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The iPad 3's A6 Processor to be Dual-Core?

Wednesday February 8, 2012 4:47 pm PST by Arnold Kim
TheVerge's Joshua Topolsky summarizes the iPad 3 casing findings reported earlier today, but also adds his own sources regarding some details of the iPad 3.


Image from RepairLabs

As expected, the iPad 3 will reportedly include a 2048x1536 Retina Display, be nearly identical physically, and use the A6 processor. The A6 processor, however, is claimed to have a dual-core chip, not a quad-core one, at least according to his sources:
What is surprising, however, is that our sources say that the A6 will not be a quad-core chip, but will remain dual-core. We've previously had heard that the device would have a quad-core CPU as well as an LTE cell radio on-board, but at least part of that story wasn't accurate.
Previous rumors for the iPad 3 have claimed that the A6 processor would include a Quad-Core processor. iOS 5.1 also showed some early evidence of code-support for quad-core processing.

While a dual-core A6 is certainly possible, Topolsky's iOS device sources haven't had the greatest track record. In early 2011, his sources claimed that the iPad 2 would include a "super high resolution display" as well as an SD card slot, and a "completely redesigned" iPhone 5 to come in summer 2011. Topolsky did backtrack on those predictions, but not until the week before the iPad 2's launch.

Topolsky was also the original source of the the tapered iPhone 5 design and elongated home button. While we do believe that design was based in reality, it's hard to ignore that it never came to be.
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phobium
Posted: 17 months ago

Quad cores are pretty likely on the retina versions. Got to bump the CPU power by 4x to match the resolution gain well, and you can't do that all in mhz.


This is one of the most uninformed posts I have ever read....
Rating: 24 Positives
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firestarter
Posted: 17 months ago
I'd rather see two faster cores than four slower cores.

On a device with a single-app-at-a-time UI, just how many cores can the OS put to work? Even OSX on the desktop has trouble finding work for a lot of cores to do most of the time (outside of very specialist tasks like video compression).

CPU design will always be a compromise, and it may be that the compromises needed to get to four cores aren't borne out by a worthwhile increase in speed. Are that many cores used on Android, or is it mainly a marketing gimmic?
Rating: 14 Positives
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nagromme
Posted: 17 months ago
I want quad-core. As a tech nerd, I care about specs and bullet lists!

As a user, I want performance and results. I won’t care much how it’s achieved. Double the cores does NOT double performance. There are diminishing returns. Number of cores is one tiny slice of the performance equation. The design of each core, and of the OS, are far more important speed factors. They just don’t sound as nice for bragging to the other kids!

Not that I believe any rumors at this point anyway... but if dual-core means lower battery drain or lower cost, or if the extra cores just don’t add that much real-world performance gain, and if the iPad 3 and iOS are able to deliver great performance from two cores, I will be happy. If I can have all that AND enjoy the sound of the phrase “quad core,” that will be nice too! :)
Rating: 8 Positives
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chrmjenkins
Posted: 17 months ago

Quad cores are pretty likely on the retina versions. Got to bump the CPU power by 4x to match the resolution gain well, and you can't do that all in mhz.


CPU has a much, much smaller role in driving the display compared to the GPU. PC games have only recently strongly favored quad core CPUs, and iPad tasks are nowhere near that.

Think of the CPU as the architect and the GPU as the builders. It takes a lot less time and effort to design than it does to build.


Please, no hyper threading. Please god, no.


Hyper threading is a trademarked Intel implementation of simultaneous multi-threading. They are the only ones who do it to the point where you have extra cores appearing to the OS. No one else can use intel's patented, trademarked method.

However, multiple issue CPUs with multiple data paths are a staple of modern CPUs and a good thing.
Rating: 7 Positives
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Rodimus Prime
Posted: 17 months ago

A Dual core? Oh no!

I am seriously worried that the dual cores won't pack enough juice to handle the retina display's higher resolution games.

My retina displayed iPhone 4 can't handle Modern Combat 3 or even Black Ops zombies because Apple just used the same old GPU in the 3GS to power twice as many pixels!*

Not happy.


You are getting bought into the core myth much like the mhz myth of the past.
As others point out the CPU does not play as large of a role in driving the screen as the gpu does.

Sadly the marketers got people believing more cores is better like higher clock rate and that is not always the case.
Rating: 6 Positives
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goMac
Posted: 17 months ago
Quad cores are pretty likely on the retina versions. Got to bump the CPU power by 4x to match the resolution gain well, and you can't do that all in mhz.
Rating: 5 Positives
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jont-fu
Posted: 17 months ago
If the A6 uses ARM Cortex A15 architecture, it will be significantly faster than the A5 even with the same clock speed and number of cores.

Also, the retina display doesn't require more cpu power, maybe just more GPU cores and memory.

The most interesting new ARM technology is combining Cortex A7 and A15 cores on the same chip and transparently switching between them. The Cortex A7 is very energy efficient and the Cortex A15 is very powerful, so that would bring both performance and better battery life. I'm just not sure if this architecture can be implemented yet.
Rating: 5 Positives
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Loyalty4Life
Posted: 17 months ago
The sky is falling!!! :eek:
Rating: 5 Positives
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NT1440
Posted: 17 months ago
You guys are funny. No one has noticed that iOS basically keeps on par (if not outperforms) most other mobile phone platforms while having roughly half the resources in specs like RAM?

Don't let the core count become the new MHz myth. It doesn't matter how much horsepower you have if the tranny can't get the power to the wheels ;)
Rating: 4 Positives
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nickpro
Posted: 17 months ago
you gotta remember one of Apple's fundamental rules - it will not include a feature in a new product that will too severely compromise one of its core features in the existing product.

if a quad-core, like 4G connectivity for the iPhone 4S, will too severely impact battery life i can definitely see them going with a beefed up dual-core setup.
Rating: 4 Positives

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