Where does the iPhone 3G S get its speed?
So, where does the Apple iPhone 3G S get its claimed "2x faster" leap in speed? Rumors are rampant that Apple is using a new chip to crank up the performance.
Why rumors when Apple has already announced the iPhone 3G S? Apple doesn't disclose chip-level hardware specifications. Moreover, Apple clearly wants to convince any prospective buyer than it's not the iPhone's individual parts that matter but the Apple-branded whole.
Apple claims a speed jump up to two times faster than the previous iPhone: a lot of that may be due to the new processor.
(Credit: Apple)The fact is no one will know for sure until teardown specialists like iFixit and iSuppli actually disassemble the iPhone 3G S. "Until we actually decap those chips, we won't know exactly which chip it is," according to Francis Sideco, senior analyst for wireless communications at iSuppli.
Kyle Wiens, one of the founders of iFixit, said Wednesday he is flying to Europe to get his hands on the iPhone 3G S and take it apart.
So, what does Apple claim exactly? Here's the Apple ad copy on its Web site. "The Fastest iPhone Ever. The first thing you'll notice about iPhone 3G S is how quickly you can launch applications. Web pages render in a fraction of the time, and you can view e-mail attachments faster. Improved performance and updated 3D graphics deliver an incredible gaming experience, too. In fact, everything you do on iPhone 3G S is up to two times faster and more responsive than iPhone 3G."
Technology Web site Anandtech claimed Wednesday that it knows what the chip is. "Although unannounced, the iPhone 3GS uses (again) a Samsung (system-on-a-chip) but this time...it's got a Cortex A8 and PowerVR SGX; just like the (Palm) Pre," according to an analysis published Wednesday at Anandtech by Anand Shimpi, editor in chief .
Most smartphones today--including the previous versions of the iPhone--are based on some version of an application processor design from U.K.-based ARM. The Cortex A8 is a newer, faster version of the ARM design.
A T-Mobile Netherlands' Web page has published features that specify "256 RAM" and "600 MHz-processor." The link is cited in a report published Wednesday by AppleInsider.
"My gut tells me the Cortex A8 is very possible," said IFixit's Wiens, responding to an e-mail query. Though he emphasized that he is simply guessing. iSuppli's Sideco said that the 600MHz speed cited on the T-Mobile Web site doesn't necessarily mean that Apple is using the latest and greatest ARM design. "I wouldn't necessarily make that connection," he said, adding that there are 600MHz ARM processors available based on older designs.
That said, if the Anandtech report is true, this means the iPhone 3G S's application processor--essentially the brain of a smartphone--is similar to the processor used in the Palm Pre. The Texas Instruments' chip in the Pre is also a Cortex-A8 design core from ARM.
Here's what ARM says. The Cortex-A8 processor "is the highest performance, most power-efficient processor available from ARM. With the ability to scale in speed from 600MHz to greater than 1GHz." And using argot probably lost on many readers, it is an in-order, dual-issue, superscalar microprocessor core. Over-simplified translation: it can do more than one thing at a time.
These specifications compare favorably to the processor used in the previous iPhone: an older-generation ARM chip running at 412MHz.
The Palm Pre chip also integrates a Powervr SGX 2D/3D graphics accelerator based on a design from Imagination Technologies. The Anandtech report claims that the iPhone 3G S also uses this graphics silicon.
One of the big mysteries is how much tweaking Apple does to the basic ARM chip design. In one respect, this question is answered very visibly since Apple stamps its brand on the iPhone processor. And for future iPhones, Apple is expected to tap proprietary technology from the recently acquired P.A. Semi. "With their acquisition of PA Semi, the apps (application) processor is the most likely slot to get internalized," according to Sideco, referring to the likelihood that Apple will focus in-house development on the main processor inside the iPhone.
Marion Morales, vice president of IDC's semiconductors research program, said last month in a phone interview that though Apple uses Samsung chips, "when you look at the processor itself, they're designing the processor and using Samsung as a foundry (factory)," he said, underscoring the fact that Apple emphasizes internally developed technology and de-emphasizes external suppliers, even large companies like Intel and Samsung.
Brooke Crothers has served as an editor at large at CNET News, an editor at Dow Jones' Asian Wall Street Journal Weekly, and a senior editor at InfoWorld. His CNET blog covers chip technology and computer systems, and how they define the computing experience. He also contributes to The New York Times' Bits and Technology sections. He is a member of the CNET Blog Network and is not an employee of CNET. Disclosure. Follow Brooke on Twitter @mbrookec. 
I believe this may be where the "up to 2x faster" line comes from. 2-way (inferred from "dual-issue") superscalar can theoretically, at best, provide 200% throughput as compared with a single pipeline. The fact that it is in-order, however, means that it is unlikely the second pipe will be able to do work. I'd expect a 5-10% boost in throughput at best, not the 100% advertised.
and being able to advertise! How else can you make 600 MHz CPU look good??? Hype, and than some more Hype!!!
Mooseboy and dalmation,
The two of you and the writer, make assumptions upon conjecture using double talk and half knowledge with a healthy dose of lingo to make preposterous claims that you can't possibly back up.
[CNET editors' note: Personal attacks deleted.]
I was holding out, to be fair, but this just doesn't cut it.
[CNET editors' note: Prohibited content deleted.]
My guess is that this improvement is a combination of both hardware and software. New iPhone 3.0 software running on the new 3G S hardware versus the 2.2 software running on the original 3G hardware.
Ultimately, you might be able to run benchmarks, but what does it matter? There's a lot more to smartphone ownership satisfaction levels then how fast Applications A, B and C start up.
McD
All from the crApple PR department --- because it's all BS. .... like everything else that comes from crApple.
Also, Apple's stock performance blows doors on MSFT, INTC, DELL, and a host of others in the high-tech industry. I don't know who you think is better, but the chances are great that whatever company you're thinking of hasn't outperformed AAPL over the past five years.
Shareholder value, my friend. Shareholder value.
As for Vista vs 7, the problem here is not the OS, but compatibility with XP. Microsoft can't afford to loose compatibility but can move forward without loosing it. What a conundrum.
As is, it had to bring Apple brain trust in to make up for it's failure. At best Pre vs iPhone is really nothing more than a contest between two Apple development teams.
Edwin
P.S. - I still fondly remember my Apple Newton 130
http://www.t-mobile.nl/iphone/specificaties.html?WT.ac=sc_iphone2_specs
and not to mention listen to music !
Apple has us on a rope...every now and then they tug on the rope to keep us interested. honestly people, its not hard to understand. so stop making fun of them. they are obviously smart.
However, are they not buying these CPUs from someone in large qty? Can't you tell by looking at the actual chip?
Just wondering
Cody <--- iphone super fanboy. Though also a Windows 7 / Microsoft fanboy.
Seriously though, a combination of new hardware and software should improve things. We'll have to wait for teardowns and benchmarks to find out how much though. Personally I always take the figures Apple quote with a pinch of salt.
Seems to me Apple has done remarkable well.
One of the problems with Windows (both desktop and Mobile) is that Microsoft allows it to be installed on underpowered hardware. That gets more units out the door, but it makes the software look bad, regardless of its merits. Apple seems better at avoiding that trap.
Palm beat Apple to the punch , and I`m sure Apple will be copying other parts of the Pre UI/OS.
I really dont understand why all these "tech buffs" feel the need to act like zealots. Grow up people, believe me there are much more important things to worry about. LOL
"iPhone 3G S's application processor--essentially the brain of a smartphone--is similar to the processor used in the Palm Pre. The Texas Instruments' chip in the Pre is also a Cortex-A8 design core from ARM. "
Palm shouldnt have given them 6 months to do this. Whats funny is a lot of people took apples announcement as if it was much faster than the pre....we have a virtual tie here....minus the keyboard
- by AppleSuxLeo June 13, 2009 9:23 PM PDT
- Palm trumped Apple in many ways...Processor , OS/UI , Multitasking , Synergy , Notification system and on and on and on !
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- by johnqh June 16, 2009 12:29 PM PDT
- Actually, a lot of Windows Mobiles phones beat iPhone/iPhone 3G specs for a long time, and I am pretty sure some WMo phones beat both Pre and iPhone on specs. For example, WMo phones have been using dual-core processors for years.
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(37 Comments)That shows you how important the specs are. I guess neither Apple nor Palm has a chance against Microsoft with their lowly specs.