Apple a5

[lilcosco08]

I think that apple may upgrade the system on a chip to a5

My predictions are-
based on Cortex a9
clocked to 1.2-1.5gz
stronger gpu

 

[gilesybaby]

I agree that they'll update it, but I wouldn't expect an upgrade until at least next Spring (assuming Ipad is updated then).

 

[leomac08]

The Audi a5 3.2L coupe is a lil better than the Audi a4 sedan 3.2L

Would expect the same.

 

[afireintonto]

Before we even think about them updating any hardware they need to figure out how to fix the damn wifi problems. Its starting to piss me off.

 

[kutsushita]

The Audi a5 3.2L coupe is a lil better than the Audi a4 sedan 3.2L

Would expect the same.

Yeah but we could then argue the a6 is better than the a5

 

[Taimaru]

But if they go A5 or A6 wouldn't that mean that the iPad will get smaller

 

[Night Spring]

But if they go A5 or A6 wouldn't that mean that the iPad will get smaller

heh. I don't want the iPad to get smaller, but lighter and thinner would be great!

 

[JulianL]

I think that apple may upgrade the system on a chip to a5

My predictions are-
based on Cortex a9
clocked to 1.2-1.5gz
stronger gpu

I can't see much "may" ("may upgrade ... to a5") about it. They've bought two entire silicon design companies recently and there's no way they took on that cost base to then be shipping a 2011 device with early 2010 (or probably late 2009) silicon. I believe the next iPad will be in spring 2011 and will 99.9% be based on a new generation of SoC (which they probably will call A5).

As for what it will be, I agree with all your predictions except for clock speed. Cortex A9 gives about a 25% performance boost at the same clock due to architecture improvements and increasing the clock increases power consumption so I really don't see a 1.5GHz clock, maybe 1.2GHz at most.

It will be interesting to see what geometry it's designed for. The first 22nm ARM designs taped out in October last year so Apple might bypass 32nm and jump straight from the current 45nm to 22nm which will reduce die size and they might also introduce process innovations like SOI to reduce power consumption further.

The other big issue is whether they might go dual core in A5 or maybe leave that until they get to a point where they are introducing a retina display into the iPad at which point a significant step-change in performance will be needed.

- Julian

 

[Roy Hobbs]

But if they go A5 or A6 wouldn't that mean that the iPad will get smaller

Both the A5 and A6 are larger than the A4, so why would the iPad get smaller if we are using these Audi analogies??

 

[Taimaru]

Both the A5 and A6 are larger than the A4, so why would the iPad get smaller if we are using these Audi analogies??

I was using paper size analogies .

 

[saberahul]

Yeah but we could then argue the a6 is better than the a5

Then I could argue the A8 is even better and top of the family luxury line Since we're sticking to the A series, I won't even mention the R8 lol.

 

[Julien]

...if we are using these Audi analogies??

OK then I want the R8 Spyder.

 

[gilesybaby]

I can't see much "may" ("may upgrade ... to a5") about it. They've bought two entire silicon design companies recently and there's no way they took on that cost base to then be shipping a 2011 device with early 2010 (or probably late 2009) silicon. I believe the next iPad will be in spring 2011 and will 99.9% be based on a new generation of SoC (which they probably will call A5).

As for what it will be, I agree with all your predictions except for clock speed. Cortex A9 gives about a 25% performance boost at the same clock due to architecture improvements and increasing the clock increases power consumption so I really don't see a 1.5GHz clock, maybe 1.2GHz at most.

It will be interesting to see what geometry it's designed for. The first 22nm ARM designs taped out in October last year so Apple might bypass 32nm and jump straight from the current 45nm to 22nm which will reduce die size and they might also introduce process innovations like SOI to reduce power consumption further.

The other big issue is whether they might go dual core in A5 or maybe leave that until they get to a point where they are introducing a retina display into the iPad at which point a significant step-change in performance will be needed.

- Julian

22nm...god are we there already? I remember when 65nm was the vogue.

 

[lilcosco08]

Yay, car analogies!
I want a camaro ss

 

[Battlestar]

They also may go with an intel chip instead.