Apple A5 Explained

Apple A5
Produced-Start:March 11, 2011
Produced-End:October 4, 2016
Slowest:800
Slow-Unit:MHz
Fastest:1
Fast-Unit:GHz
Size-From:45 nm
Size-To:32 nm
Designfirm:Apple Inc.
Manuf1:Samsung Electronics
Arch:ARM, Thumb-2
Microarch:ARM Cortex-A9
Code:S5L8940X (A5)
S5L8942X (A5R2)
S5L8947X (A5R3)
Numcores:1 (third-generation Rev A Apple TV)
2 (iPad 2, iPhone 4S, third-generation Apple TV [one core is disabled], fifth-generation iPod Touch, first-generation iPad Mini)
L1cache:32 KB instruction + 32 KB data[1]
L2cache:1 MB
Gpu:PowerVR SGX543MP2 (dual-core)[2]
Application:Mobile
Predecessor:Apple A4
Successor:Apple A6
Variant:Apple A5X

The Apple A5 is a 32-bit system on a chip (SoC) designed by Apple Inc., part of the Apple silicon series, and manufactured by Samsung.[3] [4] The first product Apple featured an A5 in was the iPad 2. Apple claimed during their media event on March 2, 2011, that the ARM Cortex-A9 central processing unit (CPU) in the A5 is up to two times faster than the CPU in the Apple A4, and the PowerVR SGX543MP2 graphics processing unit (GPU) in the A5 is up to nine times faster than the GPU in the A4.[5] Apple also claimed that the A5 uses the same amount of power as the A4.

The last operating system update Apple provided for a mobile device containing an A5 (iPad 2 CDMA, iPhone 4S, and first-generation iPad Mini cellular models) was iOS 9.3.6, which was released on July 22, 2019, as they were discontinued with the release of iOS 10 in 2016. The latest operating system update Apple has provided for an Apple TV containing an A5 (third-generation Apple TV and third-generation Rev A Apple TV) was Apple TV Software 7.9, which was released on March 14, 2022.[6]

Design

The A5 chip features a dual-core 45 nm Cortex-A9 CPU (shrunk to 32 nm in later versions of the chip) including the Advanced SIMD (Neon) extension,[7] and a dual-core 32 nm PowerVR SGX543MP2 GPU.

The A5 integrates an image signal processor unit (ISP) that can perform advanced image post-processing, such as face detection, white balance, and automatic image stabilization.[8] The A5 also directly integrates Audience earSmart technology for removing surrounding background noise and secondary voices during phone calls.[9]

The clock rate of the Cortex-A9 in the A5 used inside the iPad 2 and first-generation iPad Mini is 1 GHz. Both of these devices, unlike devices containing the A4 with a clock rate of 800 MHz, can automatically underclock their A5 chip to save battery life.[10] The clock rate of the Cortex-A9 in the A5 used inside the iPhone 4S and fifth-generation iPod Touch is 800 MHz (underclocked from 1 GHz). It is unknown what the clock rate of the Cortex-A9 in the A5 used inside the third-generation Apple TV and third-generation Rev A Apple TV is.

When the A5 was first released, the production cost of the chip was estimated to be 75% more than the A4, with the difference expected to diminish when production would later increase.[11], the A5 was manufactured at Samsung's Austin, Texas factory.[12] Samsung invested $3.6 billion in the Austin facility to produce various chips, and nearly all of the facility's output was dedicated to producing Apple chips.[13] Samsung later invested a further $4.2 billion in the Austin facility in order to transition to a 28 nm fabrication process by the second half of 2013.

Apple A5 versions

Three versions of the A5 chip exist: S5L8940 (containing a 45 nm CPU), S5L8942 (containing a 32 nm CPU), and S5L8947 (containing a single-core 32 nm CPU). Apple also designed a separate high-performance variant of the A5 called the Apple A5X, which features a wider memory subsystem and two additional GPU cores. The A5X was used only in the third-generation iPad.

Apple A5 (S5L8940)

The S5L8940 version of the A5 was used in the iPad 2 and the iPhone 4S.[14] The CPU was manufactured on a 45 nm fabrication process. The die of this version takes up 122.2 mm2 of area.[15] It uses the PoP method of installation to support RAM. The top package contains two 256 MB LPDDR2[16] chips, providing a total of 512 MB of RAM.

Apple A5R2 (S5L8942)

The S5L8942 version of the A5 was used in the third-generation Apple TV (one CPU core is disabled),[17] the iPad 2 (iPad2,4 revision), the fifth-generation iPod Touch, and the first-generation iPad Mini. The CPU was manufactured on a 32 nm fabrication process. The die of this version takes up 69.6 mm2 of area—nearly 41% smaller than the die of the S5L8940 version. Like the S5L8940 version, it uses the PoP method of installation to support RAM. The top package contains two 256 MB LPDDR2 chips, providing a total of 512 MB of RAM.[18]

Apple A5R3 (S5L8947)

The S5L8947 version of the A5 was used only in the third-generation Rev A Apple TV. Unlike the previous two A5 versions, this version contains only one CPU core.[19] Also unlike the previous two A5 versions, this version does not use the PoP method of installation to support RAM—RAM is found externally from the A5 chip. The die of this version takes up 37.8mm2 of area,[20] using a new design made specifically for the third-generation Rev A Apple TV.[21] [22]

Products featuring the Apple A5

Gallery

These images are illustrations and approximate to scale.

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Vivek . Gowri . Anand . Lal Shimpi . The Apple iPad Review (2012): The A5X SoC . March 28, 2012 . September 16, 2013 . September 21, 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130921110854/http://www.anandtech.com/show/5688/apple-ipad-2012-review/11 . live .
  2. Web site: Apple iPad 2 GPU Performance Explored: PowerVR SGX543MP2 Benchmarked . AnandTech . March 12, 2011 . September 17, 2011 . March 18, 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110318205852/http://www.anandtech.com/show/4216/apple-ipad-2-gpu-performance-explored-powervr-sgx543mp2-benchmarked . live .
  3. Web site: Updated: Samsung fabs Apple A5 processor . March 12, 2011 . EETimes.com. 2011-03-15 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130509081929/http://www.eetimes.com/electronics-news/4213981/Samsung-fabs-Apple-A5-processor . 2013-05-09 . dead.
  4. Web site: Apple's A5 chip is built by Samsung . December 16, 2011 . The Guardian . January 29, 2012 . October 1, 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20131001005528/http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2011/dec/16/apple-a5-chip-made-by-samsung . live . "The powerful A5 processor, which uses technology licensed from Britain's ARM Holdings, is designed by Apple in California, by a team formerly part of PA Semi – an American chip design company that Apple bought in April 2008."
  5. Web site: Apple iPad 2 feature page . Apple.com . 15 March 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110316162215/http://www.apple.com/ipad/features/ . March 16, 2011 . dead.
  6. Web site: About Apple TV (2nd and 3rd generation) software updates. 2020-11-30. Apple Support. en. December 27, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211227040254/https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT202157. live.
  7. Web site: Apple iPad 2 Preview . AnandTech . March 12, 2011 . September 17, 2011 . December 13, 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20171213014307/https://www.anandtech.com/show/4215/apple-ipad-2-benchmarked-dualcore-cortex-a9-powervr-sgx-543mp2/2 . live .
  8. Web site: Apple Announces iPhone 4S: A5, 8 MP Camera, 1080p Video Recording. October 4, 2011. October 9, 2011. October 9, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20111009205238/http://www.macstories.net/news/apple-announces-iphone-4s-a5-faster-graphics-same-iphone-4-design/. live.
  9. Web site: Why Apple's A5 is so big—and iPhone 4 won't get Siri. August 4, 2012. February 6, 2012. February 5, 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20120205083832/http://news.cnet.com/8301-30685_3-57371624-264/why-apples-a5-is-so-big-and-iphone-4-wont-get-siri/. live.
  10. Web site: Inside Apple's iPad 2 A5: fast LPDDR2 RAM, costs 66% more than Tegra 2. AppleInsider. March 15, 2011. May 16, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130516002520/http://appleinsider.com/articles/11/03/13/inside_apples_ipad_2_a5_fast_lpddr2_ram_costs_66_more_than_tegra_2.html. live.
  11. Web site: It Costs $326.60 To Make An iPad 2 – Why That Matters . March 14, 2011 . Pascal-Emmanuel Gobry . March 14, 2011 . Business Insider . January 27, 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130127003943/http://www.businessinsider.com/how-much-does-it-cost-to-build-the-ipad-2-2011-3 . live .
  12. Web site: Samsung upgrades Texas mobile device chip factory. 21 August 2012. BBC News Online. 2012-08-21. February 1, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180201184920/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-19336147. live.
  13. News: Gupta. Poornima. Exclusive: Made in Texas: Apple's A5 iPhone chip. December 16, 2011. Reuters. December 16, 2011. December 23, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20151223052233/http://www.reuters.com/article/us-apple-samsung-idUSTRE7BF0D420111216. live.
  14. Web site: iPhone 4S CPU Clocked At 800MHz Is 73% Faster Than iPhone 4, Twice As Fast As Galaxy S II, And All Other Android Phones . March 7, 2012 . October 11, 2011 . Redmond Pie . October 31, 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20121031004130/http://www.redmondpie.com/iphone-4s-cpu-clocked-at-800mhz-is-73-faster-than-iphone-4-twice-as-fast-as-galaxy-s-ii-and-all-other-android-phones/ . live .
  15. Web site: A First Look at Apple's A5 Processor . Chipworks . March 12, 2011 . September 15, 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20131101053030/http://www.chipworks.com/en/technical-competitive-analysis/resources/blog/a-first-look-at-apples-a5-processor/ . November 1, 2013 . dead .
  16. Web site: iPad 2 Tablet Teardown and Apple A5 IC Analysis. March 12, 2011. TechInsights. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20130918002130/http://www.techinsights.com/reports-and-subscriptions/investigative-analysis/apple-ipad-2/. September 18, 2013. September 17, 2013.
  17. Web site: Update – 32-nm Apple A5 in the Apple TV 3 – and an iPad 2!. April 11, 2012. Chipworks. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20131024092806/http://www.chipworks.com/en/technical-competitive-analysis/resources/blog/apple-a5-from-the-apple-tv-3-surprise-surprise/. October 24, 2013. September 15, 2013.
  18. Web site: iPad Mini Wi-Fi Teardown. 2012-11-01. iFixit. en. 2020-05-21. November 5, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20131105194002/http://www.ifixit.com/Teardown/iPad+mini+Wi-Fi+Teardown/11423. live.
  19. Web site: Apple TV 2013 (A1469) Short Review: Analysis of a New A5. Lal Shimpi. Anand. March 15, 2013. AnandTech. September 23, 2014. December 8, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20151208201128/http://www.anandtech.com/show/6834/apple-tv-2013-a1469-short-review-analysis-of-a-new-a5. live.
  20. Web site: Apple's TV surprise – a new A5 chip!. March 12, 2013. Chipworks. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20131110141408/http://www.chipworks.com/en/technical-competitive-analysis/resources/blog/inside-the-latest-apple-a5-from-a-new-apple-tv/. November 10, 2013. September 15, 2013.
  21. Web site: A5 Chip in Tweaked Apple TV Still Manufactured by Samsung at 32nm - MacRumors.com . March 13, 2013 . March 14, 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130314032916/http://www.macrumors.com/2013/03/12/a5-chip-in-tweaked-apple-tv-still-manufactured-by-samsung/ . live .
  22. Web site: Tweaked Apple TV Contains Die-Shrunk A5 Chip, Not A5X - MacRumors.com . March 13, 2013 . March 10, 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130310204306/http://www.macrumors.com/2013/03/10/tweaked-apple-tv-contains-die-shrunk-a5-chip-not-a5x/ . live .

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