What is affected by the number of cores in a smartphone? Mobile application development

The smartphone industry is progressing every day, and, as a result, users are getting newer, more modern and powerful gadgets. All smartphone manufacturers strive to make their creation special and irreplaceable. Therefore, today much attention is paid to the development and production of processors for smartphones.

Surely, many fans “ smart phones“The question has arisen more than once: what is a processor and what are its main functions? And also, of course, buyers are interested in what all these numbers and letters in the name of the chip mean.
We suggest you familiarize yourself a little with the concept "smartphone processor".

Processor in a smartphone- this is the most complex part and is responsible for all calculations performed by the device. In fact, it is wrong to say that a smartphone uses a processor, since processors as such are not used in mobile devices. The processor, together with other components, form SoC (System on a chip - system on a chip), which means that on one chip there is full-fledged computer with a processor, graphics accelerator and other components.

If we are talking about the processor, then first we need to understand such a concept as "processor architecture". Modern smartphones use processors based on the ARM architecture, which is developed by the company of the same name ARM Limited. We can say that architecture is a certain set of properties and qualities inherent in a whole family of processors. Qualcomm, Nvidia, Samsung, MediaTek, Apple and other processor companies license technology from ARM and then sell the finished chips to smartphone manufacturers or use them in their own devices. Chip makers license from ARM separate kernels, instruction sets and related technologies. ARM Limited does not produce processors, but only sells licenses for its technologies to other manufacturers.

Now let's look at concepts such as core and clock speed, which are always found in reviews and articles about smartphones and phones when we're talking about about the processor.

Core

Let's start with the question, what is a kernel? Core is an element of the chip that determines the performance, power consumption and clock speed of the processor. Very often we come across the concept of a dual-core or quad-core processor. Let's figure out what this means.

Dual-core or quad-core processor - what's the difference?

Very often, buyers think that a dual-core processor is twice as powerful as a single-core processor, and a quad-core processor is, accordingly, four times more powerful. Now we will tell you the truth. It would seem quite logical that moving from one core to two, or from two to four, increases performance, but in fact it is rare that this power increases by a factor of two or four. Increasing the number of cores allows you to speed up the operation of the device due to the redistribution of running processes. But most modern applications are single-threaded and therefore can only use one or two cores at a time. The question naturally arises, what is a quad-core processor for then? Multi-core is mainly used by advanced games and editing applications multimedia files. This means that if you need a smartphone for gaming (3D games) or shooting Full HD video, then you need to purchase a device with a quad-core processor. If the program itself does not support multi-cores and does not require large resources, then unused cores are automatically disabled to save battery power. Often, the fifth companion core is used for the most unpretentious tasks, for example, to operate the device in sleep mode or when checking mail.

If you need an ordinary smartphone for communication, surfing the Internet, checking email or to keep up with everyone latest news, then a dual-core processor is quite suitable for you. And why pay more? After all, the number of cores directly affects the price of the device.

Clock frequency

The next concept we have to get acquainted with is clock frequency. Clock frequency is a characteristic of the processor, which shows how many clock cycles the processor is capable of working per unit of time (one second). For example, if the device characteristics indicate frequency 1.7 GHz - this means that in 1 second its processor will perform 1,700,000,000 (1 billion 700 million) cycles.

Depending on the operation, as well as the type of chip, the number of clock cycles it takes for the chip to perform one task may vary. The higher the clock frequency, the faster the operating speed. This difference is especially noticeable when comparing identical cores operating at different frequencies.

Sometimes the manufacturer limits the clock speed in order to reduce power consumption, because the higher the speed of the processor, the more power it consumes.

And again we return to multi-core. Increasing the clock speed (MHz, GHz) can increase heat generation, which is highly undesirable and even harmful for smartphone users. Therefore, multi-core technology is also used as one of the ways to increase the performance of a smartphone without making it too hot in your pocket.

Performance increases by allowing applications to run simultaneously on multiple cores, but there is one condition: applications must latest generation. This feature also saves battery power.

Another one important characteristic processor, which smartphone sellers often keep silent about is CPU cache.

Cache- This is memory designed for temporary storage of data and operating at the processor frequency. The cache is used to reduce the processor's access time to slow RAM. It stores copies of part of the RAM data. Access time is reduced due to the fact that most of the data required by the processor ends up in the cache, and the number of accesses to RAM is reduced. The larger the cache size, the larger part necessary for the program it can contain data, the less often access to RAM will occur, and the higher the overall performance of the system will be.

The cache is especially relevant in modern systems, where the gap between the speed of the processor and the speed of the RAM is quite large. Of course, the question arises, why do they not want to mention this characteristic? Everything is very simple. Let's give an example. Suppose there are two for everyone famous processor(relatively A and B) with absolutely the same number of cores and clock speed, but for some reason A works much faster than B. This is very simple to explain: processor A has a larger cache, therefore, the processor itself works faster.

The difference in cache volume is especially noticeable between Chinese and branded phones. It would seem that according to the characteristics numbers, everything seems to be the same, but the price of the devices differs. And this is where buyers decide to save money with the thought “why pay more if there is no difference?” But, as we see, there is a difference and a very significant one, but sellers often keep silent about it and sell Chinese phones at inflated prices.

This is how we briefly dealt with the main CPU characteristics for mobile phone. Every day we hear about new developments and projects, and there were even rumors about an eight-core processor. But today the most popular gadgets are those with a quad-core processor. As they say, time will tell which chip will perform better.

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What is a processor?

Without going into details, this is the central element of the system, which is responsible for all information transformations and controls the computing process.

mobile version chip (ARM) is not much different from its stationary counterpart. The only differences are in size, power and clock speed.

The latter have lower figures.

All of them have achieved success in this industry, but the main struggle is between the Chinese company MediaTek and the American Qualcomm.

Qualcomm

The silicon giant was founded back in 1985. The company was engaged in the production of phones, GPS modules and wireless devices.

We will consider it as largest manufacturer mobile chips.

In 2005, they licensed ARM technologies, purchasing the rights to create the Cortex A8 core. Based on it, our own chip was developed.

The top line of chips is called Snapdragon.

These processors are installed in such flagship devices as Sony Xperia Z line, HTC One, LG G2 and G3 and some models Samsung.

But the latest top-end chip Snapdragon 810 has caused a lot of discussion. Some said that it overheats a lot, causing performance to suffer.

But this fact remained undocumented.

8 cores, Cat 6 LTE chip, giving speeds up to 300 Mbps, support for 4K video, as well as sensors up to 55 MP. The figures are impressive.

MediaTek

They take advantage not only of quality, but also of mass production, supplying products to all smartphones costing up to $200.

The most famous “stone”, namely MT6592, installed on budget phones like Lenovo, in particular the S860 and more.

They were the first to develop a 10-core processor called Xelio X20. On this moment is the most powerful single-chip system in the world.

Recruits more than 70,000 “parrots” in AnTuTu. Not yet serially produced.

Specifications include 3 blocks of cores: 2x2.5 GHz, 4x2 GHz and 4x1.4 GHz. Mali 800 graphics and support for 2 13 MP sensors. Wi-Fi support 802.11ac and LTE Cat 6.

Apple

Cupertino residents have always been famous for their closeness. Their unofficial motto can be interpreted as follows: “You don’t need to know what’s inside. Just take it and use it."

And this applies to all the company’s products.

As for the mobile division, the situation here is no less confusing.

It is only known that the company itself develops processors for smartphones and tablets, assigning them the index A and serial number.

In particular, the most powerful mobile stones A8 and A8X are considered. They are equipped with iPhone 6/6 Plus And iPad Air respectively.

Despite 2 cores of 1.4 GHz and an M8 coprocessor, the performance is impressive.

Intel

Despite the fact that this giant tops the rating mobile processors for laptops, in the field mobile development he's actually sitting on the bench.

Although the fact that smartphones come with Intel chips Atom are in high demand, we can say that the company is making progress.

Now the strongest chip that is used in series is Z3580. 4 cores at a frequency of 2.33 will give a head start even to such “players” as Snapdragon 801 and Apple A7.

Specifications: 4x2.33 GHz, DDR-1600 support and proprietary graphics from Intel.

Nvidia

The situation with a company that is famous for gaming and overclocker video cards similar to Nvidia.

In their main field, they achieved outstanding results, but things didn’t work out with the mobile segment.

In particular, Tegra chips have good potential, but leading manufacturers are in no hurry to purchase processors in batches.

Yes, Nvidia hardware will be appreciated by gamers.

But the majority of smartphone users are businessmen, young people over the age of 20, and girls who are unlikely to want to “play Doom on ultra.”

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Today you won’t surprise anyone with the presence of a telephone; even small children have them. People already want to have not just a phone, but a universal mini computer in the form of a smartphone. The quality and performance of the gadget are of paramount importance.

Choosing new phone, many questions always arise, but they are all aimed at finding out which smartphone is better, more practical, more powerful.

Also, many buyers pay attention to the number of cores, battery power, etc. technical specifications. In addition, when buying a phone, another important point is the price. I want to take it good thing without paying extra money.

Of course, the cost of the gadget also determines what characteristics it will have. But do not forget that the processor for a phone, like for a computer, is a very important component.

The undisputed leaders in the production of processors are such companies as:

• Qualcomm.
• MediaTek.
• Apple.
• Tegra from Nvidia.
• Samsung Exynos.
• Intel.
• Kirin 950 and 955.

The article will examine in more detail the question of which processor is better for an Android smartphone. But let's start from the beginning.

The influence of the number of cores and processor frequency on the operation of a smartphone

In general, the number of cores in a smartphone affects its performance when working with a large number of applications at the same time. However, it is not always worth chasing their quantity. Because this also affects the battery life of the smartphone.

Undoubtedly, in addition to the number of cores, when choosing a smartphone, it is also important to pay attention to the processor clock speed. If you are interested in what it should be for the gadget to function well, then you should give preference to a processor frequency of at least 1 MHz.

The higher the frequency, the faster speed smartphone operation with applications. The same point affects the cost of the gadget. A normal clock frequency can be considered from 1500-1700 MHz, but above 1900 MHz is already considered powerful.

Processor architecture

Since the microcircuit is the main working tool of any gadget, it is worth understanding a little about such a concept as processor architecture. It is divided into two categories ARM and x86. These architectures have several significant differences in operation:

1. So ARM copes great with simple tasks like opening pages on the Internet or playing any media files. And also, unlike x86, it is focused on low energy consumption.
2. A microprocessor architecture such as x86 is more powerful and at the same time, energy consumption will also be high. However, it supports most resource-intensive operations, including photo editing, audio editing, etc.

Despite all the differences, the ARM architecture is currently the most popular. In addition, ARM Limited continues to improve this architecture, due to the increasingly increasing demands on modern smartphones.

But in general, any of the technical issues always depends on the user’s requirements for the purchased gadget.

Which processor is better for a smartphone on the Android platform, summary

Thus, when deciding which processor is better for a smartphone on the Android platform, this is done based on what the user requires. So if you want to get high quality photo, then it is better to choose smartphones using Qualcomm processors Snapdragon.

If you like to play various games, then chips installed from Nvidia are best suited for these purposes (the best of them is Tegra X1).

But when buying cheaper smartphones, give preference to those with a processor from the Chinese company MediaTek. It is desirable that it be a Helio X30 chip. The most economical in terms of energy consumption are chips from Intel.

But there's one more enough important point, since the processor architecture itself is divided into two types x86 and ARM, then when targeting certain applications or games for phones, you need to take into account that some of them can only work with one of the architectures.

Therefore, I advise you to first study information about the compatibility of the applications you need with a particular architecture before purchasing a smartphone or tablet on the Android platform.

In general, answering the question which processor is better for a smartphone on the Android platform, then by analyzing expert assessments we can conclude that the best processors for these gadgets are processors own developments Samsung.

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How fast and smooth a smartphone will be is determined by its three main hardware components - the main processor, video card and RAM. It is this hardware that is responsible for the correct operation of the interface, for the ability to launch resource-intensive games and applications, as well as for their quick launch and stability.

How instead mobile device not choose “brick”? What should be inside a smartphone for it to become your reliable electronic assistant and justify the investment? cash, and didn’t add extra hassle? Below we will consider the specifics of the processor’s influence on the operation of the smartphone, and also note what its indicators are recommended for optimal performance in general and individual resource-intensive tasks.

Processor manufacturers

The processor is perhaps the main hardware component of a smartphone, just like any other computer device. Drawing an analogy with human body, it can be safely called the heart - the generator of all ongoing processes within the system.

Unlike the processors that manufacturers use in computers and laptops, smartphones are equipped with processors based on the energy-efficient ARM architecture. This allows the smartphone to work in offline mode more than a dozen hours at moderate load.

Processors for mobile devices are produced by such companies as: Qualcomm, Samsung, MTK, Intel, Nvidia and others. Of this list, the leading position is occupied by Qualcomm, which has released flagship Snapdragon processors S4, 400, 600 and 800. The latter - the Snapdragon 800 processor - is installed by manufacturers on most of their top-end smartphones.

Here's the company Apple processors designs for its gadgets independently, and, by the way, also uses ARM architecture. But Apple only designs; the linear production of this company’s processors is carried out by third-party manufacturers.

The same strategic position is occupied by main competitor Apple is a Samsung company that, through the efforts of its own specialists, designed a processor for mobile devices - Exynos 5.

In competition with these market giants mobile technology Another company is participating - MediaTek. MTK - processors produced by this company - until recently were used as “low-grade” components of budget, low-functional models of mobile equipment. However, today everything is different - productive capacity affordable price attracted famous players in the mobile equipment production market. And manufacturers such as LG, Sony and others equip some of their smartphone models with MTK processors. MediaTek managed to significantly increase its authority in the market after releasing several models of high-performance processors for mobile devices.

Two more serious players in the market of components for computer and mobile equipment are well-known companies Intel and Nvidia. Intel produces smartphone processors based on the Atom x86 architecture, the same architecture used in PC processors. True, such smartphones are still quite rare.

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CPU frequency

The clock speed of a processor is an indicator of its power and performance. The higher this indicator, the better - it would seem that the logic is simple, but not everything is so simple. When choosing a smartphone processor, you cannot rely only on the clock speed, despite the fact that the rule “the more, the better” still works. Modern processors for mobile devices can increase or decrease their frequency depending on which task they are performing - a resource-intensive task or a task with a simple load. Modern smartphones are usually equipped with processors with core frequencies above 1 GHz. If this figure is lower, know that this is either an outdated model or a rare, low-performing budget model. But manufacturers can supply top smartphone models with processors with a core frequency of even more than 2 GHz.

But even with the same core frequency, the processors different manufacturers may show completely different performance results. Moreover, some processors will cope more successfully with some tasks, while others - respectively, with others. Because the most the best way Finding out which processor and at what clock speed will be better for performing specific user tasks is performance testing using a benchmark. Benchmark is a special type of program that is designed to compare the performance of computer and mobile equipment. The most popular benchmarks for Android platforms are AnTuTu Benchmark and Quadrant. These apps will test your Android device - smartphone or tablet - and return the results in the form of a number of performance scores. This rating will serve as a measure of the speed of a particular mobile device compared to others.

Number of processor cores

How many computing cores should a mobile device processor have? Smartphones with single-core processors - today such a picture can only be found in rare budget models from manufacturers. Top budget models smartphones, devices of medium and powerful performance - multi-core processors are responsible for their performance, which ensure the operation different tasks devices. Processors with two computing cores gave rise to the evolution of processors - processors with four, five and even eight computing cores appeared.

As with the processor clock speed, the situation with computing cores may seem simple and straightforward - the more cores a processor has, the more productive the processor is. Perhaps in most cases this is true, but practice shows that this is not always the case. Thus, smartphones, as a rule, do not use all of their processing cores at the same time. Another nuance - most applications for mobile platforms are simply not designed to work with a processor with more than two cores.

A striking example is the iPhone 5s. This gadget is powered by a dual core processor but results in flawless performance Apple By optimizing the hardware and operating system, the device boasts performance that will be the envy of Android smartphones with powerful multi-core processors.

Tegra 3 is a popular processor platform developed by by Nvidia- this is a branded product that has declared itself as an ideal configuration that provides performance to mobile devices, while sparingly consuming battery power. The platform is a processor with four computing cores of 1.6 GHz each and a fifth additional low-power core, which ensures the operation of the mobile device in energy saving mode. Thus, mobile devices based on Tegra 3 for games and resource-intensive applications use the full power of four cores. But when resource-intensive content is not played, four powerful cores are inactive. At this time, the fifth core provides mail checking and background work system services and processes, as well as other lightweight tasks, prolonging the life of the gadget’s battery.

Exynos 5 is a processor platform with eight cores from Samsung, which is equipped with super-efficient Samsung smartphones Galaxy S4 and Samsung Galaxy Note 3. Exynos 5 is essentially based on two processors with four cores. One of the processors is low-power, but saves battery power. The other is very powerful, but, therefore, absorbs a lot of energy. Depending on what tasks the smartphone performs, either one or the other processor works. When launching resource-intensive games and applications, more powerful processor, the simple tasks of a smartphone and its background work are provided by a low-power, economical processor.

MediaTek worked hard to release a full-fledged eight-core processor and introduced it at the end of 2013. But how much such productive capacity will be in demand in mobile devices? ordinary users? Will smartphone manufacturers be able to ensure that such processors work well together with other hardware components? Are the creators of mobile phones ready to implement solutions for introducing such power to the masses? operating systems, game and application developers?

Optimal processor for a smartphone

If we talk about some average indicator that is suitable for optimal operation of a modern smartphone, this is a processor with two computing cores and a frequency of at least 1 GHz. Today this is perhaps the most reasonable minimum - the smartphone processor will do everything necessary tasks and even more, while the cost of the device will be affordable for many.

But if you plan to explore the capabilities of your smartphone to the fullest and are buying it to play powerful action games on it, go for a device with a quad-core processor.

When choosing a smartphone, also pay attention to the processor manufacturer. Thus, Snapdragon processors from Qualcomm and Exynos from Samsung are considered the most productive solutions. If financial capabilities allow, these processors should be preferred to alternatives from MediaTek.

Often, smartphone buyers are faced with the question: which processor is better to choose for their phone. Many people believe that the number of cores and frequency play a key role in the selection. But this factor is not decisive in the performance and performance of a mobile device.

What determines the performance of smartphones?

The performance indicators of gadgets depend on the following factors:

• random access memory;
• processor type;
• type of graphics adapter.

These factors determine the smooth launch of the interface and successful start running a variety of applications. Therefore, before you buy a mobile device, you should find out which processor would be better suited for a smartphone so that it functions as efficiently as possible.

Platforms for mobile devices

Among the platforms for mobile phones Most Popular:

• Windows Phone;
• Android;
• iOS for iPhone.

The speed of the smartphone and the ability to quick opening applications.

Processor manufacturers

What are the best processors for smartphones? There is no clear answer to this question. It is worth noting one of the leaders in the production of microchips. This is Qualcomm, which developed such best-sellers as Snapdragon 400, 600 and 800. Apple Corporation Designs processors for its devices independently using ARM architecture. The Korean brand Samsung has also developed Samsung Exynos microchips, which are installed on the company's TOP smartphones. Worthy special attention And Chinese company MediaTek, which is confidently mastering the modern market. It is worth mentioning the Intel brand, which produces processors based on the x86 architecture, used for the development of computer microchips. The products of this manufacturer are mainly used in Windows devices.

Processor frequency: which is better for a smartphone?

When choosing a smartphone, you should not focus on indicators clock frequencies. But the higher the numbers, the better it is.
Almost all processors for mobile phones have the ability to automatically adjust their own frequencies. Therefore, the characteristics of a smartphone or tablet indicate the upper figure.
The bulk of smartphones have processors with the following ranges:

• 1000-1300 MHz for budget models;
• 1300-1700 MHz for the middle class;
• 1900 MHz is the most powerful processor for a smartphone or tablet.

It is important to understand: megahertz on one device can “show themselves” faster than on another. The performance speed of a gadget is influenced not only by frequency, but also by many other parameters.
To determine the speed of the processor, developed special programs, with which you can compare the performance of smartphones. Under any circumstances, it is better to choose a processor for a smartphone with a microchip with a frequency of at least 1500 MHz.

How many cores are needed for the device to function effectively?

On modern market present a huge number multi-core processors, which use several computing units for different tasks. After the creation of dual-core microchips, four-, five- and eight-core solutions also began to appear on the market.
When buying a mobile device, the choice may seem obvious, based on the principle - the more cores, the better. But it is not always the case. Smartphone processors almost never use all cores to launch and operate applications, for most of which a dual-core chip is sufficient.
A clear indication of this is iPhone latest versions using a dual-core processor. Correct and high-quality optimization allows the gadget to function at top level, and performance of this device Many devices will be envious even with eight-core microchips.

Worth paying attention Samsung processor Exynos 5, which is equipped with some models of the brand’s gadgets. It has eight cores thanks to two quad-core microchips that do not function simultaneously. One of the processors is more powerful and starts when opening “heavy” games and applications. At the same time, he is quite “voracious”. The rest of the tasks are performed by a more energy-efficient chip, which conserves battery power and is capable of delivering excellent performance for less complex applications.

Don't know how to choose good processor for a smartphone? When purchasing a budget device, a dual-core chip will be enough. If you are passionate about games, you should pay attention to quad-core variations. An eight-core processor is, of course, good, but there is practically no use for it yet. When it becomes possible to use such gadgets, then modern smartphones premium ones will cost the same as budget models.

Which processor is better for an Android smartphone?

Most Android devices are powered by Snapdragon microchips manufactured by Qualcomm. With a sufficiently significant load, the gadget will work at full power, which is indicated in its characteristics. And when idle, operating frequencies will be reduced to save battery.

It would be wrong to say that Snapdragon is the most best processor for Android smartphone. But the popularity of installing it on most devices is quite high.