition, if Oracle v Google decided in Oracle's favor, that would open yet another attack avenue.
Throwing in a couple hardware cores shouldn't cost a ton and would stop those legal concerns in their tracks.
AMD already shipped one ARM server chip. At this point, I think they're more interested in their patents covering non-x86 parts of the chip that make it possible to pipeline data into the CPU.
If Apple is transitioning regardless, it's either lose out on potential profits completely or take what they can get for a few years. Making a deal would hurt Intel and get them money. AMD could probably hold out for a guarantee that Apple would buy their chips for the next 3-5 years too (at least on desktop).
All the talk about x86 emulation doesn't seem feasible. x86 is crufty enough when implemented in silicon and would be much, much worse being implemented by a team that hasn't spent their entire life learning all the weird little performance tricks for the architecture. Even if they somehow succeeded, Intel has deep pockets too and lots of lobbyists and would probably push for (and get) an injunction while in court. Even if Intel lost, the injunction would hurt Apple severely during the transition period. Apple would need still-patented x86_64, SSE x.x, AVX, virtualization instructions, etc that are all patented. In addition, if Oracle v Google decided in Oracle's favor, that would open yet another attack avenue.
Throwing in a couple hardware cores shouldn't cost a ton and would stop those legal concerns in their tracks.