It has not been only NVIDIA who has presented a new SoC at the CES…as expected. One of the biggest manufacturers of mobile processors of years ago has done the same, we are referring to QualcommThe two new models that are now official are Snapdragon 800 and 600.
These two products come to retire the Snapdragon S4 and S1, which were presented during the course of the Mobile World Congress and which have meant an important step for the company since they have been among the most used in the mobility market. Sony, Nokia and a long etcetera they chose them and, in addition, the terminals with operating system Windows Phone include them… hence, perhaps, the presence of Steve Ballmer, CEO of Microsoft, in the course of the presentation ... and, this, is not usually a minor question and, surely, these are the processors that Redmond want to be used with their development.
The two new models
Snapdragon 800 it is the more powerful model of the two. It uses a manufacturing technology of 28 nm (the specific one from TSMC called HPm, which stands out for its high efficiency). Inside it includes Quad-core Krait 400 at 2,3 GHz and, according to the manufacturer, ensures a performance up to 75% superior to the S4 Pro models. At the graphic level it integrates Adreno 330, which provides between 50% and 100% more performance compared to Adreno 320 in 3D and multimedia scenarios, in addition to 4K encoding and playback at 30 fps with audio 7.1 by hardware.
What concerns to Snapdragon 600, this model is more modest, but outperforms the S4 Pro in performance by around 40% (in some scenarios it is between 25% and 40%, depending on configuration and testing). With a frequency of up to 1,9 GHz y quad core Krait 300 redesigned to offer better performance OoOE (out-of-order), your Adreno GPU 320 maintains a remarkable graphical experience and offers support for LTE and memory L.
Snapdragon 800 and 600 will reach the market in midyear and, according to Qualcomm, they already have a list of more than 50 models that will include them. Therefore, a new evolution of this company is a reality and, from what it seems, the progress is not merely a matter of aesthetics... it is truly a step forward. Beyond the raw power, highlights his LTE integration and platform stability, aspects in which Qualcomm usually excels compared to other proposals on the market.
Architecture, efficiency and energy management
These SoCs prove that a SoC is much more than a CPU. In fact, the CPU It usually occupies around one small fraction (about Up to 15%) of the complete chip, which integrates cache memories, Dual ISP for camera, LTE modem, WiFi, Bluetooth and the GPU Adreno 330 / 320. At Qualcomm, an approach is used aSMP (Asynchronous Symmetric Multi-Processing): all four cores can operate independently, with different frequencies and voltages, activating or deactivating cores in real time and scaling according to the load. Tools such as Trepan Profiler or development kit allow you to see that scalability instantly.
Although in the ARM industry there is talk of big.LITTLE and its advanced version HMP (which allows you to use all cores at the same time or just one to save battery), in Snapdragon 800/600 a similar effect is achieved with the fine-grained core management Krait and policies boost dynamic: when the CPU is working below its thermal/power limits, it may temporarily increase the frequency Through the clock multiplier to give more performance. In addition, the size and the cache hierarchy (for example, a cache L3 or largest upper level when present) directly impact the latency and overall performance of the system.
The memory L with interface 2 × 32 provides greater bandwidth, something key to sustaining loads of 3D graphics, 4K and multi-core camera. Added to this is the microarchitecture Krait 300/400, with execution out-of-order e improved latencies to the L2 cache, which reduces bottlenecks in mixed CPU and GPU tasks.
Graphics and multimedia: Adreno 330 and 4K take center stage
La Adreno 330 of the Snapdragon 800 offers a jump of between 50% and 100% against the Adreno 320 in graphics tests, with a particular advantage in demanding 3D scenarios. It is capable of play and encode 4K video at 30 fps and supports audio 7.1 by hardware. This makes the 800 a true pocket home theater: from a smartphone or tablet you can play content Ultra HD on compatible televisions or projectors.
Popular benchmarks such as 3DMark, GLBenchmark (modes Onscreen/offscreen) or Epic Citadel reflect these advances, as do CPU tests such as AnTuTu, Quadrant, Geekbench o CF Bench, and browser as SunSpider, Octane, Kraken:, V8, VellamoMenu y BrowserMarkThe leap is not only theoretical: it is noticeable in frame rate higher and in tasks of real time editing.
It is important to note that although the platform allows 4K, to take advantage of it on external screens it is recommended HDMI output direct or However, with that port, since the standard MHL The common microUSB does not support 4K in all its variants. The technology has also been shown in real-life demonstrations. TransferJet, which allows you to transfer large files wirelessly at speeds approaching 50 Mbps with a similar start-up to NFC (devices in close proximity).
Integrated connectivity and compatible platforms
In addition to the modem LTE Advanced Cat 4 (until 150 Mbps) and the new one WiFi 802.11ac, Snapdragon 800 incorporates USB 3.0, Bluetooth y FM, Together with Miracast for wireless video transmission. Double ISP allows sensors of up to 55 MP and even multiple simultaneous cameras. This all-in-one connectivity reduces the need for additional chips and improves the Energy Efficiency , helping to maintain autonomy comparable to that of less powerful platforms, such as the family Snapdragon 600.
The integrated baseband solution is supported by the platform 9 × 25 de third generation, which provides stability with Carrier Aggregation and robust LTE coverage. In memory, the interface LPDDR3 2×32 and faster caches improve response time in multitasking, gaming, and computational camera.
Beyond mobile: productivity and new uses
The performance figures of CPU (AnTuTu, Quadrant, Geekbench) and GPU (3DMark, GLBenchmark) have placed Snapdragon 800 among the most capable solutions in its category, opening the door to content creation that previously required PC: postprocessing of images, video edition in real time or intensive multitasking. With low power consumption and no need for active cooling, these SoCs are also attractive for smart televisions y smart televisions, where its multimedia support and connectivity make the difference.
In mains powered TVs and devices, the thermal margin allows higher sustained frequencies that on a phone, which translates into experiences 4K more stable, games higher frame rates and high-quality streaming. On the software side, these chips have driven smooth experiences in Android y Windows Phone, and have been the basis for reference designs in tablets and other formats. Although traditional desktop platforms require specific ecosystems, the evolution of Snapdragon has brought mobile performance closer to real-world scenarios. real productivity, without sacrificing exemplary thermal and energy management.
With Krait 400 on Snapdragon 800 and Krait 300 on Snapdragon 600, integrated LTE modems, Adreno 330 / 320, support for 4K and advanced core management, Qualcomm has built a technical foundation that not only enhances the everyday experience, but also prepares devices for demanding content and connectivity, while maintaining compatibility with a wide range of services and networks.
