7 ms·

"Only utilizing one core" would mean that the software only uses one, but the hardware has two. "Binning parts" means they're either actually hardware-disablin

"Only utilizing one core" would mean that the software only uses one, but the hardware has two. "Binning parts" means they're either actually hardware-disabling ("diking out") the extra core, or the extra core was bad to begin with (making use of otherwise bad chips). If those images are real, both cores are definitely on the chip, but whether one is hardware-disabled or not is not certain.

lukifer 14y ago
Given how many A5s they produce and the low cost of the Apple TV, my money's on the latter.
- deleted 14y ago
  [deleted]
robryan 14y ago
Would make more sense to software disable it? Then when new hardware comes out the older hardware can be upgraded to support a new OS and utilise the second core rather than being left behind.
- jonhohle 14y ago
  iOS is already a pre-emptive, multi-processing OS. It would have no problem using a second core.
- jevinskie 14y ago
  Wouldn't it make more sense to enable it from the get go if it is really available and not locked out for yield purposes?
  - msbarnett 14y ago
    Yeah. The simplest and most plausible explanation here is that they're using the Apple TV's relatively low performance demands as a way to get some use out of A5s with defective cores
  - mrleinad 14y ago
    Not if you're planning to advertise the next version of your product as "now it has a dual-core processor"
- Steko 14y ago
  As mentioned if they have switched all their 4S production over to this chip they may be able to support their Apple TV line primarily with dies that have a borked processor (otherwise those get thrown out). In that case only upgrading a portion of the people who bought Apple TVs with a software update might be counterproductive.
mturmon 14y ago
Agree. It does seem like the images are real, because apparently the site is in the business of selling very high-res versions of such chips: http://www.chipworks.com/en/technical-competitive-analysis/report-formats/basic-benchmarking/die-photos http://www.chipworks.com/en/technical-competitive-analysis/r... "Die photos are available in the Chipworks Report Store at top metal and lower metal/poly"
- jgw 14y ago
  Chipworks are in the business of all manner of reverse-engineering silicon. It's a pretty interesting process. Sadly, it's one of the few semiconductor segments in which Ottawa, where I live, is still something of a leader. And, weirdly, the owner of the company used to live in the condo below me.

lukifer 14y ago

Given how many A5s they produce and the low cost of the Apple TV, my money's on the latter.

deleted 14y ago
[deleted]

robryan 14y ago

Would make more sense to software disable it? Then when new hardware comes out the older hardware can be upgraded to support a new OS and utilise the second core rather than being left behind.

jonhohle 14y ago
iOS is already a pre-emptive, multi-processing OS. It would have no problem using a second core.
jevinskie 14y ago
Wouldn't it make more sense to enable it from the get go if it is really available and not locked out for yield purposes?
- msbarnett 14y ago
  Yeah. The simplest and most plausible explanation here is that they're using the Apple TV's relatively low performance demands as a way to get some use out of A5s with defective cores
- mrleinad 14y ago
  Not if you're planning to advertise the next version of your product as "now it has a dual-core processor"
Steko 14y ago
As mentioned if they have switched all their 4S production over to this chip they may be able to support their Apple TV line primarily with dies that have a borked processor (otherwise those get thrown out). In that case only upgrading a portion of the people who bought Apple TVs with a software update might be counterproductive.

mturmon 14y ago

Agree. It does seem like the images are real, because apparently the site is in the business of selling very high-res versions of such chips: http://www.chipworks.com/en/technical-competitive-analysis/report-formats/basic-benchmarking/die-photos http://www.chipworks.com/en/technical-competitive-analysis/r... "Die photos are available in the Chipworks Report Store at top metal and lower metal/poly"

jgw 14y ago
Chipworks are in the business of all manner of reverse-engineering silicon. It's a pretty interesting process. Sadly, it's one of the few semiconductor segments in which Ottawa, where I live, is still something of a leader. And, weirdly, the owner of the company used to live in the condo below me.