ARM Announces 32-bit Cortex A17 Core

[R0H1T]

ARM today announced a new 32-bit CPU core based on their ARMv7 instruction set. ARM Cortex A17, built using 28nm manufacturing technology, supports big. LITTLE configurations and promises a speedup of 60% over a Cortex A9 core. Paired with ARM's Mali-T720 GPU, chipsets utilizing the company's new core promise to offer blazing fast performance across all fronts. MediaTek is reportedly working on an octa-core chipset based on Cortex A17 cores, which should arrive in 2H 2014.

Source

 

[R0H1T]

MediaTek Announces MT6595, World’s First 4G LTE Octa-Core Smartphone SOC with ARM Cortex-A17 and Ultra HD H.265 Codec Support

MediaTek CorePilot™ Heterogeneous Multi-Processing Technology enables outstanding performance with leading energy efficiency

TAIWAN, Hsinchu – 11 February, 2014 – MediaTek today announces the MT6595, a premium mobile solution with the world’s first 4G LTE octa-core smartphone SOC powered by the latest Cortex-A17™ CPUs from ARM®.

The MT6595 employs ARM’s big.LITTLE™ architecture with MediaTek’s CorePilot™ technology to deliver a Heterogeneous Multi-Processing (HMP) platform that unlocks the full power of all eight cores. An advanced scheduler algorithm with adaptive thermal and interactive power management delivers superior multi-tasking performance and excellent sustained performance-per-watt for a premium mobile experience.

Excellent Performance-Per-Watt
• Four ARM Cortex-A17™, each with significant performance improvement over previous-generation processors, plus four Cortex-A7™ CPUs
• ARM big.LITTLE™ architecture with full-system coherency performs sophisticated tasks efficiently
• Integrated Imagination Technologies PowerVR™ Series6 GPU for high-performance graphics
Integrated 4G LTE Multi-Mode Modem
• Rel. 9, Category 4 FDD and TDD LTE with data rates up to 150Mbits/s downlink and 50Mbits/s uplink
• DC-HSPA+ (42Mbits/s), TD-SCDMA and EDGE for legacy 2G/3G networks
• 30+ 3GPP RF bands support to meet operator needs worldwide

World-Class Multimedia Subsystems
• World’s first mobile SOC with integrated, low-power hardware support for the new H.265 Ultra HD (4K2K) video record & playback, in addition to Ultra HD video playback support for H.264 & VP9
• Supports 24-bit 192 kHz Hi-Fi quality audio codec with high performance digital-to-analogue converter (DAC) to head phone >110dB SNR
• 20MP camera capability and a high-definition WQXGA (2560 x 1600) display controller
• MediaTek ClearMotion™ technology eliminates motion jitter and ensures smooth video playback at 60fps on mobile devices
• MediaTek MiraVision™ technology for DTV-grade picture quality

First MediaTek Mobile Platform Supporting 802.11ac
• Comprehensive complementary connectivity solution that supports 802.11ac
• Multi-GNSS positioning systems including GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo and QZSS
• Bluetooth LE and ANT+ for ultra-low power connectivity with fitness tracking devices

World's First Multimode Wireless Charging Receiver IC
• Multi-standard inductive and resonant wireless charging functionality available
• Supported by MediaTek’s companion multimode wireless power receiver IC

"MediaTek is focused on delivering a full-range of 4G LTE platforms and the MT6595 will enable our customers to deliver premium products with advanced features to a growing market," said Jeffrey Ju, General Manager of the MediaTek Smartphone Business Unit.

"Congratulations to MediaTek on being in a leading position to implement the new ARM Cortex-A17 processor in mobile device", said Noel Hurley, Vice President and Deputy General Manager, ARM Product Division. "MediaTek has a keen understanding of the smartphone market and continues to identify innovative ways to bring a premium mobile experience to the masses."

The MT6595 platform will be commercially available by the first half of 2014, with devices expected in the second half of the year.

Source

 

[Lepton87]

I thought Cortex A12 was supposed to fill the niche between A53 and A57. Is A17 the successor to A12?

 

[R0H1T]

I thought Cortex A12 was supposed to fill the niche between A53 and A57. Is A17 the successor to A12?

The AT article on this should clarify a bunch of things ~

www.anandtech.com/show/7739/arm-cortex-a17

 

[Lepton87]

So it should be about 15%* faster then A12 and support bit.LITTLE. A pretty low-key release and still a year to go. MEH.

*Based on the information that A12 is going to be 40% faster then A9R4 and A17 is going to be 60% faster than A9R4.
BTW. Doesn't A9R4 improve upon the first revision of A9 by more or less the same amount?

 

[Phynaz]

Kinda hard to get excited about a 32bit CPU that's coming in the second half of 2014.

 

[Lepton87]

Kinda hard to get excited about a 32bit CPU that's coming in the second half of 2014.

It may be shipping in 2014 but we won't see it in devices until 2015. That's according to Anand, it makes more sense then A17 in 2h2014 as that would make the life of A12 extremely short because it's also rumored to show in 2H 2014

 

[bullzz]

anand mentions its an improvement on A12. only vendors who will be excited abt this is mediatek,allwinner and rockchip. and its on 28nm. lets move on

 

[R0H1T]

It may be shipping in 2014 but we won't see it in devices until 2015. That's according to Anand, it makes more sense then A17 in 2h2014 as that would make the life of A12 extremely short because it's also rumored to show in 2H 2014

Sorry but seems AT's probably wrong on this one, see the Mediatek release that's right after the OP, also if HMP works for A17(as it was originally intended for) then I see a bunch of low/medium budget devices using the same approach i.e. just slap a big little A17 config with a PowerVR rogue GPU & see it fly off the shelves !

 

[sm625]

I hope they dont stop making 32 bit fast dual core SoCs... I hate all this stupid quad core 64 bit nonsense. Talk about a waste of money and resources. My phone uses 680-800MB of RAM depending on whether I have 2 or 8 apps running. I dont run more than 8 before clearing them out.

 

[Homeles]

I hope they dont stop making 32 bit fast dual core SoCs... I hate all this stupid quad core 64 bit nonsense. Talk about a waste of money and resources. My phone uses 680-800MB of RAM depending on whether I have 2 or 8 apps running. I dont run more than 8 before clearing them out.

There are actually benefits to both ARMv8 and AMD64 that extend beyond the obvious extra address space. It's not a gimmick. There's actually substantial gains to be had:

http://www.anandtech.com/show/7335/the-iphone-5s-review/4

 

[Nothingness]

There are actually benefits to both ARMv8 and AMD64 that extend beyond the obvious extra address space. It's not a gimmick. There's actually substantial gains to be had:

http://www.anandtech.com/show/7335/the-iphone-5s-review/4

Yes. Most of these gains are due to the use of crypto instructions, and to the use of vectorization of double (which wasn't possible in 32-bit instruction set).

Some larger benchmarks, such as parts of SPEC2000 should be slower in 64-bit due to heavy use of pointers that will saturate the data cache. That phenomenom exists on x86 where some parts of SPEC are compiled in 32-bit mode to get the best score.

 

[Roland00Address]

I can't get excited for a cpu core that isn't shipping for a year based on theoretical numbers dmips/mhz numbers. These dmips/mhz does not necessarily correlate with real world performance this may be an awesome chip, or it may be mediocre I honestly don't know. I won't know until we get actual silicon.

I can't simply care about a cpu design until I see the cpu in an actual product you can actually test.

 

[meloz]

MediaTek Announces MT6595, World’s First 4G LTE Octa-Core Smartphone SOC with ARM Cortex-A17 and Ultra HD H.265 Codec Support
Source

This PR release says:

Integrated 4G LTE Multi-Mode Modem
• Rel. 9, Category 4 FDD and TDD LTE with data rates up to 150Mbits/s downlink and 50Mbits/s uplink
• DC-HSPA+ (42Mbits/s), TD-SCDMA and EDGE for legacy 2G/3G networks
• 30+ 3GPP RF bands support to meet operator needs worldwide

Just where and how Mediatek are getting this 4G LTE modem? Is this some in-house development?

 

[Nothingness]

Just where and how Mediatek are getting this 4G LTE modem? Is this some in-house development?

It probably is their own modem, at least they already have a discrete LTE modem solution: http://www.mediatek.com/_en/03_news/01-2_newsDetail.php?sn=1130

 

[meloz]

It probably is their own modem, at least they already have a discrete LTE modem solution: http://www.mediatek.com/_en/03_news/01-2_newsDetail.php?sn=1130

Ah, only last month.

Do other companies have to pay some royalties or one-time fees to Qualcomm? I was under the impression Qualcomm had a lot of exclusive IP where LTE was concerned. If my impression is true, does that not put a floor on the modem pricing?

Anyway this Mediatek product is coming to the market at the right time. 4G will see explosive growth in developing countries in the next 8-12 months and Mediatek should be able to take a lot of the marketshare. I am amazed how Mediatek started so humbly and continue to grow stronger. Meanwhile a giant like Intel still continues to flounder in the portable and mobile space.

 

[witeken]

Meanwhile a giant like Intel still continues to flounder in the portabe and mobile space.

Not surprising if you're going to compete in a new and competitive market. Once 14nm SoFIA and Broxton arrive for phones, they will eat massive market share from Qualcomm and MediaTek, and even earlier for tablets.

 

[Nothingness]

Not surprising if you're going to compete in a new and competitive market. Once 14nm SoFIA and Broxton arrive for phones, they will eat massive market share from Qualcomm and MediaTek, and even earlier for tablets.

Intel has repeatedly failed to enter the ultra mobile market since 2008. It's funny to read people saying it's because Intel didn't really try. Didn't they try with Menlow for MID in 2008? Didn't they try with Moorestown in 2010? Didn't they try with Medfield in 2012? Now they'll be trying with Merrifield (if this ever gets released that is) and if that fails then they'll try with SoFIA (made by TSMC on 28nm end of 2014) and Broxton in 2015. Given their pedigree I'll wait for a major smartphone or Android tablet design win before making bold claims as you do

Process achievement isn't all there is to the story.

 

[podspi]

Yeah, price and instruction set matter too. Two areas where, at least historically, Intel has lagged behind the competition (in mobile).

 

[Nothingness]

Yeah, price and instruction set matter too. Two areas where, at least historically, Intel has lagged behind the competition (in mobile).

They also lack flexiblity: it's complex for them to port new IP to their process (see the issue they have with the ex-Infineon modem, still built at TSMC); it also seems their time to market is longer than the competition probably due to being too cautious and being too close to their process.

They might change all that, but I wouldn't bet on them. At least not this year.

 

[witeken]

There are actually benefits to both ARMv8 and AMD64 that extend beyond the obvious extra address space. It's not a gimmick. There's actually substantial gains to be had:

http://www.anandtech.com/show/7335/the-iphone-5s-review/4

64bit != ARMv8

 

[Homeles]

64bit != ARMv8

My statement still stands...

 

[ShintaiDK]

No 64bit, may release in second half of 2014.

Same big.LITTLE failed concept that even lacks proper software support still.

Hard to be impressed. And its so far away.

And still 28nm...

 

[witeken]

Intel has repeatedly failed to enter the ultra mobile market since 2008. It's funny to read people saying it's because Intel didn't really try. Didn't they try with Menlow for MID in 2008? Didn't they try with Moorestown in 2010? Didn't they try with Medfield in 2012? Now they'll be trying with Merrifield (if this ever gets released that is) and if that fails then they'll try with SoFIA (made by TSMC on 28nm end of 2014) and Broxton in 2015. Given their pedigree I'll wait for a major smartphone or Android tablet design win before making bold claims as you do

Process achievement isn't all there is to the story.

Actually it's very important in the smartphone space. Those Snapdragon 800 quadcore socs are throttling like crazy. Within a few seconds they are bottlenecked at 1GHz. Silvermont uses much less energy, so it can stay a lot longer at high clock speeds, effectively being twice as fast (1GHz vs. 2.4GHz).

Also, until Silvermont, Intel really didn't try (not very serious at least). Their products were made on a n-1 process node and there were no real architectural changes since the first Atom. Now Atom is at the same level as Core, or even higher because Cherry Trail might be the first 14nm product, and 1Q later we'll already see Willow Trail with the Goldmont architecture and gen9 graphics. Broxton is made specifically to be able to react very quick.

 

[Nothingness]

Actually it's very important in the smartphone space. Those Snapdragon 800 quadcore socs are throttling like crazy. Within a few seconds they are bottlenecked at 1GHz. Silvermont uses much less energy, so it can stay a lot longer at high clock speeds, effectively being twice as fast (1GHz vs. 2.4GHz).

No, what matters first is to have the right SoC and Intel failed badly: their BT GPU performance is only adequate for low/mid-range tablets; we still haven't seen the smartphone SoC using Silvermont; and Android is still MIA on BT.

Also, until Silvermont, Intel really didn't try (not very serious at least). Their products were made on a n-1 process node and there were no real architectural changes since the first Atom. Now Atom is at the same level as Core, or even higher because Cherry Trail might be the first 14nm product, and 1Q later we'll already see Willow Trail with the Goldmont architecture and gen9 graphics. Broxton is made specifically to be able to react very quick.

I have heard this often enough that I won't believe it until I see products

I think we've been off topic long enough, we'll resume that discussion later I guess