One thing author misses is standard cell vs full-custom design. Most ARM’s are standard cell that I’m aware of. Intel and AMD do their x86’s with full-custom de

One thing author misses is standard cell vs full-custom design. Most ARM’s are standard cell that I’m aware of. Intel and AMD do their x86’s with full-custom design. Standard cell lets you write in a high-level language that’s synthesized into low-level, logical form using combinations of building blocks (“standard cells”). Like high-level programming vs assembly, there’s all kinds of performance costs to this vs making a custom, low-level solution ideal for the problem and process it runs on. Like doing huge apps in assembly, you need specialists that might cost more doing work that will take way, way, way longer with more difficulties in verification (more rework). I don’t know if Apple’s ARM is fully-custom. It wouldn’t surprise me if the fast-path parts are. Standard cell designs can be pretty fast due to constant advances in synthesis. They’ll always be behind full-custom on same process node just because the latter puts more optimization effort in. Most choose standard cell since it’s faster to develop (time to market) and cheaper. Those wanting max performance or lowest energy will be using full-custom if they can afford it. Also worth noting that the Apple A12 is 7nm vs Core i7’s 14nm per Intel’s site. Apple to apples would compare that design on 14nm or node with similar performance to it. Btw, there’s detailed analysis below of the A12 with specs, parts breakdown, and die shot. https://www.anandtech.com/show/13392/the-iphone-xs-xs-max-review-unveiling-the-silicon-secrets/2 https://www.anandtech.com/show/13392/the-iphone-xs-xs-max-re... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Standard_cell https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Standard_cell https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Application-specific_integrated_circuit https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Application-specific_integrate...