While the media was calling the new A5 a single core application processor, the x-rays revealed that the A5 in the third generation of Apple TV is actually made with dual-cores. But how could this be, you ask? Even Apple's specs sheet lists Apple TV 3 as being powered by a single core application processor. The answer is that either Apple is using just one of the two cores, or it is binning one of them. This is a process used when a initial runs of a new process result in lower yields. The "bad core" is disabled allowing the manufacturer to increase the number of usable dies per wafer which lowers costs. The A5X chip in the new iPad had both cores enabled, of course.
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Both versions of the A5 contain dual-cores |
Samsung has used its own high-k metal gate manufacturing process with the dual-core Cortex-A15 Exynos 5250 processor and the unnamed quad-core Cortex-A9 Exynos processor which is expected to power the Samsung Galaxy S III. Samsung, of course, has produced the other "Ax" chips used in the 3 other versions, so the Korean based manufacturer should be coming right back with the production of the A6, or whatever Apple decides to call the next-gen processor.
source: Chipworks via MobileSyrup
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The A5 from Apple TV 3 and the A5 from the Apple iPhone 4S (R) | |
