Mizik:

Well explained.

atheistandproud:


For Smartphones, The System on a Chip is also called a processor. This is different from what you have on a PC or Mainframe.

The individual CPUs that make up the SoC are the cores.

Laboni:
Read initially with PCs in mind. But when you talk about processors on smartphones, where will you place snapdragons, Apple processors and the rest? Because I didn’t see where you mention that.

iammolise:
OP smooth one here... Please shed more light on that "Snapdragon" matter again, I usually see that word when phone searching ... What is it really, is it the smartest of cameras or something(my thoughts).

iammolise:
OP smooth one here... Please shed more light on that "Snapdragon" matter again, I usually see that word when phone searching ... What is it really, is it the smartest of cameras or something(my thoughts).

lawrenzo007:

Nice one OP... I just learn a new thing
Thanks.

Adau123:
Goodwork,this is my first time of getting a very nice and educative article in nairaland.Appreciate keep it up thank you.

atheistandproud:
The processor or SoC (System on a chip) of a Smartphone can be thought of as the brain of that smartphone.

This processor contains several things. The most important of which are CPUs.

A CPU or Central Processing Unit is responsible for carrying out the tasks and managing the functions of your Smartphone computer.

Your Processor in your Smartphone may contain several CPUs.

Each of this CPUs inside the SoC are referred to as a CORE.

If a processor has:

1 CPU, it's called a Single Core processor

2 CPUs, it's called a Dual Core processor

4 CPUs, it's called a Quad Core processor

6 CPUs, it's called a Hexa Core processor

8 CPUs, it's called a Octa Core processor

10 CPUs, it's called a Deca Core processor


Types of CPUs for Smartphones (Android)

The main company that designs CPUs for all androids is called ARM.

They then sell their design to SoC retailers/manufacturers who then use the design by ARM to build their own Unique CPU.

There are two types of CPUs widely in use in the market now to build SoCs. They are:

1. The ARM cortex A50 series which are used for only light tasks such as making calls, scrolling through FB, WhatsApp chatting, reading an eBook etc.
The A50 series consists of A53, A55 and A57

The exception here is the A57 core which is a powerful core used for heavy tasks. It is the predecessor of the A70 Series. (thank you @Naijasensei)


2. The ARM cortex A70 series which are used for heavy tasks like HD gaming, Video calls, Screen casting etc.
The A70 series consists of A72, A73, A75, A76, A77

A77 is the best currently in the market.

A few questions people may want to ask...

1. Do more Cores equal a better performance?
Well yes and no.

Yes because more CPU helps share the load of processing data and outputs the results faster making apps feel smoother and run faster.

No. Because sometimes more CPU cores isn't necessarily the answer. A Quad core A76/A55 CPU set will outperform an Octa core A57 set by far.

Then there's also optimization. This is when apps and tasks are tailor made to run smoothly on CPUs. This is why a Quad core iPhone may completely destroy an Octa-core midrange android device.

This answer to this question relies on you the individual looking at the CPU spec sheet as well as clock speed.

2. If two CPU cores are compared, is the one with the faster clock speed the best?

Well yes and no again.

Yes, if the two CPUs are of the same architecture e.g A72 Vs A72. They are both equal in every way so the only way to set them apart is the clock speed.

No. If the two CPUs are of different architectures e.g A73 Vs A76. If you like, dash the A73 a clock speed of 2.5GHz, an A76 of 2.0GHz will stroll pass it on a speedtest like Usain Bolt.

For any other question, please comment and I'll answer to the best of my knowledge.

Cheers.

Ausrichie:

Hope you keep posting more. I wish nairaland could pay you. Yeah I now realise why clock speed doesn't really matter when comparing two different architectures. Things like cache size, CPU technogy pipelining for example and etc and even most important how many clock cycles it takes to decode and execute an instruction and the size of an instruction.

atheistandproud:


For Smartphones, The System on a Chip is also called a processor. This is different from what you have on a PC or Mainframe.

The individual CPUs that make up the SoC are the cores.

atheistandproud:


I would implore that you check the global antutu benchmarks for that sir.

Ausrichie:

Does a SoC mean that the RAM and ROM are soldered onto the chip

atheistandproud:


Yes.

The CPU cores, the registers, the RAM, the ROM, the GPU, the modems and radios for BT and WiFi are all soldered onto one small chip hence the name, system on a chip.

Snapdragon solders everything into one chip but Exynos, Mediatek and Kirin have their GPUs soldered separately. This is because Qualcomm makes both Snapdragon and Adreno chips by itself.

Exynos, Mediatek, Kirin and Unisoc (the worst SoC maker that designs Itel SoC) do not manufacture their own GPU, they either buy Mali GPU or Power VR GPU and add to complete their own SoC. They may solder this on the motherboard separately from their SoC.

Ausrichie:

Does a SoC mean that the RAM and ROM are soldered onto the chip

Ausrichie:

They should have left out the ROM. What the hell, there is nothing in a phone you can replace once a smartphone dies that is the end.

atheistandproud:


Na Olamide phone you dey talk about.

My mind made the connection just now

Osasnidas:

atheistandproud:


Baba we made FP again.

Cc
SunshineV
DrJPrince
Krazydave
MrBone2
Ddjay
Seunfly
Prettybunny
Dragnetisakuk et al

Osasnidas:


Yes bro... Keep it up.... I am always looking forward to every enlightening post or topic you make...

atheistandproud:


Baba we made FP again.

Cc
Sunshin.eV
DrJ.Prince
Krazy.dave
MrB.one2
Ddj.ay
Seu.nfly
Prettyb.unny
Dragnetis.akuk et al

atheistandproud:






Thanks guys

atheistandproud:


Baba we made FP again.

Cc
SunshineV
DrJPrince
Krazydave
MrBone2
Ddjay
Seunfly
Prettybunny
Dragnetisakuk et al

Kingnelson9:
Pls what is clock speed?is it nt inside the Soc? Secondly what while is most window phones slow in response while iphone is very fast ....?

AleagueEdu:
Thanks op


I'm informed

Kingnelson9:
Pls what is clock speed?is it nt inside the Soc? Secondly what while is most window phones slow in response while iphone is very fast ....?