PowerPC

PowerPC (PPC) is a reduced instruction set computer (RISC) instruction set architecture (ISA) developed by the AIM alliance, a partnership formed in 1991 by Apple, IBM and Motorola. Based on IBM's earlier POWER architecture, PowerPC was designed for a range of computing applications, including personal computers and embedded systems.

PowerPC became widely known through its use in Apple's Macintosh computers from 1994 to 2006 and in several video game consoles, including the Nintendo GameCube, Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. It was also used in the Wii and Wii U, as well as in spacecraft and satellites. Apple transitioned its Macintosh line to Intel processors in 2006, after which PowerPC became less common in personal computers but continued to be used in embedded systems and other specialized applications.

The PowerPC instruction set evolved into Power ISA in 2006, although the PowerPC name continues to be used for some processors based on the architecture. Newer processors in IBM's Power series implement Power ISA.