blackhand1001
macrumors 68030
More threads does make a difference even in apps that don't necessarily use all the threads.
The a5x is also a terrible soc as far as power consumption and I doubt it would ever end up in the iphone.
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Exynos 4 Quad - what does it bode for Apples A6 soc?
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More threads does make a difference even in apps that don't necessarily use all the threads.
The a5x is also a terrible soc as far as power consumption and I doubt it would ever end up in the iphone.
Guys, guys... I've got it. The iPhone 5 will never get a quad-core CPU. It will never get the same quad-core GPU like found in the iPad 3. Apple clearly states this on their fifth generation iPhone page.
There you have it. Apple's fifth generation iPhone, iPhone 5, has a dual-core A5 chip.
The question we should be asking ourselves is: "What chip will the next generation iPhone, iPhone 6, have?"
There you have it. Apple's fifth generation iPhone, iPhone 5, has a dual-core A5 chip.
The question we should be asking ourselves is: "What chip will the next generation iPhone, iPhone 6, have?"
Looking at the A4 ( Cortex-A8 based ) and the A5/A5X ( Cortex-A9 based ), I think we'll see Cortex-A15 based processors introduced as the A6 along with iPad 4. Personally, I'm hoping for an A6 based on a dual-core Cortex-A15 with 'big.LITTLE'.
An option for the next iPhone could be the 32nm A5 from the revised iPad 2. The power savings could be enough to make up for the additional drain from LTE....? Plus, I don't know if Apple would go to the expense of fabbing a third variant of the A5.
I assume that the new iPhone (which will be the name, as with the iPad, I assume) will be running the A6. I am not entirely sure what the A6 will be: a dual core A15 or quad core A9. All we know is that the A6 was developed at the same time as the A5X according to the information in the iOS code.
What about a mix? A quad-core Cortex A15? Unlikely at this point, but not impossible.
My guess on what chip the next-gen iPhone (let's call it iPhone 6) will contain? I think it will be a 32 nm A5 chip.
A 32 nm A5X would be possible, but I believe that to be unlikely. A new A6 chip? Seems unlikely to me, but not impossible.
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Yep, and some are suggesting the iPhone 5 will have a quad-core chip or something. That's when I pointed out that the iPhone 5 is already on sale since October 2011... and it's coming with a dual-core CPU: the A5 chip.
Now that I think about it, I think Apple will need to release a dual A15 next. If they release a quad core A9 first, the typical consumer will not understand why Apple went from a quad core CPU in the iPhone 5, to a dual in the iPhone 6 or what ever. I think they would get a lot of slack for that. Of course they could release a quad A9 first, and then a quad A15 later, but I think it is a little too early for that. Additionally, most high end and well supported apps are built for two cores already, making the transition to the A15 easier.
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http://9to5mac.com/2012/02/26/apple-working-on-enhanced-a5-chip-a5x-and-completely-new-chip-a6/
I assume they weren't working on the A6 for no reason, so I am *assuming* we'll see it in the next iPhone, but I have no idea really.
Why??!?!??!
Multitasking on the iPad is a joke. I can see clear advantages of apple going quad core just so iPad behaves more like the content creating computer it's supposed to be.
Besides all the android completion is going quad core. Apple isn't a ghz junkie. iPad 4 in 2013 will almost certainly be quad core if it's still A9 based, iPhone is still a myster but it sure as hell won't have a quad gpu or an A5x
mzjin
macrumors 6502
Again, your logic has nothing to do with apple philosophy or its business practices. Neither apple nor consumers care that it's non-existent tablet competition is "going quad core". Nor is the IPad content creating computer. Nor is gaining quad core going to improve either of these, as these are iOS limitations. The transformer prime gained NOTHING from going to Tegra quad core.
The iPhone 5 WILL use the a5x in a downclocked or smaller process form. Period. This is not because of specs, it is because the iPad 3 uses it and Apple historically ALWAYS used the iPads flagship SoC in the next iPhone iteration.
Your knowledge of relevant facts and concepts here are startlingly inaccurate and coming from an Android perspective is completely irrelevant.
The iPhone 5's new feature set will be immense, and quad core CPU would not only be misaligned with apple SoC release patterns, it would provide no benefit whatsoever. Apple correctly utilizes massive GPU acceleration to provide a fluid user experience, NOT CPU increases. If anything, consumers will find faster web and application usage through increasing per core clock speed.
So the A5x to you makes no sense, having little understanding of multi-threading performance and iOS, it makes 100% sense to myself among others.
Would I want a quad core iPhone 5? Sure, why not, if there's no draw backs. Realistically, we know it's not going to happen. LTE, screen size, IOS 6 etc will do.
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I wouldn't be surprised if the iPhone 5 uses a 32nm die shrink of the dual-core A5, like the one on the iPad 2 silent upgrade.
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The 2012 iPad used the A5x because of the graphics, which were needed because of the 2048x1536 resolution, but there is no need for an iPhone to push such a big number of pixels, so an A5X-based SOAC actually makes little sense, especially compared to a much more efficient die shrink of the current A5. The iPhone 4S already is as fast as it can get, and even if they change the current resolution, there won't be a need for A5X-like graphics power.
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The 2012 iPad used the A5x because of the graphics, which were needed because of the 2048x1536 resolution, but there is no need for an iPhone to push such a big number of pixels, so an A5X-based SOAC actually makes little sense, especially compared to a much more efficient die shrink of the current A5. The iPhone 4S already is as fast as it can get, and even if they change the current resolution, there won't be a need for A5X-like graphics power.
mzjin
macrumors 6502
And you remember nothing of when the iPhone 4s was introduced I suppose, when resolution did not change but graphics powered doubled?
Wrong. The iPhone 5 will have increased resolution if screen size increases. It WILL use the A5x to drive the screen and improve graphics performance further for 3D gaming and user experience.
iOS user experience superiority has Always relied on GPU superiority. The fact that people can't understand this speaks to how little most consumers understand the processes and priorities that go on in their iOS devices.
nuckinfutz
macrumors 603
This is a HUGE chip (A5X) most of it is GPU.
Large chips mean more heat and size and power consumption. I'm not sure Apple wants to go there even if the GPU is fast.
Large chips mean more heat and size and power consumption. I'm not sure Apple wants to go there even if the GPU is fast.
Exactly. It already happened. Graphics on 960x640 are as good as they can get. No point in getting A5X graphics, with much more heat generation and power consumption.
Right. Improved resolution. But it's not going to have the same pixel count as the iPad 3, by a long shot. The iPhone 5 pixel count will be much closer to the iPhone 4s' than the iPad 3's.
I'm only saying that the GPU will get improved, but it's not going to be the A5X. It is totally overkill for whatever resolution the iPhone 5 will have, and consumes far too much power to be a viable option.
mzjin
macrumors 6502
Not a lot bigger than the A5 and a lower fabrication means the chip will be smaller than the A5. Lower fab A5X is probably the most likely answer.
mzjin
macrumors 6502
Ugh, it WILL have A5x, just not the same one in the iPAd, nor will the GPUs be clocked the same. There isnt even a guarantee that all four GPU cores will be active.
This is all but guaranteed.
It WILL be viable as LTE introduction means the iphone will get a much bigger battery as well.
It WILL be needed to drive 3D at 1280x800 and have improved graphics from iPhones 4s.
nuckinfutz
macrumors 603
Put me down for the new A5 clocked at least 1.2Ghz.
The A5X is just too big and the Samsung Fab in Austin is online and likely cranking out 32nm A5. Makes sense to stick with this SoC since it's being proven in the new iPad 2 and the Apple TV.
For my phone I really need Faster, improved battery life, LTE and 11AC Wifi for the next model to be a success.
The A5X is just too big and the Samsung Fab in Austin is online and likely cranking out 32nm A5. Makes sense to stick with this SoC since it's being proven in the new iPad 2 and the Apple TV.
For my phone I really need Faster, improved battery life, LTE and 11AC Wifi for the next model to be a success.
mzjin
macrumors 6502
With an increase in resolution, the. 32nm a5 would have lower graphics performance.
Never going to happen.
If it's not the same chip as the iPad 3, why could it be called A5x?
All the battery boost it's going to receive is going to be sucked up by the LTE and the new screen, and a power-hungry SOAC is going to be the last thing they put in the new iPhone.
It's going to keep the same frame rate as the iPhone 4S on the new resolution, and it's going to be more powerful than the A5, we agree on this. But it's not going to be the A5x, which is overkill for both graphics power and battery life. It's going to be a 32nm dual-core, simple as that.
Apple is not going to play the quad-core war because it doesn't make any sense on smartphones. The best chip you can get right now on Android is the Qualcomm S4, which is a pure dual-core. There is nothing wrong with the iPhone 4s performance, and the iPhone 5 is expected to mantain the same kind of performance with a slightly improved resolution (I expect 640p at 16/9). For these situations, a die shrink is far more adequate, because it reduces the needed power (which will be needed by the screen and LTE) and mantains the already optimal performance of the iPhone 4s, slightly boosted to cover the higher resolution.
nuckinfutz
macrumors 603
mzjin
macrumors 6502
The consensus is that the iPhones screen size will increase, so yes, the resolution WILL increase.
mzjin
macrumors 6502
Because thats how it works.
The A5 is different in the iPad 2, the iPhone 4s, the apple TV, and even the new Apple iPad 2(32nm). They are all still A5. The new iPhone WILL use A5x, not identical to the iPads of course.
A bigger display is not equal to a higher resolution. Full HD televisions have the same resolution - even when you look for larger panels.
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That's not how it works. Apple changed the rules of the game: two times in less than a year. The first time was when they just ignored their iPods and introduced an iPhone in October instead of June.
The second time was when Apple didn't announce an A6 processor for the third generation iPad. And that was how it worked: with every new iPad you'd get an entirely new chip - the A5X is merely an upgraded, not an entirely new, chip.
The rules have changed and no one knows what Apple's next move is. The most logical thing is to ship an iPhone with 32 nm A5 processor (like in the $399 iPad 2). And if Apple for some reason slightly increases the resolution, they could decide to just clock the two GPUs at higher speeds (from what I have read, Apple always underclocks their GPUs for optimal battery life).
mzjin
macrumors 6502
And have no performance improvements in the new iPhone? Im sorry, you're smoking something.
And yes, bigger display DOES mean higher resolution. Apple will not being delivering no-Retina displays in the new iPhone.
Do people even think before they post? Christ, delivering the same exact processor in the next generation iPhone as the last generation iPhone is THE ABSOLUTE LEAST LOGICAL thing apple will do.
This thread needs to die as it appears most fanboys have no understanding of apple business, die sizes shrinks, or what the most important parts of the iOS device has always been - graphical superiority yielding unparalleled smooth user experiences.
Ugh.
nuckinfutz
macrumors 603
Oh please you're the one that has a failing grip on technology here. Increase the screen size of a device doesn't increase the resolution by default.
The A5X is not likely a candidate for the next phone because the GPU requirements aren't as stringent as the new iPad.
Going to 32nm A5 allows Apple to
A. Produce more life on the same battery
B. Clock the CPU higher for more speed
Due to efficiency.
Let's not come off with the "holier than thou" attitude.