Apple A5X SoC

[dagamer34]

If it's 32 nm and they didn't touch the clocks they used the die shrink for power savings, which would make a lot of sense given the new power hungry display and LTE radio.

Also, this is the first time as far as I know they've changed components in addition to a die shrink, and instead of going with higher clocks on the CPU/GPU, they decided to spend more die space on the GPU.

Besides, they've got the dual core Cortex A15 (or 2xA15+A7) waiting for them next year, and that will really kick the butt of the current 2xA9 setup.

 

[Mopetar]

I don't know what their schedule is looking like in terms of when the next iPhone launches, but if it's not a Cortex-A15 based design, I'd be pretty disappointed if I were in the market to buy their phone.

They'll probably want to go with something more efficient as the next iPhone will definitely have LTE and they'll want as good of an SoC as they can get.

 

[dagamer34]

I don't know what their schedule is looking like in terms of when the next iPhone launches, but if it's not a Cortex-A15 based design, I'd be pretty disappointed if I were in the market to buy their phone.

They'll probably want to go with something more efficient as the next iPhone will definitely have LTE and they'll want as good of an SoC as they can get.

I expect Samsung to be the only manufacturer to make CortexA15 chips in volume, with TI and nVidia maybe sneaking a few models out in Q4. But don't get your hopes up.

 

[runawayprisoner]

Well, looks like Infinity Blade 2 will be the first game that supports the new Retina resolution.

On a side note... I wonder if that means it'll run at native 2048 x 1536... Ah well, I'll upload screenshots in 12 hours when I receive mine.

Never mind, Real Racing 2 is also joining that band wagon.

Of interesting note is Real Racing 2's change log:
- Full 2048-by-1536 Retina support with 4x anti-aliasing

How did they even get that to work at reasonable framerate!?

 

[Steelbom]

I'm grabbing the HDMI accessory from Apple so I can plug my (mum's) iPad 3 into the TV and game on it, when it gets here...

If these games can do what they're doing at 2048x1536, it'll make it super easy to support 1920x1080.

Well, looks like Infinity Blade 2 will be the first game that supports the new Retina resolution.

On a side note... I wonder if that means it'll run at native 2048 x 1536... Ah well, I'll upload screenshots in 12 hours when I receive mine.

Never mind, Real Racing 2 is also joining that band wagon.

Of interesting note is Real Racing 2's change log:
- Full 2048-by-1536 Retina support with 4x anti-aliasing

How did they even get that to work at reasonable framerate!?

I noticed someone did a review for it saying it looks great but lags like crazy... bugs perhaps? I doubt they'd release it when it doesn't work well.

 

[runawayprisoner]

I noticed someone did a review for it saying it looks great but lags like crazy... bugs perhaps? I doubt they'd release it when it doesn't work well.

Which review? I can't find any review that says that.

Also, I forgot to note that the version for the iPad is Real Racing 2 HD. Real Racing 2 (non-HD) is the iPhone version.

 

[Steelbom]

Which review? I can't find any review that says that.

Also, I forgot to note that the version for the iPad is Real Racing 2 HD. Real Racing 2 (non-HD) is the iPhone version.

They're reviews from purchasers, not an actual review by a tech site: http://itunes.apple.com/au/app/real-racing-2-hd/id414566922?mt=8

There's two of them now, both complaining of terrible lag.

 

[A5]

I expect Samsung to be the only manufacturer to make CortexA15 chips in volume, with TI and nVidia maybe sneaking a few models out in Q4. But don't get your hopes up.

Yeah. I'm thinking late Q3 for the first phones with A15-based chips in them. If Apple goes that route, then we'd be looking at a September iPhone 5 launch instead of the typical June/July timeframe.

 

[A5]

The A5X is still 45nm: http://www.anandtech.com/show/5685/apple-a5x-die-size-measured-16294mm2-likely-still-45nm

 

[senseamp]

The A5X is still 45nm: http://www.anandtech.com/show/5685/apple-a5x-die-size-measured-16294mm2-likely-still-45nm

I guess my first intuition was correct. Maybe Samsung 32nm yields and pricing aren't good enough for Apple yet.

 

[_Aurel_]

I played around with the ipad we had in the store. The wight gain was noticeable and I could also feel that it was much warmer, almost uncomfortably so. This was while just testing the web browser and opening a few basic apps. Also iOS is a giant waste of space on a tablet with no ability to be productive when not in an app. Apple made a huge mistake by not putting a smaller dye on their chip. I predict major warrenty related problems due to the heat down the road.

Better get apple care.

 

[sontin]

The A5X is still 45nm: http://www.anandtech.com/show/5685/apple-a5x-die-size-measured-16294mm2-likely-still-45nm

163mm^2.

That's huge. Tegra 3 size is 85mm^2. The GPU part is nearly as big as Tegra 3. Apple is the only company which can produce and sell such chips...

 

[ViRGE]

The A5X is still 45nm: http://www.anandtech.com/show/5685/apple-a5x-die-size-measured-16294mm2-likely-still-45nm

Good lord that's huge. A dual core SNB is only 150mm2.

 

[Medu]

163mm^2.

That's huge. Tegra 3 size is 85mm^2. The GPU part is nearly as big as Tegra 3. Apple is the only company which can produce and sell such chips...

It's probably not difficult to produce them it's just that nobody else really has a use for them. Apple is taking a hit on the cost of the SoC to make sure they are a major force in the game industry going forward.

 

[runawayprisoner]

Well, looks like Real Racing 2 HD does run at 2048 x 1536 with 4xAA.

In-game polygon count is pretty low... but only visible when viewed on a computer. Framerate is around 40fps - 60fps.
At menu, polygon count is pretty ridiculous, but the menu seems to "pause" a lot. Framerate is around 20fps.

Infinity Blade 2 is a mixed bag. Low res textures now show up very obviously, and jagged edges can still be seen, but not very prominent in most scenes. IQ (effects, etc...) seem to be around iPad 2 level.

 

[smartpatrol]

Galaxy on Fire 2 HD is definitely running at 2048x1536. It looks extremely sharp and clear.

Infinity Blade 2 and Mass Effect Infiltrator seem to be running at 1024x768 still. I'm not sure what the enhancements were. I'd like to see a side-by-side comparison.

 

[mavere]

Well, looks like Real Racing 2 HD does run at 2048 x 1536 with 4xAA.

In-game polygon count is pretty low... but only visible when viewed on a computer. Framerate is around 40fps - 60fps.
At menu, polygon count is pretty ridiculous, but the menu seems to "pause" a lot. Framerate is around 20fps.

Infinity Blade 2 is a mixed bag. Low res textures now show up very obviously, and jagged edges can still be seen, but not very prominent in most scenes. IQ (effects, etc...) seem to be around iPad 2 level.

Your observations match mine.

Really, I'd been happy with the intermediate resolution graphics (~1600x1200) with improved textures and shader effects and full-res HUD/menus. Maybe we'll see that going forward. Or maybe developers will optimize further, and we'll have our cake and eat it too.

 

[runawayprisoner]

I actually think Infinity Blade 2 is running at 2048 x 1536, too. Disregarding fuzzy graphics and low res textures, I really can't see much pixelation.

In fact, it's just the opening scene that looks bad. Later in the game, with higher res textures, I can definitely see sharpness improve over iPad 2.

Also for what it's worth, it seems a bit smoother than iPad 2.

 

[Steelbom]

I actually think Infinity Blade 2 is running at 2048 x 1536, too. Disregarding fuzzy graphics and low res textures, I really can't see much pixelation.

In fact, it's just the opening scene that looks bad. Later in the game, with higher res textures, I can definitely see sharpness improve over iPad 2.

Also for what it's worth, it seems a bit smoother than iPad 2.

Good to hear! Thanks

 

[runawayprisoner]

Gameloft also updated Modern Combat 3. It's on sale for $0.99, and dear God! I can't see pixels!

Wonder what Anand will get out of the bench table.

 

[Steelbom]

Gameloft also updated Modern Combat 3. It's on sale for $0.99, and dear God! I can't see pixels!

Wonder what Anand will get out of the bench table.

That's awesome...!

 

[runawayprisoner]

Here's a screenshot of Modern Combat 3 for reference.

 

[Steelbom]

Here's a screenshot of Modern Combat 3 for reference.

That's... awesome, thanks. Is there anyway to zoom in to see it full size? (Could you use Image Shack maybe ?)

EDIT: If you don't mind doing requests... (pweaaseee)

Can you take a snapshot of Infinity Blade 2 and Sky Gamblers: Air Supremacy in-game, and put them as well as the above Modern Combat 3 on ImageShack and gimme the links lol

 

[runawayprisoner]

Sorry, ImageShack doesn't want to take images that large.

And I should have realized I had resize on. Let me see if I can find somewhere to upload them.

Edit: Here we go

 

[Steelbom]

Sorry, ImageShack doesn't want to take images that large.

And I should have realized I had resize on. Let me see if I can find somewhere to upload them.

Edit: Here we go

Awesome! Thanks

By the way, next game you're looking to pick up -- check out the Air Supremacy game I mentioned earlier. I've been playing it on my 4S, and it's... AWESOME. Fantastic graphics, great controls, very well designed game.

Can you do one of Real Racing 2, as well, if you get the time (I'm living my iPad 3 joy through you... lol)