Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 blows competition out of the water and has the benchmarks to prove it
0. phoneArena posted on 21 Feb 2012, 03:37
Qualcomm is the first company expected to bring 28nm architectures to mass market with its Snapdragon S4 chip - it blows the current crop of chips out of the water…
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2. android_hitman posted on 21 Feb 2012, 03:49 4 0
of course it's MUCH better than the older competition....
let's see it compared to the TEGRA 3 ...
52. ledbetterp3 posted on 21 Feb 2012, 16:07 1 2
Exactly what I was going to say. Congratulations, they beat last year's technology... I think that when every other processor manufacturers release their new processors, qualcomm will be the same reject it is now. Just my thoughts, but who knows?
58. Mario1017 posted on 21 Feb 2012, 19:42 2 2
It wouldn't matter if it was compared to the tegra 3 because this processor is still a dual core, not quad like the tegra. if you really wanted to compare the tegra to something and make it fair, compare it to the quad core S4, this proc is still AMAZING no matter how you look at it or what you compare it to
65. ledbetterp3 posted on 21 Feb 2012, 23:16 0 0
It wouldn't make it fair to compare it to something that will be released much, much later, but to compare it to something that was released around the same time, it is. This processor is good/great for a dual-core, but that's because no one else bothers working on dual-core any further, and if so, they didn't release anything yet. The best thing to compare this to is the tegra 3(especially since that's what I think they arecompeting with), and it does not match against it. This will be put in high-end smartphone along with the tegra 3. Not mid-range handsets, along with the older, obsolete processors. At least I'm pretty sure.
67. maier9900 posted on 21 Feb 2012, 23:28 0 0
This architecture type processor will beat Tegra 3
3. Karan_Malhotra posted on 21 Feb 2012, 03:59 0 0
If it woud have been based on cortex A-15 then it would have been better
4. Guest_star posted on 21 Feb 2012, 04:16 1 0
Can someone pls explain to me the difference between cortex A-9 and A-15...I thought it is in the size of a chip, but this one is 28nm and it is still called A-9 like the ones on 40nm...
7. Victor.H posted on 21 Feb 2012, 05:02 5 0
So, the ARM Cortex A9 and the Cortex A15 are different architectures. The 28nm and 40nm that you mention are different manufacturing technologies.
An architecture is basically a logical description of the processor - a better architecture gives you a faster, more efficient core.
Theoretically, an architecture is independent of the technology. Of course, a more precise technology (like 28nm is more precise than 40nm) allows faster frequencies and has other benefits, but it's not tied to the architecture.
8. Guest_star posted on 21 Feb 2012, 05:16 4 0
ty, It's sad that i don't know that because I study electrical engeneering, microelectronics, this is my feeld of study, gues I have a lot to learn :)
12. Bangthering_007 posted on 21 Feb 2012, 07:00 0 0
I beg to differ with the article. Actually Qualcomm S4 is their enhanced version of Cortex A15. Check the following links leading to the same Anandtech.
http://goo.gl/KNAms
http://goo.gl/Dmov9
15. remixfa posted on 21 Feb 2012, 07:17 4 5
the S4 will not initially be an A15. The Krait core starts as an A9 equivilant and will morph into an A15 CLASS (they actually dont use ARM designs like the rest of the chip makers do, which is part of the reason they stay behind the pack) after the first generation, much like the current tegra line is doing. That is part of the draw back of being first in line. The current power increase that they are experiencing has more to do with shrinking the die and increasing the GPU than it does with the chip itself.
The exynos is getting its facelift with a similar reduction in die size and its supposed to get a 50% improvement from its current power ratio. They all are.
This "test" looks nice, but its false. It also will not look as nice when the current generation of chips all takes the same leap. It will look pretty much like it does right now as everyone will get similar leaps in power.
19. Bangthering_007 posted on 21 Feb 2012, 07:59 1 1
Exactly my point!! The conventional way of measuring the processor prowess is DMIPS/MHz. Krait scores 3.3 DMIPS/MHz. ARM hasn't officially announced thos numbers for Cortex A15 but rumour has it that it may be around 3.5 DMIPS/MHz. So the gap has been considerably reduced and OMAP 5 is not comin out until Q4 of this year (TI come on wished it was early) similarly wayne AKA Tegra 4. This performance gap from Scorpion isn't possible with just improved A9 architecture since the majority SOCs already are using it. Exynos 32nm build technology compared to 28nm of Qualcomm evens out this slight gap in DMIPS/MHz as they can fit more no. of transistors on the same size die. Ofcourse this is all theory the real world performance all depends on the drivers and the code optimization. But have to commend Qualcomm to be the first to out 28nm SOCs and to bring this huge performance improvements to its Krait architecture.
21. SuperAndroidEvo posted on 21 Feb 2012, 08:04 3 1
The Qualcomm MSM8960 S4 running the Adreno 225 is only dual-core running at 1.5GHz (but it can run efficiently at 1.7GHz because of its 28nm technology) which is a fabulous chip. So far the best dual-core that had been benched marked ever!
Wait until the Qualcomm APQ8064 quad-core S4 running up to an astounding 2.5GHz with the new Adreno 320 comes out. That will most definitely be inline or BETTER than what should be coming out from Samsung, NVIDIA, & Texas Instruments. That Adreno 320 chipset should be the first to ACTUALLY reach Xbox 360 & PS3 graphics, I don’t know about you but to have that type of graphical power in your pocket is truly incredible. And to think that will be a fact before the year is over because it’s scheduled to be released this fall.
You have to be impressed with the S4 chips Qualcomm is coming out with. They hold a significant advantage running with the 28nm technology. I would take a 2.5GHz quad-core 28nm S4 Krait chipset running on a 2500 to 3000 mAh battery at anytime.
The new S4’s are coming out very STRONG, and there is a chance that this new generation of chips might belong to Qualcomm & the super ballzy S4 Krait chipsets. Right now their dual-core chips are benchmarking the best, so it’s reasonable to think the same about their quad-core chips ESPECIALLY if they run at the blazingly fast 2.5GHz……WHAT?!?
People have to remember that Qualcomm had been in this chip making game for a long, long time & it’s about time for the sleeping giant to wake up & flex its muscles! Good for Qualcomm because this will push innovation even further!
26. remixfa posted on 21 Feb 2012, 08:31 1 2
lol. I wish i shared your enthusiasm for the "waking giant". lol.
Just for clarity though, the adreno 320 chip isnt even on Qualcomms public roadmap yet which goes through 2013, so its going to be a good little while until you see that GPU in a phone/tablet. So you are talking past 2 full generations from now (current A9 comparable krait + first gen a15 comparable krait which is 2nd half of 2012) before you see the adreno 320 krait generation.
If your looking 3 generations in advance, all comparable chips will be running at that speed, so just like now when 1ghz sounds so yesterday, eventually (and its boggling to say so) 2.5ghz will be "so yesterday". lol
Just for giggles, i found some articles about the Mali core that samsung is planing on using in 2013. It supports DUAL QUAD core phones. (The adreno 320 supports 4 "3D cores" so i have no idea how comparable that all is) Think about that.. 8 cores in your phone and should be about 10-20% faster than a ps3/360.... NUUUTS.
Of course, I think both the Mali 658 and the Adreno 320 will be "tablet class" chips only.
http://www.droidforums.net/forum/droid-news/196451-samsung-shows-off-its-power-efficient-32nm-exynos-chips-batteries-rejoice.html
http://www.anandtech.com/show/5077/arms-malit658-gpu-in-2013-up-to-10x-faster-than-mali400
32. SuperAndroidEvo posted on 21 Feb 2012, 08:45 2 0
That is not true here is what is on Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snapdragon_(system_on_chip)
The S4 Krait quad-core will be out before the holidays in 2012. It's pretty much a must at this point.
35. SuperAndroidEvo posted on 21 Feb 2012, 08:56 1 0
Here is another:
http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/15/qualcomm-unveils-snapdragon-roadmap-2-5ghz-cpus-coming-early-ne/
Link won't work, engadget is garbage! lol
Never mind I will find this link elsewhere!
36. remixfa posted on 21 Feb 2012, 08:58 1 2
SAE, you are disagreeing with an official roadmap from Qualcomm and showing me wikipedia as proof. Thats just silly.
Yes, the Krait will be out any day now. The krait quad core will be out by christmas 2012. But the first generation krait quad core does NOT have the Adreno 320 GPU, its going to be paired with the Adreno 305 and come out at a 1.7ghz quad core, scalable to about 2.0ghz. The 3RD generation Krait will be the 2.5 ghz with the Adreno 320, which isnt scheduled until well into 2013.
Whats weird is that on the quadcore, the radio bands are not integrated into the chip like the dual cores will be. I dont know why that is.
http://www.anandtech.com/show/5118/qualcomm-announces-a-bunch-of-krait-based-snapdragon-s4-socs
39. SuperAndroidEvo posted on 21 Feb 2012, 09:14 1 0
That was the same link I was going to show you. It says the Adreno 305 but there is still hope for the 320 to make it in 2012. We still don't know. This is all speculation. We are all talking right now.
At least we can agree with a 2.5GHz quad-core as a possibility in 2012 as per your link. 1.7GHz quad-core with the Adreno 305 should still be up to par with anything Samsung, NVIDIA, & Texas Instruments will have to offer. Qualcomm is serious this time around.
40. remixfa posted on 21 Feb 2012, 09:16 3 0
you are so enthusiastic i just wanna hug you. lol.
Well, when the 4212 drops some speed tests, we will see. And when the 5xxx quad core drops sometime this year, we can bench that vs the krait quad. No point in argueing over hypotheticals. :)
