Qualcomm's CEO says mobile processor core wars pointless already, disses Samsung's octo-core claims

posted by Daniel P.

Jan 17, 2013, 3:15 AM

Qualcomm's CEO says mobile processor core wars pointless already, disses Samsung's octo-core claims

Qualcomm's outspoken CEO Paul Jacobs was caught on tape at a Born Mobile presentation in China to say that Samsung's Exynos 5 Octa eight-core mobile chip that got announced at CES uses a meaningless number for a publicity stunt, and the more cores you add, the more challenging it becomes to manage them, from an energy and thermal standpoint.

Not that we don't agree with him that the number of mobile CPU cores game that chip makers have been playing for the last two years is silly, especially after the first dual-cores popped up, but Samsung's creation utilizes the big.LITTLE architecture of ARM to preserve battery life while keeping performance, which is the main point of mobile CPU advancements.

Qualcomm's chief quipped that the core wars will subside going forward, and focus should be shifting to real advantages for the end user, like speedier downloads, smooth interface performance and precise positioning as things with more tangible added value.

source: Tech.sina.com.cn via AllAboutPhones.nl

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62 Comments

62. Gionta95

Posts: 2; Member since: Jan 18, 2013

This I see as pure jealousy by Qualcomm

posted on Jan 18, 2013, 9:14 AM 0

61. Gionta95

Posts: 2; Member since: Jan 18, 2013

This I see as pure jealousy by Qualcomm !

posted on Jan 18, 2013, 9:14 AM 0

60. jsdechavez

Posts: 818; Member since: Jul 20, 2012

I agree with him. Who needs octo-cores in a laptop or a desktop? The filthy rich hardcore gamer maybe. Now who needs 8-cores in a phone or tablet? Samsung is merely trying to stay on top I guess.

posted on Jan 17, 2013, 11:21 PM 0

59. MC1123

Posts: 1256; Member since: Nov 12, 2012

i also think samsung's exynos 5 octa is just a publicity stunt... they want consumers to believe that their chips can do better than ultrabooks!

posted on Jan 17, 2013, 8:01 PM 1

58. cripton805

Posts: 1485; Member since: Mar 18, 2012

I think they just don't want to spend money to make an octocore. Think about it. If they stopped this feud, they would stick to their current processors and make tons of money off of their cheaper older techonology for the next two or three years.

posted on Jan 17, 2013, 6:51 PM 0

57. MorePhonesThanNeeded

Posts: 645; Member since: Oct 23, 2011

Sounds all well and good in theory, but Qualcomm still has the best SoC's out there, Samsung can stuff all the core they can into a chip, right now it's all theoretical as we have yet to see one single device in action producing said benefits. I'm still waiting on Qualcomm to show off it's revised LTE baseband chips that use 50% less power and that would bode well for VoLTE since that crap rips through batteries because of the massive power draw.

posted on Jan 17, 2013, 11:44 AM 0

56. Shino

Posts: 196; Member since: Jul 23, 2012

Well, we all know that Samsung is not best know for its CPU's or its phones. It manufactures electric ovens, microwaves, TV sets, washing machines, hi-fi stereos, excavation machinery etc. So I think there is a lot of truth in these words. The proof? See the new iPhone 5 - it has dual-core 1GHz, but it is still faster than 977987-core SG3. Simple.

posted on Jan 17, 2013, 10:32 AM 0

54. Edmund

Posts: 656; Member since: Jul 13, 2012

He's correct though. Intel can squeeze more power out of a quad core desktop processor than AMD get from an 8 core chip.

posted on Jan 17, 2013, 9:47 AM 0

51. InspectorGadget80 unregistered

Someone jealous

posted on Jan 17, 2013, 8:39 AM 0

50. speckledapple

Posts: 902; Member since: Sep 29, 2011

I think Samsung does have a winner on their hands and certainly helps make a stronger case for their phones in the future. I do agree a little that the processor war is not as important as how well it works with the software and allowing everything from small tasks to major tasks run just that more smoother and better.

posted on Jan 17, 2013, 8:23 AM 0

44. mick25

Posts: 110; Member since: Nov 12, 2012

That's ironic, seeing as how Qualcomm's snapdragondildo can barely manage 4 cores without heating up like an oven.

posted on Jan 17, 2013, 7:15 AM 0

39. zazori08

Posts: 113; Member since: Dec 21, 2011

woah! some guy with a username hung2900 gives me a thumbs down for saying some facts with some evidence.

posted on Jan 17, 2013, 5:47 AM 0

41. zazori08

Posts: 113; Member since: Dec 21, 2011

take that thumbs down for example.

posted on Jan 17, 2013, 6:04 AM 0

36. joey_sfb

Posts: 6794; Member since: Mar 29, 2012

The usual trash talking on competitors. The real world application will be revealed to us soon so no amount of marketing on Samsung or Qualcomm would matter than.

posted on Jan 17, 2013, 5:21 AM 0

25. cameogt

Posts: 88; Member since: Oct 18, 2012

and focus should be shifting to real advantages for the end user, like speedier downloads, smooth interface performance and precise positioning as things with more tangible added value. -- and that should how Samsung innovate.

posted on Jan 17, 2013, 4:49 AM 0

19. rizaldiwn

Posts: 3; Member since: Sep 06, 2012

agree with QUALCOMM, may be tomorrow QUALCOMM will create a powerful processor and gpu without needs a lot of cores

posted on Jan 17, 2013, 4:22 AM 2

18. big.e927

Posts: 94; Member since: Nov 21, 2012

@Mitchel obviously someone hasn't.heard about mature and weird competing relationship which is known as Apple vs Samsung.lol

posted on Jan 17, 2013, 4:14 AM 0

16. Mitchel

Posts: 228; Member since: May 25, 2012

I don't think of any reason why Qualcomm have said this, maybe envy? It's just pointless to me. They are not even a direct competitor of Samsung, infact they are partners for a long time..

posted on Jan 17, 2013, 4:07 AM 1

13. datsyuk

Posts: 180; Member since: Jan 11, 2012

He MaD

posted on Jan 17, 2013, 3:57 AM 3

11. christumaini

Posts: 27; Member since: Oct 25, 2012

sometimes we should learn to appreciate ...big little technology is awesome keep it up Sammy thats what innovation is all about!!!

posted on Jan 17, 2013, 3:45 AM 5

7. big.e927

Posts: 94; Member since: Nov 21, 2012

@Wendygarret hahaha, crapdragon.lmfao but seriously, people usually talk crap about the things they see the most threat in, that said-- the Exynos Octa 5 just might be the best processor of them all, but what really would matter most for us here in the states would have to be LTE connectivity which Samsung has yet to provide; only Qualcomm and oddly enough, Ericsson provide LTE enabled chips.

posted on Jan 17, 2013, 3:38 AM 3

10. wendygarett unregistered

The only thing I impressed on Qualcomm is that their chips is very cool and never overheat compare to others...

posted on Jan 17, 2013, 3:43 AM 0

12. big.e927

Posts: 94; Member since: Nov 21, 2012

Yeah, that's the thing that Qualcomm has mailed down, the power consumption factor in cell phones. Because power is distributed so well, it keeps it from overheating. But Exynos and Intel processors are being used in PCs and tablets.

posted on Jan 17, 2013, 3:51 AM 1

45. mick25

Posts: 110; Member since: Nov 12, 2012

"never overheat compare to others" yeah, that's why the optimus g and nexus 4 which uses qualcomm doesn't overheat at all not

posted on Jan 17, 2013, 7:16 AM 1

5. easymomo

Posts: 91; Member since: Jul 04, 2012

Paul, it's big.LITTLE, you know, big.LITTLE....

posted on Jan 17, 2013, 3:28 AM 1

52. easymomo

Posts: 91; Member since: Jul 04, 2012

If someone doesn't understand what I mean, the big.LITTLE is a kind of optimised quad core ==> Power saving up to 70% over previous generation. I you understand how big.LITTLE works, you will understand it is the future of mobile devices cause you will always need less power for tasks like sending email or SMS

posted on Jan 17, 2013, 9:01 AM 0

3. wtghjjbbg

Posts: 2; Member since: Jan 16, 2013

except that samsung will use last years GPU on their new phone... powervr sgx544

posted on Jan 17, 2013, 3:25 AM 1

8. nerdyking

Posts: 7; Member since: Dec 26, 2012

we can't know for sure at this moment, all are just rumors.. at least Mali T604 or Mali T658..

posted on Jan 17, 2013, 3:40 AM 2

15. jove39

Posts: 2152; Member since: Oct 18, 2011

Not rumours...it was revealed SGX544MP3 is indeed used in Exyno5 Octa. Hope...in production soc samsung will be able to deploy SGX554MP4 just like A6x :)

posted on Jan 17, 2013, 4:03 AM 1

2. wendygarett unregistered

Improve the lte, make it cool, increase developer support, and save more battery life.... Your dual core crapdragon s4 works perfectly fine on android device... And even buttery smooth on wp8... Improve the other than just the speed...

posted on Jan 17, 2013, 3:24 AM 3

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