A9X Die Photo From iPad Pro Reveals 12-Cluster Graphics, No L3 Cache

Financial news website The Motley Fool has shared details of the A9X die featured in the new Apple iPad Pro, thanks to analysis from electronics teardown firm Chipworks. The photo reveals the A9X's dual-core CPU and a 12-cluster GPU to drive the device's massive display.

While the CPU core count observed in the A9X matches that of the A9 from the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus, the 12-cluster GPU is twice as powerful as the six-cluster GPU found in the A9 design. Otherwise, the core and cluster designs appear to be identical to those found in the A9 die shots.

a9x_die_shot

Dual-core CPU boxed in green, six dual-cluster GPU regions boxed in blue

Chipworks confirms that the die shown in the photo is fabricated by TSMC, and it does indeed show similarities with the existing A9 TSMC die already pictured by Chipworks.

The Motley Fool also points out that the 8 MB third level cache featured on the A9 to help manage data flow to and from memory is not present on the A9X die, suggesting that the absence of this cache is due to the increased memory bandwidth that the A9X enjoys by having a memory interface twice the width of the A9 die. Indeed, in the included die shot, an expansive DRAM memory interface can be observed across three sides of the die.

It is also worth mentioning that while the display resolution is much greater than on other iPads, the iPad Pro does not feature the 12-megapixel camera of the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus that would place additional demands on the memory hierarchy for real-time image processing.

The presence of only two CPU cores is also interesting, given that the A8X featured in the iPad Air 2 had three CPU cores. The iPad Pro can make up any resultant performance deficiencies through a combination of higher efficiency, thanks to the new architecture, as well as the large clock speed boost compared to the A8 designs.

Even with the absence of L3 cache and only two CPU cores, the A9X measures 147 square millimeters. This is just 18 square millimeters shy of Apple's largest chip design ever, the A5X featured in the first iPad with retina display. Unsurprisingly, the A5X was quickly phased out and replaced by the smaller A6X seen in the fourth-generation iPad. The A9X's 147 mm^2 die is also larger than the latest quad-core Skylake design from Intel, which comes in at 122 mm^2 on its 14nm FinFET process.

While it may simply be a perfect mixture of die space saving and adequate memory bandwidth for the A9X design, the lack of the third level SRAM cache may tip future design decisions should memory bandwidth improve substantially. 3D IC packaging designs are rapidly approaching mainstream consumer electronics, and they boast a variety of memory configurations, which stand to significantly improve memory bandwidth while also providing lower power dissipation. As we covered recently, packaging technologies enabling these high bandwidth memories may arrive as soon as Apple's A10 SoC for devices next year.

Related Roundup: iPad Pro
Tags: A9X, Chipworks
Buyer's Guide: iPad Pro (Caution)

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Top Rated Comments

9052042 Avatar
123 months ago
very impressive, the a9 is now 50% thinner in terms of cores, down from 3 to 2. hopefully it'll be 2x as thin next year with the ipad pro 2 :)
The educational system at its BEST! o_O
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Glideslope Avatar
123 months ago
Geek stuff.
True, however still nice to see on MR from time to time. It's an interesting design leaving out the L3. Definitely a Graphics Dedicated design. Apple's Team in Orlando have been quite busy. :apple:
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Lahmy88 Avatar
123 months ago
Can iOS 10 please give us multi user/guest user ability amongst other many needed features eg. iTunes syncing/administration and iCloud user account improvements/merging abilties etc. because as cool as continued hardware improvements are, the software and user experience is most important
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
SmoMo Avatar
123 months ago
Can iOS 10 please give us multi user/guest user ability amongst other many needed features eg. iTunes syncing/administration and iCloud user account improvements/merging abilties etc. because as cool as continued hardware improvements are, the software and user experience is most important
iOSX ?
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
blackcrayon Avatar
123 months ago
It's only apple that cares about the thinness
That's why the other PC makers started making thin laptops after Apple came out with the MBA?
everyone else wants better battery life
That's why the MacBook Air has usually had some of the longer battery life in its class (accounting for CPU/GPU)?
and quality of software.
That's why your typical PC comes pre-installed with garbage-ware on top of Windows?
I wouldn't buy an MBA even if they stuck in a retina screen.
Sounds like your buying decisions are based on dubious information...
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
cdm283813 Avatar
123 months ago
Still does not explain the frame drops when using this tablet at the Apple store. Instant turn off for me.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)