Special A5 Chip in Apple TV 3

First, the Apple TV A5 chip is 41% smaller than the one powering the iPhone 4S. Apple and Samsung are probably using a 32 nm engraving process, if we consider that the A5X powering the new iPad is engraved at 45 nm, this smaller process is probably reducing cost of production while offering a manageable size for a small device such as the Apple TV. Heat release will laso be reduced with thinner engraving.

Then, when looking at it closer, they discovered that the Apple TV A5 chip is a dual core A5 chip in which one core has been disabled. This will for sure improve production cost as Apple can then either disable one core, or use CPU in which one core did not pass qualification test. this method is called Parts binning and contribute to increase the usable die per wafer while lowering the manufacturing cost.

Now the question is: What is Apple doing with the volume of fully functional 32 nm engraved dual core A5 chips? Stocking them for powering the next generation iPod touch?

First, the Apple TV A5 chip is 41% smaller than the one powering the iPhone 4S. Apple and Samsung are probably using a 32 nm engraving process, if we consider that the A5X powering the new iPad is engraved at 45 nm, this smaller process is probably reducing cost of production while offering a manageable size for a small device such as the Apple TV. Heat release will laso be reduced with thinner engraving.

Then, when looking at it closer, they discovered that the Apple TV A5 chip is a dual core A5 chip in which one core has been disabled. This will for sure improve production cost as Apple can then either disable one core, or use CPU in which one core did not pass qualification test. this method is called Parts binning and contribute to increase the usable die per wafer while lowering the manufacturing cost.

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