Samsung Reveals World's First Cortex A15 SoC: Exynos 5 Dual (5250); Speedy Future

[dgstorm]

Technology marches onward, even when we aren't looking. For the past year, the big talk in mobile tech processors has been about NVIDIA Tegra 3 quad-core chips, and the Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Krait (dual-core and future quad-core). Of course, these aren't the only chip makers in the mobile world, and the new Exynos 5 Dual (5250) from Samsung will aim to prove that when it launches later this year. The first most intriguing thing about this chip is that it is the world’s first Cortex A15-based SoC. It is based upon a 32nm process and if the hype can be believed, it will blow away everything we have been talking about up to now (even the quad-core processors). Here's a quick run-down of advancements for this new chip:

• Dual-core 1.7 Ghz Cortex A15 CPU
• Mali T604 GPU
• OpenGL ES 3.0
• OpenCL 1.1 full profile
• Support for WXQGA displays
• Wi-Fi display support
• 12.8 GB/s memory bandwidth with 2 port 800 Mhz LPDDR3 RAM support
• 1080p 60 FPS video performance and VP8 codec decoder
• USB 3.0 support

Despite the fact that this chip is only a dual-core, supposedly its other advancements more than make up for the differences. It is designed to compete directly with Qualcomm's S4 Krait processors. The only place it might falter would be in multi-threaded apps that are geared for the new quad-core Krait from Qualcomm which isn't out yet.

One of the main advancements that will help propel this chip to greatness is that its included Mali T604 is the very first GPU based on the newer Midgard architecture. It includes unified shaders, OpenGL ES 3.0 and OpenCL 1.1. In fact, this new GPU configuration is likely to be faster and more capable than our current generation gaming consoles, like the PS3 and the Xbox 360.

Additionally, as you can see in the spec breakdown above, the new chip has dramatically improved memory bandwidth. This was necessary to power the future generation of WQXGA (2560×1600) tablets. It's interesting to note that it even supports USB 3.0, which will be much appreciated. Regardless of whether it beats the competition by as much as the PR guys are saying, it will be exciting to see just how capable it is toward the end of this year.

You can check out even more juicy tidbits about this emerging technology at the source link below.

Source: Samsung

 

[Quicksilver7714]

Sounds awesome. So I would expect to see this in phones by next spring.

Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk 2

 

[liftedplane]

pretty epic, things just get better and better

 

[johnomaz]

I wonder when we will start to stop seeing the speed increases? I mean, the S3 is pretty instant in the things it does and is really only limited by the speed of its flash memory. The RAM and CPU are pretty stinking fast. Would you really see a huge difference between it now and with this processor? Are the speed increases geared towards gaming? If so, IMO, buy a PSP =P

 

[combatmedic870]

And now you know what will be in the next iphone.

 

[liftedplane]

And now you know what will be in the next iphone.

it's pretty crazy to me that apple sues the hell out of samsung and would then want a samsung created cpu for their phone.

it's like I've heard said before, apple likes to put good stuff together to make it great then turn around and sue those who helped them.

 

[sb1831]

I wonder when we will start to stop seeing the speed increases? I mean, the S3 is pretty instant in the things it does and is really only limited by the speed of its flash memory. The RAM and CPU are pretty stinking fast. Would you really see a huge difference between it now and with this processor? Are the speed increases geared towards gaming? If so, IMO, buy a PSP =P

I've been saying for over a year now that the mobile scene in general is going through a repeat of the Mhz Myth. Once again the general public has forgotten that the processor speed is often times not the limiting factor in performance. I think as both Android and iOS become more stable you will see a huge drop in the amount of companies putting quad/hex/Nth-core processors into mobiles. Smaller die size, and better battery life will be what everyone is talking about because there won't be that much of a difference in what one phone can do from the other. Everyone will have the equivalent of PCs or MACs and the random few will of course want their over priced gaming rigs.

 

[big al]

now if they can only come up with some OMG radios and earth rocking battery technology (or at least realize we want longer battery not a 6mm thin phone) we will have a real winner