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It's an ARM core on a chip manufactured by Samsung (i.e. not a Samsung core). Also, if the "A5 is SoC including RAM", then the RAM is on the same piece of sili
by Mordor 15y ago
It's an ARM core on a chip manufactured by Samsung (i.e. not a Samsung core).
Also, if the "A5 is SoC including RAM", then the RAM is on the same piece of silicon as the ARM core (for it to be SoC). Not sure how it's possible for Samsung to make part of the silicon (for the core) and someone else to make the RAM. Perhaps the RAM isn't on the A5 after all ;-)
There's no risk in Apple switching manufacturers (e.g. Samsung Nexus uses a TI OMAP SoC CPU, instead of a Samsung Exynos for the Galaxy S II). Switching to Intel is the massive risk, since they don't use ARM cores at all, so the O/S would require a rewrite.
Finally, the Ivy Bridge microarchitecture isn't aimed at lower power computing (Intel Atom chips are based on the Bonnell microarchitecture), so there's unlikely be 3D transistor technology...
Apple's real move would be to drop the A6 entirely and focus on the same CPU's used by Android, since the both Android and Apple are using ARM V7 instruction sets with Cortex A9 cores.
- willyt 15y ago> Switching to Intel is the massive risk, since they don't use ARM cores at all, so the O/S would require a rewrite I think the idea behind the Intel rumour is that Intel would 'just' be a fab in this scenario. They would license the ARM tech and fab the A6, so the story goes...
- Mordor 15y agoThat's an even bigger story, as it would mean Intel is no longer able to design CPU's LOL
- stephen_g 15y agoOften these SOC chips use POP (package-on-package) RAM, where the RAM is on a separate package that is directly on top of the processor (soldered to pads on top)... That could explain it.
- nknight 15y agoRewrite iOS? Huh? Anyone who builds a modern OS tied to a single architecture needs their head examined. We already know Apple isn't that stupid, for two reasons: 1) OS X ran on both PowerPC and x86 from the moment it was born. They know how to plan ahead. 2) That "emulator" in Xcode isn't an emulator --it's running native x86 code, that's why it's so fast and why you have to build specifically for it. Most of what constitutes iOS runs as native x86 code every time a developer uses the "emulator". I don't believe for a nanosecond that iOS boots in full only on ARM. Not a chance.
- ConstantineXVI 15y agoOdds are in the case of the Galaxy Nexus, Samsung's using the OMAP at Google's request; to serve as a reference platform for ICS. AFAIK Samsung doesn't sell Exynos, so other OEMs would be at a disadvantage.
- olatief 15y agoThere's speculation that Apple has been looking into using TSMC to source their next generation A6. Apple would have to port the IC designs to be compatible with the TSMC process which would take some time but is entirely doable with the chip design team they've built up. Although there has been reports that TSMC has been having trouble with quality issues on the 28 nm process which is why we might see Samsung manufacturing Apple's SOCs for a while. http://www.eetimes.com/electronics-news/4229790/Samsung-ramping-Apple-A6-chips http://www.eetimes.com/electronics-news/4229790/Samsung-ramp...