What is Smartphone SoC (System On a Chip)
Smartphones and tablet don’t just use “processors”, It uses System-on-a-Chip (or SoC).SoC is the equivalent of a computer motherboard, including main processor, graphics processor and memory — on a single chip.
With the evolution of cell phones into full-fledged handheld computers, manufacturers had to think of new ways to fill all the essential components of a PC into the tiniest space possible. Hence, the birth of System on a Chip, or SoC. It is the chip determining your device’s performance, and the kind of hardware it will support: the camera, display resolution, USB 3.0 or 2.0, Bluetooth version to name a few.SoC integrates a microcontroller (or microprocessor) with advanced peripherals like graphics processing unit (GPU), Wi-Fi module, or coprocessor. What goes inside the SoC varies between different manufacturers, but all of them contain at least the following components-
Memory :
RAM is used by the OS to store frequently used instructions, for quick access. More RAM generally means more speed.
Processors / CPU :
While the main processor might not perform all the heavy lifting, the CPU is nonetheless a must-have component of the SoC.
The Central Processing Unit, the ‘brain’ behind it all. Most of the modern processors have multiple cores, the beefiest ones having up to 10 cores in total.
Graphics Processing Unit (GPU):
GPU is a graphics engine which is capable of producing 3D environment on a 2D display. GPU in a portable android device with better graphics, improved power savings, and increased performance. Also, the ARM’s Mali GPU-based smartphone relies on a whole new architecture which is not common in most GPU’s. These enable complex 2D and 3D gaming in a wide range of today’s smartphones with better clock speed.
Northbridge & Southbridge :
Northbridge acts as an interface between the CPU and the rest of the chipset.
Southbridge Controls input and output functions, including audio, USB etc.
Apart from these, some manufacturers pack in a few extra components in their SoCs. Qualcomm, for example, integrates modems (cellular radios, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi) in some of their SoCs.
Clock speed :
A processor’s clock speed is the rate at which it can execute a given set of instruction and is measured in terms of Hertz (GHz or MHz). Higher the rate, faster it processes the information. Faster clock speeds mean more responsive while running a linear application (playing games or using a web browser). For a heavy gamer higher clock speed is a boon but also, greater the processing speed the more heat it dissipates and consumes more battery. This is the tradeoff between performance (clock speed) and power consumption.
With the evolution of cell phones into full-fledged handheld computers, manufacturers had to think of new ways to fill all the essential components of a PC into the tiniest space possible. Hence, the birth of System on a Chip, or SoC. It is the chip determining your device’s performance, and the kind of hardware it will support: the camera, display resolution, USB 3.0 or 2.0, Bluetooth version to name a few.SoC integrates a microcontroller (or microprocessor) with advanced peripherals like graphics processing unit (GPU), Wi-Fi module, or coprocessor. What goes inside the SoC varies between different manufacturers, but all of them contain at least the following components-
Memory :
RAM is used by the OS to store frequently used instructions, for quick access. More RAM generally means more speed.
Processors / CPU :
While the main processor might not perform all the heavy lifting, the CPU is nonetheless a must-have component of the SoC.
The Central Processing Unit, the ‘brain’ behind it all. Most of the modern processors have multiple cores, the beefiest ones having up to 10 cores in total.
Graphics Processing Unit (GPU):
GPU is a graphics engine which is capable of producing 3D environment on a 2D display. GPU in a portable android device with better graphics, improved power savings, and increased performance. Also, the ARM’s Mali GPU-based smartphone relies on a whole new architecture which is not common in most GPU’s. These enable complex 2D and 3D gaming in a wide range of today’s smartphones with better clock speed.
Northbridge & Southbridge :
Northbridge acts as an interface between the CPU and the rest of the chipset.
Southbridge Controls input and output functions, including audio, USB etc.
Apart from these, some manufacturers pack in a few extra components in their SoCs. Qualcomm, for example, integrates modems (cellular radios, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi) in some of their SoCs.
Clock speed :
A processor’s clock speed is the rate at which it can execute a given set of instruction and is measured in terms of Hertz (GHz or MHz). Higher the rate, faster it processes the information. Faster clock speeds mean more responsive while running a linear application (playing games or using a web browser). For a heavy gamer higher clock speed is a boon but also, greater the processing speed the more heat it dissipates and consumes more battery. This is the tradeoff between performance (clock speed) and power consumption.
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