HUAWEI just launched the 2021 MatePad Pro, which runs on the new HarmonyOS 2!
Here is what you need to know about the 2021 HUAWEI MatePad Pro tablet!
2021 HUAWEI MatePad Pro : What You Need To Know!
The 2021 HUAWEI MatePad Pro looks superficially like the 2020 HUAWEI MatePad Pro, but they are quite different beasts altogether.
It is now much bigger 12.6-inch tablet, built around the Kirin 9000E mobile platform and runs on the brand new HarmonyOS 2 operating system!
Flagship Performance
The 2021 HUAWEI MatePad Pro is built around the Kirin 9000E, the world’s first 5nm 5G mobile SoC.
It has a triple-core CPU architecture, with a boosted Cortex-A77 core at 3.13 GHz, three high-speed Cortex-A77 cores at 2.54 GHz, and four low-power Cortex-A55 cores at 2.05 GHz.
It has a 22-core Mali-G78 GPU, and two Neural Processing Units – one Big-Core NPU and one Tiny-Core NPU.
Memory + Storage
The 2021 MatePad Pro comes with 8 GB LPDDR4x memory and 256 GB built-in storage, with the option of adding an NM card for additional storage (up to 256 GB).
Large OLED Display
The 2021 HUAWEI MatePad Pro sports a massive 12.6-inch OLED display, with a resolution of 2560 x 1600 pixels.
Thanks to its ultra-narrow 5.6 mm bezels, this FullView Display offers a 90.1% screen-to-body ratio.
On top of that, it has a colour accuracy of ∆E < 0.5, making it a great portable second monitor for professional photographers!
Improved HUAWEI Share Capabilities
The 2021 HUAWEI MatePad Pro offers improved HUAWEI Share, offering the next level of device connectivity :
You can not only mirror your HUAWEI smartphone onto your tablet, you can also transfer and share files across multiple devices even laptops, simply by dragging and dropping them!
2nd Generation HUAWEI M-Pencil
HUAWEI is introducing the 2nd generation M-Pencil with the MatePad Pro. This optional stylus has a much lower input lag – as low as 9 ms, with 4,096 levels of pressure and tilt sensitivity.
Designed to give you the natural writing experience, it offers the feel of a real pencil on paper. It also supports HUAWEI FreeScript, which transforms handwritten content into machine-encoded text in real time.
If you need to switch into different modes like Instant Shape or Instant Table, all you need to do is double-tap it!
HUAWEI Smart Magnetic Keyboard
The HUAWEI Smart Magnetic Keyboard is a full-sized keyboard with a key travel of 1.3 mm; and supports Bluetooth and wireless charging.
This magnetically-paired keyboard quickly converts the MatePad Pro into a full-fledged laptop, offering greater working productivity.
Large Battery + Super Fast Charging
The 2021 HUAWEI MatePad Pro tablet comes with a large 10,050 mAh lithium-ion polymer battery built-in for a very long battery life.
On top of that, it supports 40 watt SuperCharge, when used with a 40 watt HUAWEI Super Fast Charger.
2021 HUAWEI MatePad Pro : Specifications
Here is how the 2021 HUAWEI MatePad Pro compares to the 2020 MatePad Pro!
Specifications
MatePad Pro
2021
MatePad Pro
2020
Display Size
12.6-inch
10.8-inch
Display Panel
OLED
LCD
Display Resolution
2560 x 1600 pixels
Max. Brightness
400 nits
540 nits
Colour Gamut
DCI-P3
Operating System
HarmonyOS 2
EMUI 10.1 (Android 10)
System Platform
HUAWEI Kirin 9000E
HUAWEI Kirin 990
Memory
8 GB
6 GB / 8 GB
Storage
256 GB
128 GB / 256 GB / 512 GB
External Storage
256 GB NM Card
Front Camera
8 MP selfie camera
Rear Cameras
13 MP main camera
8 MP wide-angle camera
13 MP main camera
Connectivity
WiFi-AX
Bluetooth 5.2
USB Type C
WiFi-AC
Bluetooth 5.1
USB Type C
Stylus
Optional
M-pencil Gen 2
Optional
M-pencil
Fingerprint Sensor
No
NFC Support
No
Audio
8 Speakers
HUAWEI Histen 7.0
4 Speakers
HUAWEI Histen 6.0
Battery
10,050 mAh
7,250 mAh
Charging
40 W SuperCharge
20 W fast charging
Dimensions
286.5 mm wide
184.7 mm tall
6.7 mm thick
246 mm wide
159 mm tall
7.99 mm thick
Weight
609 g
492 g
2021 HUAWEI MatePad Pro : Price + Deal!
The 2021 HUAWEI MatePad Pro will be available for sale in Malaysia from 18 June 2021 onwards, in the Matte Grey colour.
It has an official launch price of RM 3,999 (about US$970 / £686 / A$1,253 / S$1,286). Here are online purchase options :
Network : 4G LTE
Wi-Fi : 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz
Bluetooth : BT 5.1
USB : Type C
GPS
GPS, Beidou, Galileo, GLONASS
Battery
4,000 mAh
Charging
33 W fast charging
Dimensions
73.90 mm wide 159.68 mm tall 7.29 mm thick
74.37 mm wide
161.24 mm tall
7.38 mm thick
Weight
176 g – 177 g
171 g
Unboxing The vivo V21 Smartphone!
The vivo V21 comes in a premium-looking box. Once you unbox it, this is what you will find inside.
vivo V21 smartphone
vivo V21 clear TPU bumper case
Set of vivo V21 documents
vivo V3330L0A0-UK charger (supports 33 watt Flash Charge 2.0)
USB-A to USB-C data and power cable
USB-C to 3.5 mm audio adaptor
One pair of wired earphones
SIM tray ejection pin
vivo V21 Smartphone : Our Hands-On Experience!
vivo sent us a unit of the V21 smartphone to try out, so here is our hands-on experience and its key features!
6.44-inch AMOLED Display
The vivo V21 comes with a large 6.44-inch AMOLED display, which is HDR10 certified.
While this is the same size as the V21e, it comes with a brighter 500 nits panel, which supports a higher 90 Hz refresh rate.
Performance
The vivo V21 is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 800U, which is a new mid-range mobile SoC, roughly equivalent to the Qualcomm Snapdragon 750G.
It has two fast ARM Cortex-A76 cores running at 2.4 GHz for sustained performance, six power-efficient ARM Cortex-A55 cores running at up to 2.0 GHz, and a tri-core ARM Mali-G57 MC3 GPU.
Memory + Storage
The V21 comes with 8 GB of RAM, but has the ability to expand it with 3 GB of Extended Memory (virtual memory).
It also comes with 128 GB of internal UFS 2.2 storage, which offers 110% faster read speed and 95% faster write speed, compared to the vivo V20.
Its storage can be further expanded using a microSD card – shared with SIM2 in a hybrid SIM tray.
44 MP OIS Selfie Camera
The vivo V21 comes with a 44 MP selfie camera, with a wide f/2.0 aperture; and support for Super Night Selfie and AI Night Portrait.
This 44 MP selfie camera boasts two world-leading features :
its 44 MP selfie camera supports optical image stabilisation (OIS), which allows you to take super-steady photos and videos even while walking!
it is the first phone to feature Dual Selfie Spotlight, for radiant selfies even in low light conditions!
Triple Rear Camera System
The vivo V21 features a triple camera setup, that consists of:
a 64 MP main camera with f/1.79 aperture,
an 8 MP wide-angle camera with f/2.2 aperture,
a 2 MP macro camera with f/2.4 aperture, and
a single LED flash.
The 64 MP main camera with a 4-axes OIS technology, allowing you to take photos and record videos with incredible stability.
Large Fast-Charging Battery
The vivo V21 has a large 4,000 mAh battery, which supports 33 watt fast charging. And yes, it comes with the 33 watt FlashCharge 2.0 charger in box!
Heck, vivo even threw in a USB-C to 3.5 mm audio adaptor, and a pair of earphones too.
vivo V21 + V21e : Price + Availability
Both models are available for purchase with immediate effect, at these launch prices :
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Kingston just announced that their eMMC memory has been selected to be used in the NXP iMX 8M Plus reference board!
NXP iMX 8M Plus To Use Kingston eMMC Memory!
On 8 April 2021, Kingston Technology announced that their eMMC embedded memory will be featured in NXP iMX 8M Plus evaluation kits.
Although Kingston did not reveal which eMMC part was selected, the picture they released appears to show the EMMC08G-MB29, which boasts these key features :
8 GB capacity
3D TLC in pMLC NAND memory
eMMC 5.1 standard
11.5 x 13 x 0.8 mm package size
They will be used as storage in the NXP iMX 8M Plus reference boards, which will be used for development and engineering verification.
NXP iMX 8M Plus : What Is It?
The NXP iMX 8M Plus is an application processor – a System-On-a-Chip (SoC) designed for infrastructure solutions like smart home, intelligent city and industrial IoT devices.
two or four ARM Cortex-A53 processors (up to 1.8 GHz)
a neural processing unit (NPU) operating at up to 2.3 TOPS
ARM Cortex-M7 controller (up to 800 MHz)
32-bit DDR4 and LPDDR4 interface (up to 4.0 GT/s)
dual image signal processors (ISP) : up to 12 MP, up to 375 MPixels per second
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Exclusive on Tech ARP – the first look at the 2021 MacBook Pro ports, including a brand new MagSafe 3 port and an SD card slot!
Here is the first ever look at the MagSafe 3 connector, the SD card slot, and other ports that will ship with the 2021 MacBook Pro!
First Look : 2021 MacBook Pro MagSafe 3 + SD Card Slot!
Apple fans who miss the MagSafe port and the SD card reader in their MacBook laptops will have something to cheer for this year!
Apple will not only introduce a new MagSafe 3 connector in the upcoming 2021 MacBook Pro, they will also bring back the SD card slot!
New Apple MagSafe 3 Connector!
The new MagSafe 3 connector is bidirectional and has 5 pins, and will lock and detach magnetically like the previous two generations.
The MagSafe 3 connector is not compatible with older MacBook computers, and has a pill-shaped design with a thinner profile.
The MagSafe 3 port is located on the left side of the 2021 MBP, next to two Thunderbolt 3 (USB4) ports, and a 3.5 mm audio jack.
Ports on the left side of the 2021 Apple MBP | Copyright : Tech ARP (www.techarp.com)
Return Of The SD Card Reader!
We are also glad to report that Apple will (finally) bring back the SD card reader that many photographers LOVED, and bemoaned when Phil Schiller killed it in 2016.
Now that Schiller is out of Apple, it looks like it’s been resurrected for the 2021 MacBook Pro. Utility finally trumped cumbersome!
The SD card reader is located on the right side, together with a third Thunderbolt 3 (USB4) port and a HDMI 2.0 port.
Ports on the right side of the 2021 Apple MBP | Copyright : Tech ARP (www.techarp.com)
2021 Apple MacBook Pro : What Else Is New?
So what else is new in the 2021 MacBook Pro, other than MagSafe 3 and the resurrected SD card reader?
14-inch + 16-inch Models
There will be two 2021 MacBook Pro models – with 14-inch and 16-inch displays.
Apple M1X SoC
There will no longer be Intel CPU options, only the Apple M1X SoC.
Nothing much is known about the Apple M1X, other than it is a more powerful version of the M1 that has stunned many with its performance.
But rumours have it that it will have 12 processor cores, split into two performance clusters :
P Cluster (Performance) : 8 x Firestorm (?) cores
E Cluster (Efficient) : 4 x Icestorm (?) cores
It will have a more powerful GPU than Apple M1‘s 8-core GPU.
Memory
The Apple M1X will use the same unified memory design as the M1, built directly onto the package for near-instantaneous access.
However, it will offer larger memory options – 24 GB and 32 GB are possible – in addition to 16 GB currently available with the M1.
External Display Support
A big limitation of the Apple M1 is its support for just one external display of up to 6K resolution at 60 Hz.
The 2021 MacBook Pro will support at least two external displays, if not more, via its Thunderbolt 3 and HDMI ports.
OLED Touch Bar Gone!
Good riddance to the pointless OLED Touch Bar. That’s gone for the 2021 MacBook Pro models.
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The OPPO Reno5 Pro comes with 12 GB of RAM, and 256 GB of storage. The larger storage capacity is important, because it does not support external storage through a microSD card.
Cameras Galore
The OPPO Reno5 Pro has a high-resolution 32 MP front camera, with an f/2.4 aperture. Despite its high resolution, it only supports 1080p video recording, at up to 30 fps.
In the back, it has a quad camera system that consists of :
a 64 MP main camera, with f/1.7 aperture
an 8 MP ultra-wide camera, with f/2.2 aperture
a 2 MP macro camera, with f/2.4 aperture, and
a 2 MP depth sensor, with f/2.4 aperture
The 64 MP main camera can record videos at up to 4K @ 30 fps, or 1080p @ 60 fps.
Beyond that, OPPO is trying to promote their new Dual-View capability, which combines videos from both the front and rear cameras.
5G Connectivity
5G connectivity is a key selling point for the OPPO Reno5 Pro, which supports both 5G SA (Standalone) and 5G NSA (Non-Standalone) modes.
However, you are unlikely to be able to actually utilise this capability for quite some time, as the 5G rollout will take years.
Small Fast-Charging Battery
The OPPO Reno5 Pro has a small 2,175 mAh battery, but it supports 65 watt SuperVOOC 2.0 fast charging capability.
And yes, it comes with the charger in-box.
OPPO Reno5 Pro : Specifications Compared
Here is our comparison of the key specifications of the Reno5 Pro with its cheaper brother, the Reno5 :
Specifications
Reno5
Reno5 Pro
Model
CPH2145
CPH2201
Display
6.4-inch AMOLED
6.5-inch AMOLED
Resolution
1080 x 2400 pixels
Pixel Density
410 ppi
402 ppi
Colour Gamut
93% DCI-P3
135% sRGB
97% NTSC
100% sRGB
Display
Brightness
430 nits to 600 nits
500 nits to 800 nits
Display
Features
90 Hz refresh rate
180 Hz sampling rate
Protection
None
Operating System
ColorOS 11.1 (Android 11)
Platform
Qualcomm
Snapdragon 765G
MediaTek
Dimensity 1000+
Memory
8 GB
12 GB
Storage Options
128 GB
256 GB
External Storage
None
Front Camera
32 MP (f/2.4)
Rear Cameras
64 MP (f/1.7) main camera
8 MP (f/2.2) ultra-wide camera
2 MP (f/2.4) macro camera
2 MP (f/2.4) depth sensor
Connectivity
5G / 4G / 3G / 2G
Wi-Fi : WiFi-5
Bluetooth : BT 5.1
USB : Type C
5G / 4G / 3G / 2G
Wi-Fi : WiFi-6
Bluetooth : BT 5.1
USB : Type C
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Xiaomi just introduced a new entry-level 5G smartphone – the Redmi Note 9T!
Take a look at the new Xiaomi Redmi Note 9T, and see if this is what you have been waiting for!
Xiaomi Redmi Note 9T : New Entry-Level 5G Smartphone!
Xiaomi just introduced a new entry-level 5G smartphone – the Redmi Note 9T! This is the 5G big brother of their Redmi 9T. Confusing naming, indeed!
6.53-inch FHD+ Dot Drop Display
The Redmi Note 9T sports a large 6.53-inch Dot Drop display, with a FHD+ resolution of 1080 x 2340 pixels.
It is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 5, and is TUV Rheinland-certified for low blue light.
MediaTek Dimensity 800U
The Redmi Note 9T is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 800U mobile platform, with 5G and WiFi-AC connectivity.
It has an 8-core processor, with two high-speed ARM Cortex-A76 cores running at 2.4 GHz, and six low-power ARM Cortex-A55 cores running at 2 GHz.
It comes with the ARM Mali-G57 MC3 GPU, and a built-in AI accelerator.
Memory + Storage Options
Xiaomi is offering two memory and storage options – 4 GB RAM + 64 GB storage, and 6 GB RAM + 128 GB storage.
Five Cameras
In the front, the Xiaomi Redmi Note 9T has an 13 MP selfie camera, with a f/2.3 aperture. At the back, it has a triple-camera system that consists of :
a 48 MP main camera, with f/1.79 aperture and 4-in-1 Super Pixel capability
a 2 MP macro camera, with f/2.4 aperture, and
a 2 MP depth sensor, with f/2.4 aperture
Power + Charging
Powering all that is a large 5,000 mAh battery, which supports 18 watt fast charging. Oddly enough, it comes with a 22.5 watt charger in the box.
Xiaomi Redmi Note 9T : Specification Comparison
To help you differentiate between the Redmi 9T (4G) and the Redmi Note 9T (5G), here is their specification comparison.
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Windows gaming on the ARM-based Apple M1 is possible!
Watch how well the Apple M1 runs The Witcher 3 using CrossOver 20!
Apple M1 Gaming : Watch It Run The Witcher 3 On CrossOver 20!
AppleGamers successfully ran The Witcher 3 on CrossOver 20, using the 2020 Apple MacBook Pro with the new ARM-based Apple M1 SoC.
Here was their recorded gameplay of The Witcher 3 at the 1080p resolution, with the Medium graphics and post-processing presets, and VSync enabled.
They could not get the FPS counter to work, but it looks smooth and very playable, albeit with some visual artefacts.
Basically – Apple M1 gaming is not only possible, it is possible to play Windows games!
Windows Gaming On Apple M1 : Rosetta 2 + Windows API Translation!
That quick gameplay showcase of The Witcher 3 shows that Windows gaming is possible on the Apple M1.
The ability to run The Witcher 3 on CrossOver 20, and at such playable frame rates, is important for two reasons.
Windows App Compatibility
The Witcher 3 is a 64-bit Windows-only game, so you wouldn’t expect it to run well on the ARM-based Apple M1, right?
Running it on the Apple M1 involves translating Windows API calls using CrossOver, and then translating x86 instructions to ARM instructions using Rossetta 2.
Yet it not only worked, it ran pretty well on the Apple M1!
Performance
While AppleGamers was not able to obtain a frame rate, The Witcher 3 appears to run pretty well at the 1080p resolution.
That shows that the Apple M1’s integrated 8-core GPU is fast, and will have no problem handling native ARM games at 1080p, and likely 1440p as well.
Apple M1 : A Quick Primer
The Apple M1 is the first ARM-based SoC (System on a Chip) designed by Apple for use in Mac computers.
Packing 16 billion transistors, it is the first chip to be manufactured on the new 5 nm TSMC process technology.
It comes with 4 high-performance Firestorm CPU cores, 4 power-efficient Icestorm cores, an 8-core GPU, and a 16-core Neural Engine.
As the M1 is based on the ARM architecture, you can natively run iPhone and iPad apps on it. However, existing macOS apps will have to be ported over, or translated on-the-fly using Rosetta 2.
It is currently available in these Apple Mac computers :
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HUAWEI just launched the P40 Pro Plus / P40 Pro+ smartphone, featuring a 50MP Leica penta-camera system!
Here is a quick overview of the new HUAWEI P40 Pro Plus – its key features, price and availability!
HUAWEI P40 Pro Plus : A Quick Primer
The HUAWEI P40 Pro Plus is the big brother of the new P40 family of smartphones. It has a 6.58-inch OLED display, with a resolution of 1200 x 2640 pixels, and a 90 Hz refresh rate.
It comes only in 5G variants, powered by the Kirin 990 5G. HUAWEI will offer it with 8 GB of memory, and storage options of 256 GB and 512 GB.
In front, it has a 32 MP camera, with a depth camera. But its marquee feature is its rear Leica penta-camera system, which consists of :
a 50 MP main camera with f/1.9 aperture (OIS support),
a 40 MP ultra-wide camera with f/1.8 aperture,
an 8 MP 10X SuperZoom camera with f/4.4 aperture (OIS support),
an 8 MP 3X telephoto camera with f/2.4 aperture (OIS support), and
a 3D depth sensor
Powering all that is a large 4,200 mAh battery, which supports 40 watt HUAWEI SuperCharge wired charging.
HUAWEI P40 Pro Plus : Specifications
HUAWEI P40 Pro+ (5G)
Display
6.58-inch OLED display
– 1200 x 2640 pixels, 90Hz refresh
Protection
IP68
Operating System
EMUI 10.1 (based on Android 10)
System Platform
HUAWEI Kirin 990 5G
Processor
2 x Cortex-A76 (2.86 GHz)
2 x Cortex-A76 (2.36 GHz)
4 x Cortex-A55 (1.95 GHz)
Leica Penta Camera System
– 50 MP main camera (f/1.9 with OIS)
– 40 MP ultra-wide camera (f/1.8 aperture)
– 8 MP 10X SuperZoom camera (f/4.4 with OIS)
– 8 MP 3X telephoto camera (f/2.4 with OIS)
– 3D depth sensor
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HUAWEI just launched the P40 Pro smartphone, featuring a 50MP Leica quad camera system!
Here is a quick overview of the new HUAWEI P40 Pro – its key features, price and availability!
HUAWEI P40 Pro : A Quick Primer
The HUAWEI P40 Pro is the middle brother of the new P40 family of smartphones. It has a 6.58-inch OLED display, with a resolution of 1200 x 2640 pixels, and a 90 Hz refresh rate.
It comes only in 5G variants, powered by the Kirin 990 5G. HUAWEI will offer it with 8 GB of memory, and storage options of 128 GB, 256 GB and 512 GB.
In front, it has a 32 MP camera, with a depth camera. But its marquee feature is its rear Leica quad-camera system, which consists of :
a 50 MP main camera with f/1.9 aperture (OIS support),
a 40 MP ultra-wide camera with f/1.8 aperture,
a 12 MP telephoto camera with f/2.4 aperture (OIS support), and
a 3D depth sensor
Powering all that is a large 4,200 mAh battery, which supports 40 watt HUAWEI SuperCharge wired charging.
HUAWEI P40 Pro : Specifications
HUAWEI P40 Pro (5G)
Display
6.58-inch OLED display
– 1200 x 2640 pixels, 90Hz refresh
Protection
IP68
Operating System
EMUI 10.1 (based on Android 10)
System Platform
HUAWEI Kirin 990 5G
Processor
2 x Cortex-A76 (2.86 GHz)
2 x Cortex-A76 (2.36 GHz)
4 x Cortex-A55 (1.95 GHz)
Leica Quad Camera System
– 50 MP main camera (f/1.9 with OIS)
– 40 MP ultra-wide camera (f/1.8 aperture)
– 12 MP telephoto camera (f/2.4 with OIS)
– 3D depth sensor
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HUAWEI just launched the P40 smartphone, featuring a 50MP Leica triple camera system!
Here is a quick overview of the new HUAWEI P40 – its key features, price and availability!
HUAWEI P40 : A Quick Primer
The HUAWEI P40 is the little brother of the new P40 family of smartphones. It has a 6.1-inch OLED display, with a resolution of 1080 x 2340 pixels.
It comes in 4G and 5G variants, powered by the Kirin 990 and Kirin 990 5G respectively. HUAWEI will offer it with either 6 GB or 8 GB of memory, and either 128 GB or 256 GB of storage.
In front, it has a 32 MP camera, with an IR camera. But its marquee feature is its rear Leica triple-camera system, which consists of :
a 50 MP main camera with f/1.9 aperture,
a 16 MP ultra-wide camera with f/2.2 aperture, and
an 8 MP telephoto camera with f/2.4 aperture (OIS support)
Powering all that is a large 3,800 mAh battery, which supports 22.5 watt HUAWEI SuperCharge wired charging.
HUAWEI P40 : Specifications
HUAWEI P40 (5G)
HUAWEI P40 (4G)
Model
ANA-NX9, ANA-AN00, ANA-TN00
ANA-LX4
Display
6.1-inch OLED display
– 1080 x 2340 pixels
Protection
IP53
Operating System
EMUI 10.1 (based on Android 10)
System Platform
HUAWEI Kirin 990 5G
HUAWEI Kirin 990
Processor
2 x Cortex-A76 (2.86 GHz)
2 x Cortex-A76 (2.36 GHz)
4 x Cortex-A55 (1.95 GHz)
2 x Cortex-A76 (2.86 GHz)
2 x Cortex-A76 (2.09 GHz)
4 x Cortex-A55 (1.86 GHz)
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The new Samsung Galaxy S20 smartphones are powered by the Exynos 990 – the latest, greatest mobile platform developed by Samsung themselves.
But just how fast is the Samsung Exynos 990, compared to other mobile platforms? Let’s find out!
Samsung Exynos 990 : What You Need To Know
The Samsung Exynos 990 builds upon Samsung’s first mobile platform with an integrated 5G modem – the Exynos 980, but focuses on performance instead of 5G connectivity.
It boasts a range of significant improvements – new Samsung Mongoose 5 (Exynos M5) and ARM Cortex-A76 cores, and a new Arm Mali-G77 GPU.
Faster Processor + GPU
According to Samsung, its new custom Mongoose 5 (Exynos M5) cores are 20% faster than the Mongoose 4 (Exynos M4) cores used in the flagship-class Exynos 9825 used in the Galaxy Note 10 smartphones!
Its Arm Mali-G77 GPU uses the new Valhall architecture, and promises to offer a 20% boost in graphics performance or power efficiency.
Faster LPDDR5 Memory
The Exynos 990 will be the first Samsung mobile platform to use the new LPDDR5 memory, which offers a 31% higher clock speed – increased from 2093 MHz to 2750 MHz.
This allows it to deliver up to 5,500 Mbps or 687.5 MB/s in memory bandwidth. It should also allow for lower power consumption.
Faster NPU + DSP
Its AI capabilities also received a big boost with a new dual-core NPU and improved digital signal processor (DSP) that can process over 10 trillion operations (TOPS) per second!
Well, this is quite a nice surprise! Samsung Exynos has historically been rather poor at work performance.
The last-generation Exynos 9825 and Exynos 9820, for example, were significantly slower than their Qualcomm counterparts – the Snapdragon 855 and Snapdragon 855+.
But the new Exynos 990 was 36% faster than the Exynos 9820 (its predecessor), and 13% faster than the Snapdragon 855.
Samsung Exynos 990 Gaming Performance : 3DMark
For gaming, we first tested the Exynos 990 using 3DMark, with these results :
Not bad at all! Samsung caught up with Qualcomm in gaming performance as well.
The new Exynos 990 was 7.5% faster than the Snapdragon 855+, that powered high-end gaming smartphones like the Black Shark 2 Pro, in Sling Shot Extreme, matching it in the easier Sling Shot benchmark.
Notably, the Exynos 990 was 50% faster than its predecessor, the Exynos 9820 that powered the Galaxy S10+.
Samsung Exynos 990 Gaming Performance : AnTuTu
We then tested the Exynos 990 using AnTuTu, yielding these results :
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Samsung just unveiled details of the Exynos 990 mobile platform, which boasts the new Arm Mali-G77 GPU and a new dual-core NPU!
Here is EVERYTHING you need to know about the new Samsung Exynos 990 mobile platform!
The Samsung Exynos 990 Mobile Platform
The Samsung Exynos 990 builds upon Samsung’s first mobile platform with an integrated 5G modem – the Exynos 980, but focusing on performance instead of 5G connectivity.
It boasts a range of significant improvements – new Samsung Mongoose 5 (Exynos M5) and ARM Cortex-A76 cores, and a new Arm Mali-G77 GPU.
Faster Processor + GPU
According to Samsung, its new custom Mongoose 5 (Exynos M5) cores are 20% faster than the Mongoose 4 (Exynos M4) cores used in the flagship-class Exynos 9825 used in the Galaxy Note 10 smartphones!
Its Arm Mali-G77 GPU uses the new Valhall architecture, and promises to offer a 20% boost in graphics performance or power efficiency.
Faster LPDDR5 Memory
The Exynos 990 will be the first Samsung mobile platform to use the new LPDDR5 memory, which offers a 31% higher clock speed – increased from 2093 MHz to 2750 MHz.
This allows it to deliver up to 5,500 Mbps or 687.5 MB/s in memory bandwidth. It should also allow for lower power consumption.
Faster NPU + DSP
Its AI capabilities also received a big boost with a new dual-core NPU and improved digital signal processor (DSP) that can process over 10 trillion operations (TOPS) per second!
No Built-In Modem
Interestingly, the Samsung Exynos 990 does not appear to have a built-in modem, not even for 3G and 4G connectivity.
Instead, it appears to be designed to be paired with the new Samsung Exynos Modem 5123 multi-mode 5G modem with transfer rates of up to 7.35 Gbps in mmWave, and 5.1 Gbps in sub-6GHz.
In addition to 10-bit video and HDR display support, the Exynos 990 comes with a 120 Hz refresh rate driver.
Better Photographic Capabilities
Its advanced image signal processor (ISP) not only supports up to six image sensors, it can process images from three of them concurrently! It supports sensor resolutions of up to 108 MP.
Its Multi-Format Codec supports encoding and decoding of 8K videos at up to 30 fps, or 4K UHD videos at up to 120 frames per second. It also supports HDR10+ with dynamic mapping in videos.
Samsung Exynos 990 vs. Exynos 980
Features
Samsung Exynos 990
Samsung Exynos 980
Process
7 nm EUV
8 nm FinFET
Design
Tri-Cluster (2+2+4)
Bi-Cluster (2+6)
Processor
2 x Mongoose 5 cores (2.73 GHz)
2 x Cortex-A76 cores (2.5 GHz)
4 x Cortex-A55 cores (1.9 GHz)
2 x ARM Cortex-A77 cores (2.2 GHz)
6 x ARM Cortex-A55 cores (1.8 GHz)
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Cooler Master just unveiled the MM710 lightweight gaming mouse that features a unique honeycomb shell design!
Here is EVERYTHING you need to know about the new Cooler Master MM710 gaming mouse!
The Cooler Master MM710 Gaming Mouse
Thanks to its honeycomb shell, the MM710 is Cooler Master’s lightest mouse – weighing just 53 grams! It is further paired with an ultra-light braided cable.
The light weight of the Cooler Master MM710 allows for quicker movements, and less fatigue and wrist pain during long gaming sessions.
Lightweight Honeycomb Design + Ultraweave Cable
The Cooler Master MM710 features a new, perforated honeycomb shell that reduces its weight to less than 53 grams. This also necessitates a redesign of its internal components, to increase durability and reduce flex on the mouse sides.
It is paired with a durable and light Ultraweave cable to reduce cable pull while swiping. They both allow for faster movements while reducing fatigue during long gaming sessions.
PixArt PMW3389 Optical Sensor + Omron Switches
The Cooler Master MM710 features the PixArt PMW3389 optical sensor, which supports up to 16,000 DPI.
Paired with a 32-bit ARM processor, the mouse is fully customisable via software – sensor sensitivity, button response time, surface tuning, lift-off distance, polling rate and more!
For greater durability, its left and right buttons use Omron switches that are rated for 20 million presses.
Superior PTFE Mouse Feet + Ambidextrous Design
The Cooler Master MM710 features an ambidextrous design, with a slight hump to provide extra palm support for gamers who prefer the claw grip.
It is also small enough to fingertip for most hand sizes, while allowing smaller hands to use the palm grip.
For a low-friction, consistent glide, its feet use 95% pure PTFE that is significantly better than the standard mouse feet.
Cooler Master MM710 Price + Availability
The Cooler Master MM710 is available with immediate effect, at these recommended retail prices :
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If you like our work, you can help support our work by visiting our sponsors, participating in the Tech ARP Forums, or even donating to our fund. Any help you can render is greatly appreciated!
If you like our work, you can help support our work by visiting our sponsors, participating in the Tech ARP Forums, or even donating to our fund. Any help you can render is greatly appreciated!
On 4 September 2019, Samsung unveiled their first 5G mobile platform – the Exynos 980!
Here is EVERYTHING you need to know about the Samsung Exynos 980 5G mobile platform!
The Samsung Exynos 980 5G Mobile Platform
The Samsung Exynos 980 is the first Samsung mobile platform to come with an integrated 5G modem, introduced as part of their drive to introduce the next-generation 5G smartphones.
The integration of the 5G modem will not only drive down the cost of implementing 5G, it will help reduce power consumption and space utilisation.
The Exynos 980 is, furthermore, fabricated on the 8 nm FinFET process to reduce chip size and increase power efficiency.
Samsung Exynos 980 CPU + GPU
The Samsung Exynos 980 is designed to be an upper mid-range mobile platform, with a bi-cluster CPU architecture :
two ARM Cortex-A77 high-performance cores running at 2.2 GHz
six ARM Cortex-A55 power-efficient cores running at 1.8 GHz
It also comes with a relatively powerful 5-core version of the ARM Mali-G76 GPU.
Samsung Exynos 980 Multi-Mode 5G Modem
The Samsung Exynos 980’s integrated multi-mode modem supports 2G to 5G connectivity.
It offers gigabit download speeds in the 4G LTE mode, and up to 2.55 Gbps download speeds in the sub-6 GHz 5G mode.
The modem also supports E-UTRA-NR Dual Connectivity (EN-DC), which combines 2CC LTE and 5G connectivity to maximise mobile downlink speed of up to 3.55 Gbps.
In addition, it supports the new Wi-Fi 6 standard – IEEE 802.11ax, that provides faster speed and greater stability.
Faster Neural Processing Unit (NPU)
The Samsung Exynos 980 comes with an integrated NPU that is 2.7X faster than its predecessor, allowing for expanded AI capabilities.
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Better Photographic Capabilities
The Samsung Exynos 980 supports sensors of up to 108 MP in resolution.
Its advanced image signal processor (ISP) not only supports up to five sensors, it can process images from three sensors concurrently!
Its Multi-Format Codec supports encoding and decoding of 4K UHD videos at up to 120 frames per second. It also supports HDR10+ with dynamic mapping in videos.
Samsung Exynos 980 Specifications
In this table, we compare the specifications of the Samsung Exynos 980, to the flagship-class Exynos 9825 used in the new Samsung Galaxy Note10 smartphones.
Features
Samsung Exynos 9825
Samsung Exynos 980
Process
7 nm EUV
8 nm FinFET
Design
Tri-Cluster (2+2+4)
Bi-Cluster (2+6)
Processor
2 x Mongoose 4 cores (2.7 GHz)
2 x Cortex-A75 cores (2.4 GHz)
4 x Cortex-A55 cores (1.9 GHz)
2 x ARM Cortex-A77 cores (2.2 GHz)
6 x ARM Cortex-A55 cores (1.8 GHz)
GPU
ARM Mali-G76 MP12
ARM Mali-G76 MP5
NPU
Yes, Integrated
Yes, Integrated
Memory
LPDDR4x-3600
LPDDR4x
5G Modem
Separate Exynos 5100
Integrated 5G NR Sub-6 GHz
– 2.55 Gbps DL / 1.28 Gbps UL
The Samsung Exynos 980 will only begin mass production by the end of 2019, and the first smartphones using it should appear in the first quarter of 2020.
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Samsung just introduced the Galaxy A10s smartphone, targeted at young Millennials.
Here is everything you need to know about the new Samsung Galaxy A10s, including its price, key features and specifications!
The Samsung Galaxy A10s Smartphone
The Samsung Galaxy A10s (Price Check) is designed to target features that Millennials favour, including a very affordable price tag.
Millennials, for example, consume most of their content on smartphones, so the Galaxy A10s (Price Check) comes with a large 6.2-inch Infinity-V display with HD+ resolution.
They also play a lot of mobile games, and socialise on their smartphones, so Samsung gave it a large 4,000 mAh battery to last a full day.
To help them take better “Instagrammable” photos, its 13 MP main camera is paired with a depth sensor that lets you apply bokeh effects to your pictures for that professional portrait look.
Taking great Instagram selfies should be pretty easy with its 8 MP front camera, that has a wide and bright f/2.0 aperture.
It has just 2 GB of RAM, but comes with 32 GB of internal eMMC 5.1 storage. If that’s not enough, you can add a microSD card to add up to 512 GB of additional storage.
Its MediaTek helio P22 is a mid-range platform with old A53 CPU cores and an average GPU. Don’t expect too much from it when it comes to gaming, especially with 2 GB of RAM.
Curiously, it seems to lack dual-band WiFi or Bluetooth 5.0 or even a compass – features commonly found in other mid-range devices, and ostensibly supported by the helio P22.
This means it will have slower WiFi speeds, and will not come with an e-compass. GPS functionality is still there, so Google Maps and Waze will work, but they won’t be able to give you an accurate heading.
Samsung Galaxy A10s Specifications
Specifications
Samsung Galaxy A10s
Model
SM-A107
Display
6.2-inch PLS display
– 720 x 1520 pixels
Operating System
Android 9.0 Pie
Platform
MediaTek helio P22
Processor
4 x ARM Cortex-A53 cores (2.0 GHz)
4 x ARM Cortex-A53 cores (1.5 GHz)
GPU
IMG PowerVR GE8320 (650 MHz)
Memory
2 GB LPDDR3
Storage
32 GB internal storage
microSD slot (up to 512 GB)
Front Camera
8 MP with f/2.0 aperture
Rear Cameras
13 MP camera with f/1.8 aperture
2 MP depth sensor with f/2.4 aperture
Connectivity
4G : LTE
WiFi : 802.11 b/g/n (2.4 GHz only)
Bluetooth : BT 4.2
USB : micro USB 2.0
Dual SIM
Yes, Dual nano SIMs, dual standby
Samsung DeX
No
NFC
No
Fingerprint Sensor
Yes, Rear-mounted
Other Sensors
Accelerometer, Light, Proximity
Battery
4,000 mAh battery
Dimensions
75.8 mm wide
156.9 mm tall
7.8 mm thick
Weight
168 g
Colour Options
Green / Black / Red
Samsung Galaxy A10s Price + Availability
What’s most exciting about the Samsung Galaxy A10s (Price Check) is, arguably, its price.
It is available with immediate effect with a recommended retail price (RRP) of RM 529 / ~US$126 / ~£103 / ~A$187.
At launch, it is available in three youthful colour options – Green, Black and Red.
Here are some direct purchase links for your convenience :
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Xiaomi just launched the highly-affordable Redmi 7A smartphone! Here are its official price list, specifications and availability!
The Xiaomi Redmi 7A Smartphone
The Xiaomi Redmi 7A is their new entry-level smartphone, offering a major upgrade over the Redmi 6A.
It has a better design built around a more powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon 439 platform, a larger 4,000 mAh battery, and splash resistance.
The Redmi 7A has a 5 MP front camera, with a 12 MP rear camera. It also has a 5.45-inch HD+ display, with low blue light eye protection certified by TÜV Rheinland.
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US President Donald Trump not only walked back the HUAWEI ban, he now says that it’s “no great national emergency problem“.
No, it’s not an April Fool joke, although US President Trump seems to behave like it’s all a big fucking joke.
Here is the latest twist in the 4 year comedy-horror show that is the Trump Presidency.
Trump In May : HUAWEI Is A National Security Threat
On 15 May 2019, President Trump signed an executive order barring US companies from using telecommunications equipment from sources that are “national security threats“.
He then had the US Commerce Department add HUAWEI to the Entity List of US national security threats, basically labelling HUAWEI as a national security threat.
That barred American companies, or companies using “significant American technology”, from selling their services or products to HUAWEI.
Trump In June : No Great National Emergency Problem
According to CNN, he said that after his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping on 29 June 2019, “he would allow Huawei to once again buy US products“.
US companies can sell their equipment to Huawei… there’s no great national emergency problem. – US President Donald Trump
Credit : CNN
CNN also pointed out that :
He said he “agreed easily” in his meeting with Xi to continue allowing US companies to do business with the telecom giant.
The Donald Is A Thoroughly Confused Idiot
Seriously? Is HUAWEI a national security threat to the United States or not?
If HUAWEI is a genuine national security threat, then it cannot be part of any trade bargain on the sidelines of the G20 summit.
But Trump has now officially lifted the HUAWEI ban and announced that there will be NO NEW TARIFFS, all without an official trade deal, which is very perplexing.
Does he know what he’s doing? Or is he just making stuff up on the spur of the moment?
One thing is for sure – The Donald is a thoroughly confused idiot.
The Damage Caused By The Trump Ban On HUAWEI
The HUAWEI Trump ban immediately forced many companies or organisations to immediately suspend business with HUAWEI, including :
As if he’s trying to close the barn door after the horses have bolted, Trump hinted that HUAWEI isn’t 100% safe from his wrath.
“We mentioned Huawei,” Trump said of his talks with President Xi Jinping of China earlier Saturday. “We’ll have to save that for the very end.”
In other words, HUAWEI just scored a welcomed reprieve, but Trump will likely demand concessions during the next trade talks, or he could possibly initiate another ban…
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Thanks to the Trump ban, HUAWEI has been forced to shift gears, and will soon reveal a new laptop that runs Windows 10 on ARM processors, instead of Intel x86 processors!
Here is everything you need to know about the upcoming HUAWEI Windows 10 on ARM laptop, and what this would mean to you as a consumer!
The HUAWEI Trump Ban Strikes Again!
The HUAWEI Trump ban just scored another kill – a new HUAWEI MateBook model that was supposed to be revealed at MWC Shanghai 2019.
HUAWEI has delayed that MateBook laptop launch indefinitely, because they can no longer source components from US companies like Intel, it would not be possible to ship the new MateBook laptop.
They also “paused production” of their PC business because of supply restrictions on US components.
Global Times claims that HUAWEI will introduce this new laptop sometime in July 2019.
Yes, that’s just weeks away, although we have to point out that the Global Times is part of the Chinese state media, and their often bombastic claims have to be taken with a pinch of salt.
Windows 10 on ARM (WoA) is a Microsoft initiative to introduce the ability to run the Windows 10 operating system and apps on ARM-based systems.
Windows 10 on ARM is not new. It was first demonstrated at a Windows Hardware Engineering event in China, back in December 2016. And Microsoft later released this demo video :
From the 2018 Fall Creators Update onwards, the Pro and S editions of Windows 10 can run on systems powered by ARM64 processors.
Built-in Windows 10 apps like Edge, Cortana, the Start menu and Explorer were recompiled to run natively on ARM64 / ARM32.
Windows 10 on ARM will run ARM32 and ARM64 apps natively, and will run x86 apps under emulation.
An analyst at the China Merchant Securities told Global Times that, “The new laptop’s system will run based on ARM architecture that supports Windows, which shows that the cut-off of some technologies has very little impact on Huawei.”
Very little impact? While we admire his patriotism, that’s just utter bullshit.
Performance Limitation
The HiSilicon Kirin 980 and the upcoming Kirin 985 are flagship-class mobile SoCs, with eight ARM processor cores – four high-speed cores + four low-power cores. Its ARM Mali-G76 GPU has 10 cores running at 750 MHz.
However, they are no match for Intel Core processors, or AMD’s mobile Ryzen processors. These mobile CPUs are not only much more powerful, they have faster graphics cores that run at higher speeds.
The key advantage of ARM-based processors is power-efficiency, not raw performance.
The HiSilicon Kirin 980 and Kirin 985 are designed for mobile devices. So even though they support quad memory channels, they can only support up to 8 GB of memory.
Laptops that run on x86 processors from Intel and AMD can support up to 64 GB of memory.
Windows 10 On ARM Limitations
Shifting to Windows 10 on ARM is an obvious workaround for HUAWEI’s troubles, but it is not without its own set of problems.
No support for 64-bit x86 apps : WoA can only run 32-bit x86 apps, which are limited to the first 4 GB of memory. 64-bit x86 apps must be recompiled into native ARM64 code to run on WoA.
No support for shell extensions : Apps that use shell extensions must be recompiled for ARM64 to run on WoA.
Limited driver support : WoA require ARM64 drivers, and (obviously) cannot use existing x86 drivers. This imposes a limit on hardware configurations that will work with WoA.
No OpenGL support (yet) : Windows supports OpenGL 1.1, but due to lack of NVIDIA or AMD driver support (see above), OpenGL games and apps will not run. Currently, WoA is limited to DirectX apps and games.
In other words, it will have limited access to Windows 10 apps. Even though it can run 32-bit versions in emulation mode, they will be slower and be limited to the first 4 GB of memory.
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BBC just revealed that HUAWEI ARM business partnership has also been suspended. Find out what this new development means for HUAWEI, and consumers!
HUAWEI ARM Business Suspended
ARM instructed their employees to suspend business with HUAWEI on 16 May 2019, according to internal documents obtained by the BBC.
Specifically, they were told to halt “all active contracts, support entitlements, and any pending engagements” with HUAWEI and its subsidiaries because they were added to the US Entity List.
How Is ARM Affected By The US Entity List?
ARM is a UK-based company, owned by Japanese conglomerate Softbank, and is thus not directly subject to the HUAWEI Trump ban.
However, they said that their designs contained “US origin technology“, which would subject them to the US government restrictions.
What About The Temporary Licence?
The temporary 90-day licence does not apply to ARM, because it only permits software patches and bug fixes for consumer devices, and network equipment.
ARM designs the processor and graphics cores that power almost all mobile SoCs used in smartphones today.
Whether your smartphone uses the Apple A11, a Qualcomm Snapdragon, or a Samsung Exynos mobile SoC – most are built around the ARM Cortex processor and/or ARM Mali graphics cores.
HUAWEI relies on ARM designs and licences for their Hisilicon Kirin mobile SoCs, like the Kirin 980 that powers their new HUAWEI P30 Pro smartphone.
The HUAWEI ARM Business Suspension – How Bad Is This?
Consumers : No Effect
Let’s get this straight, because there are people wondering if their HUAWEI smartphones will stop working. There are even people trying to sell off their HUAWEI smartphones in panic.
Seriously – this has NO EFFECT on all current HUAWEI and HONOR smartphones. Even future HUAWEI and HONOR models that will come out this year are unlikely to be affected in any way.
Short- to Medium-Term : No Real Damage To HUAWEI
In the short- to medium-term, the damage is more perception than substance.
HUAWEI can continue to manufacture and use their existing ARM-based designs, including the recently announced Kunpeng 920 server processors and Tiangang 5G processor.
HUAWEI can manufacture completed ARM-based designs that have not been launched, including their upcoming Kirin 985 flagship processor.
HUAWEI will be able to produce new smartphones, servers and other devices that use those ARM-based processors.
Long-Term : Potentially Disastrous For HUAWEI
The HUAWEI ARM licences and technical support are critical for the development of future mobile and server processors.
It would take them a long time, and a lot of effort, to switch to an alternative RISC architecture, like the open-source RISC-V.
Their best bet would be to temporarily suspend or slow down the development of their next-generation ARM-based designs, while the US and Chinese government “duke it out”…
How Will This Work Out?
President Donald Trump has framed HUAWEI as a national security threat, but the HUAWEI Trump ban is really about the trade war with China.
Placing HUAWEI in the Entity List prevents HUAWEI from buying American products and technology, not sell their products and technology to American companies.
In fact, HUAWEI does not even sell their smartphones or laptops in the United States, which begs the question – why on earth were they even targeted?
Photo Credit : News.com.au
In all likelihood, Trump is hoping that tightening the noose around HUAWEI will force Chinese President Xi Jinping into a trade deal.
We believe this ban will eventually resolve in a US-Chinese trade deal of some sort… The alternative – open conflict – would, frankly, be quite unthinkable.
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October 31, 2018 – Arm today disclosed details on their Neoverse brand of infrastructure-class IP for 5G networks and next-generation cloud to edge infrastructure, as well as the Neoverse infrastructure roadmap.
The Arm Neoverse 5G Platform
Arm Neoverse solutions are uniquely designed for higher-levels of performance, security, and scalability not seen today. Innovation from microarchitecture design up through silicon, software, and systems will enable best-in-class solutions to address the diverse and evolving requirements across the entire compute spectrum.
Arm Neoverse is based on guiding design principles centered around:
World-class high performance, secure IP and architectures purpose-built for cloud native and networked workloads
A highly-scalable set of IP optimized for leading-edge process nodes, including “Ares” (7nm), “Zeus” (7nm+), and “Poseidon” (5nm), designed to enable systems across the infrastructure
A robust ecosystem empowered to build unique and diverse solutions targeting a wide range of use-cases through leveraged investment in unified software, tools, and silicon platforms
The Arm Neoverse Roadmap
Arm also provided a first look at its Neoverse processor IP roadmap, with early details on upcoming platforms optimized for leading-edge process nodes.
The new roadmap is designed specifically for infrastructure, beginning with the launch of the “Ares” IP platform in early 2019 on 7nm and delivering staggering performance gains of 30 percent per generation through 2021.
The Neoverse IP roadmap has been specifically architected for the unique performance, efficiency, and scalability requirements needed to keep up with changing data patterns, new workloads, and the ever-increasing demands of an infrastructure evolving to support a trillion intelligent devices.
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The speculative execution CPU bug that literally kneecapped Intel, also affects many AMD and ARM processors. This means BILLIONS of CPUs around the world, including those powering smartphones, are affected by Meltdown and/or Spectre.
Our article Everything On The Meltdown + Spectre CPU Flaws! summarises the key details of the speculative execution bug, and what we can do about it. This guide is to help those who want a full list of affected CPUs. Because we intend this to be an exhaustive list, we split it into multiple sections.
Article Update History
Click here for the Article Update History
Updated @ 2018-03-07 : Added a new list of 5 IBM z/Architecture CPUs. Added a new list of 22 VIA desktop and mobile CPUs. Added 1 ARM mobile CPU, 1 Intel server CPU, and 1 Intel mobile CPU. Also added 20 mobile SoCs, 9 digital TV or media player SoCs, and 43 industrial SoCs.
Updated @ 2018-02-15 : Added 96 Intel server CPUs, 91 Intel desktop CPUs, and 127 Intel mobile CPUs.
Updated @ 2018-02-07 : Added 128 AMD server CPUs, 11 AMD workstation CPUs, 128 AMD desktop CPUs, and 59 AMD mobile CPUs.
Updated @ 2018-02-02 : Added 11 Intel server CPUs, 96 AMD server CPUs, 168 AMD desktop CPUs, 77 AMD mobile CPUs, 10 IBM POWER CPUs, 9 HiSilicon Kirin mobile SoCs, 10 MediaTek mobile SOCs, 4 MediaTek digital TV SoCs, and 6 NVIDIA devices to the lists of vulnerable CPUs.
Updated @ 2018-01-14 : Added 416 Intel server CPUs, 8 Intel desktop CPUs, and 29 Intel mobile CPUs to the lists of vulnerable CPUs. Added a new list of 51 Intel mobile SoCs.
Updated @ 2018-01-12 : Added 71 AMD server CPUs, 71 AMD desktop CPUs, 29 AMD mobile CPUs and 3 AMD server SoCs based on a vulnerable ARM CPU. Also added a table summarising the number of vulnerable processors.
Updated @ 2018-01-11 : Added 18 Intel desktop CPUs and 165 Intel server / workstation CPUs. Also added a list of vulnerable Apple iOS devices, and expanded the list of vulnerable mobile SoCs used by smartphones.
Originally posted @ 2018-01-08
What Are Meltdown And Spectre?
Meltdown and Spectre are two exploits that take advantage of three variants of the speculative execution bug that affects billions of CPUs around the world.
The Spectre exploit targeted Variants 1 and 2, while the Meltdown exploit targets Variant 3, of the CPU bug.
The CPUs Vulnerable To Meltdown / Spectre Updated!
For easy reference, we divided the affected CPUs by Company (arranged ALPHABETICALLY – no conspiracy, we promise), and subsequently by Segment (Workstation / Desktop / Mobile), or affected variants.
As of Revision 8.0, we believe we have covered all of the affected AMD, Apple, ARM, IBM, Intel and VIA CPUs. But we will add more CPUs (and devices) as and when they’re noted to be vulnerable to the Meltdown and Spectre exploits.
Note : It’s arguable that all CPUs that uses speculative execution to any degree are potentially vulnerable to Meltdown or Spectre or a future exploit. We will only focus on CPUs that are confirmed to be vulnerable to Meltdown or Spectre.
Vulnerable CPUs By The Numbers Updated!
Here is a quick summary of the number of CPUs vulnerable to Meltdown or Spectre, according to the company, and the type of processor.
Company
Spectre 1
Spectre 2
Meltdown
AMD
295 Server CPUs
42 Workstation CPUs
396 Desktop CPUs
208 Mobile CPUs
295 Server CPUs
42 Workstation CPUs
396 Desktop CPUs
208 Mobile CPUs
None
Apple
13 Mobile SoCs
13 Mobile SoCs
13 Mobile SoCs
ARM
10 Mobile CPUs
3 Server SoCs
10 Mobile CPUs
3 Server SoCs
4 Mobile CPUs
3 Server SoCs
IBM
5 z/Architecture CPUs
10 POWER CPUs
5 z/Architecture CPUs
10 POWER CPUs
5 z/Architecture CPUs
10 POWER CPUs
Intel
733 Server / Workstation CPUs
443 Desktop CPUs
584 Mobile CPUs
51 Mobile SoCs
733 Server / Workstation CPUs
443 Desktop CPUs
584 Mobile CPUs
51 Mobile SoCs
733 Server / Workstation CPUs
443 Desktop CPUs
584 Mobile CPUs
51 Mobile SoCs
Affected Variants :AMD CPUs are affected by both Variants 1 and 2 of the speculative execution CPU bug. Colloquially, many people refer to them as Spectre 1 and Spectre 2.
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The AMD Workstation CPUs Vulnerable To Spectre
Affected Variants :AMD CPUs are affected by both Variants 1 and 2 of the speculative execution CPU bug. Colloquially, many people refer to them as Spectre 1 and Spectre 2. They are not vulnerable to Meltdown.
AMD Summit Ridge (2017)
AMD Ryzen Threadripper 1950X
AMD Ryzen Threadripper 1920X
AMD Ryzen Threadripper 1900X
AMD Vishera (2012)
AMD FX-9590
AMD FX-9370
AMD FX-8370E
AMD FX-8370
AMD FX-8350
AMD FX-8320E
AMD FX-8320
AMD FX-8310
AMD FX-8300
AMD FX-6350
AMD FX-6300
AMD FX-6200
AMD FX-4350
AMD FX-4320
AMD FX-4300
AMD Zambezi (2011)
AMD FX-8170
AMD FX-8150
AMD FX-8140
AMD FX-8120
AMD FX-8100
AMD FX-6130
AMD FX-6120
AMD FX-6100
AMD FX-4170
AMD FX-4150
AMD FX-4130
AMD FX-4120
AMD FX-4100
AMD Windsor (2006)
AMD Athlon 64 FX-74
AMD Athlon 64 FX-72
AMD Athlon 64 FX-70
AMD Athlon 64 FX-62
AMD Toledo (2005)
AMD Athlon 64 FX-60
AMD San Diego (2005)
AMD Athlon 64 FX-57
AMD Athlon 64 FX-55
AMD Clawhammer (2004)
AMD Athlon 64 FX-55
AMD Athlon 64 FX-53
AMD Sledgehammer (2003)
AMD Athlon 64 FX-53
AMD Athlon 64 FX-51
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AMD Desktop CPUs Vulnerable To Spectre
Affected Variants :AMD CPUs are affected by both Variants 1 and 2 of the speculative execution CPU bug. Colloquially, many people refer to them as Spectre 1 and Spectre 2. They are not vulnerable to Meltdown.
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AMD Mobile CPUs Vulnerable To Spectre
Affected Variants :AMD CPUs are affected by both Variants 1 and 2 of the speculative execution CPU bug. Colloquially, many people refer to them as Spectre 1 and Spectre 2. They are not vulnerable to Meltdown.
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The Apple CPUs Vulnerable To Meltdown / Spectre
Apple makes custom processors based on the ARM microarchitecture. They have not released specific information on which of their processors are affected by which exploit, but this is what we know so far.
Affected Variants : Apple only issued a general notice that their processors are affected by both Meltdown and Spectre, not the specific variants.
Apple A4
Apple A5
Apple A5X
Apple A6
Apple A6X
Apple A7
Apple A8
Apple A8X
Apple A9
Apple A9X
Apple A10 Fusion
Apple A10X Fusion
Apple A11 Bionic
Vulnerable iOS or tvOS Devices : Apple was vague about the iOS devices that were affected, but based on the affected CPU cores, here are the iOS devices that are vulnerable to Meltdown and Spectre :
Apple TV 2nd Generation, 3rd Generation, 4th Generation and 5th Generation
The ARM CPUs Vulnerable To Meltdown / Spectre
ARM CPUs Vulnerable To All Three Variants
Affected Variants :Variants 1 and 2, and either Variant 3 or Variant 3a, of the speculative execution CPU bug. They are vulnerable to Meltdown and both variants of Spectre.
ARM Cortex-A75
ARM Cortex-A72
ARM Cortex-A57
ARM Cortex-A15
Mobile SoCs Using These ARM CPUs (Not Exhaustive)
HiSilicon Kirin 955
HiSilicon Kirin 950
HiSilicon Kirin 928
HiSilicon Kirin 925
HiSilicon Kirin 920
MediaTek Helio X27 (MT6797X)
MediaTek Helio X25 (MT6797T)
MediaTek Helio X23 (MT6707D)
MediaTek Helio X20 (MT6797)
MediaTek MT8173
MediaTek MT8135 / MT8135V
MediaTek MT6795
NVIDIA Tegra X2
NVIDIA Tegra X1
NVIDIA Tegra K1
NVIDIA Tegra 4
Qualcomm Snapdragon 845
Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 / 808
Qualcomm Snapdragon 670
Qualcomm Snapdragon 653 / 652 / 650
Qualcomm Snapdragon 640
Samsung Exynos 7420
Samsung Exynos 5800
Samsung Exynos 5433
Samsung Exynos 5422 / 5420
Samsung Exynos 5410
Samsung Exynos 5260
Samsung Exynos 5250
Samsung Exynos 5 Dual (Exynos 5250)
AMD Server SoCs Using These ARM CPUs
AMD Opteron A1170
AMD Opteron A1150
AMD Opteron A1120
NVIDIA Devices Using These ARM CPUs (Not Exhaustive)
NVIDIA SHIELD TV (ARM Cortex-A57)
NVIDIA SHIELD Tablet (ARM Cortex-A15)
NVIDIA Jetson TX2 (ARM Cortex-A57)
NVIDIA Jetson TX1 (ARM Cortex-A57)
NVIDIA Jetson TK1 (ARM Cortex-A15)
NVIDIA Jetson Tegra K1 (ARM Cortex-A15)
Digital TV / Media Player SoCs Using These ARM CPUs (Not Exhaustive)
Rockchip RK3399
Industrial SoCs Using These ARM CPUs (Not Exhaustive)
Embedded Computers Using These ARM CPUs (Not Exhaustive)
VIA VAB-1000
VIA VAB-820 / VAB-800
VIA VAB-630 / VAB-600
VIA ALTA DS
VIA QSM-8Q60
VIA SOM-6X50
VIA VTS-8589
IBM POWER CPUs Vulnerable To Meltdown + Spectre
Affected Variants : These IBM POWER CPUs are affected by all three variants of the speculative execution CPU bug. They are vulnerable to the Meltdown and both Spectre exploits.
IBM POWER4
IBM POWER4+
IBM POWER5
IBM POWER5+
IBM POWER6
IBM POWER6+
IBM POWER7
IBM POWER7+
IBM POWER8
– including IBM Murano, IBM Turismo, PowerCore CP1
IBM POWER8 with NVLink / POWER8+
IBM POWER9
– IBM Nimbus, IBM Cumulus
IBM z/Architecture CPUs Vulnerable To Meltdown + Spectre
Affected Variants : These IBM z/Architecture CPUs are affected by all three variants of the speculative execution CPU bug. They are vulnerable to the Meltdown and both Spectre exploits.
IBM z14
IBM z13
IBM zEC12
IBM z196
IBM z10
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Intel UMPC / Smartphone SoCs Vulnerable To Meltdown + Spectre
Affected Variants : These Intel SoCs are affected by all three variants of the speculative execution CPU bug. They are vulnerable to the Meltdown and both Spectre exploits.
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Intel Server / Workstation CPUs Vulnerable To Meltdown + Spectre
Affected Variants : These Intel CPUs are affected by all three variants of the speculative execution CPU bug. They are vulnerable to the Meltdown and both Spectre exploits.
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Intel Desktop CPUs Vulnerable To Meltdown + Spectre
Affected Variants : These Intel CPUs are affected by all three variants of the speculative execution CPU bug. They are vulnerable to the Meltdown and both Spectre exploits.
If you like our work, you can help support our work by visiting our sponsors, participating in the Tech ARP Forums, or even donating to our fund. Any help you can render is greatly appreciated!
Intel Mobile CPUs Vulnerable To Meltdown + Spectre
Affected Variants : These Intel CPUs are affected by all three variants of the speculative execution CPU bug. They are vulnerable to the Meltdown and both Spectre exploits.
If you like our work, you can help support our work by visiting our sponsors, participating in the Tech ARP Forums, or even donating to our fund. Any help you can render is greatly appreciated!
VIA Desktop CPUs Vulnerable To Meltdown + Spectre
Affected Variants : These VIA CPUs are affected by all three variants of the speculative execution CPU bug. They are vulnerable to the Meltdown and both Spectre exploits.
VIA Nano QuadCore (2011)
VIA Nano QuadCore L4800E
VIA Nano QuadCore L4700E
VIA Nano QuadCore L4650E
VIA Nano Dual Core 2011)
VIA Nano X2 E L4350E
VIA Nano X2 E L4350E
VIA Nano 3000 Series (2009)
VIA Nano L3600
VIA Nano L3050
VIA Nano L3025
VIA Nano 2000 Series (2008)
VIA Nano L2200
VIA Nano L2100
VIA Mobile CPUs Vulnerable To Meltdown + Spectre
Affected Variants : These VIA CPUs are affected by all three variants of the speculative execution CPU bug. They are vulnerable to the Meltdown and both Spectre exploits.
If you like our work, you can help support our work by visiting our sponsors, participating in the Tech ARP Forums, or even donating to our fund. Any help you can render is greatly appreciated!
The Meltdown and Spectre CPU flaws that the Google Project Zero team discovered are arguably the worst we have ever known. These vulnerabilities were built into BILLIONS of CPUs that we have been using for the last decade or so.
Not just Intel CPUs, but also CPUs made by AMD, Apple and ARM. Even those that power our smartphones and other smart devices!
Let’s take a look at what we know so far about Meltdown and Spectre, how they affect you, and what we can do about them.
This story is still developing. We will update the article as and when new details emerge. Be sure to check back and refresh the page for the latest information!
Article Update History
Click here for the Article Update History
2018-02-17 :Updated the table of CPUs vulnerable to Meltdown and Spectre.Updated four sections with new information.
2018-02-05 :Added a table of CPUs vulnerable to Meltdown and Spectre.Updated three sections with new information.
2018-01-25 :Revamped the entire article. Added a new section on the difference between Meltdown and Spectre, and a new section on InSpectre. Updated the list of vulnerable processors, mitigation efforts by Microsoft and Apple, as well as the Intel spontaneous reboot issues with their Spectre 2 patches.
2018-01-16 : Updated the list of vulnerable processors, and added a new section on Intel CPUs spontaneously rebooting after applying Meltdown and Spectre patches. Also added cautionary advice on holding off these updates.
2018-01-12 : Updated the article with the AMD confirmation that their processors are vulnerable to both Spectre exploits. Also added details on the Google Retpoline mitigation technique against Spectre attacks.
2018-01-11 : Added new sections on the performance impact of the Meltdown and Spectre mitigation patches, and reports of those patches bricking some AMD PCs. Also expanded the list of affected CPUs, and corrected information on the Intel-SA-00086 Detection Tool.
Between 2018-01-09 and 2018-01-10 : Numerous updates including details of patches and affected CPUs.
Originally posted @ 2018-01-09
The Meltdown + Spectre Vulnerabilities
The Project Zero team identified these vulnerabilities in 2017, reporting it to Intel, AMD and ARM on 1 June 2017.
These vulnerabilities take advantage of the Speculative Execution and Branch Prediction features of the modern processor, that have been used for many years to improve performance.
Speculative Execution lets the CPU predict and pre-execute the next instruction, allowing it to “instantly” deliver the results if it’s correct.
Branch Prediction helps the CPU predict future execution paths that should be speculatively-executed for better performance.
There are THREE (3) variants of the speculative execution CPU bug :
The Spectre attack (whitepaper) exploits variants 1 and 2.
The Meltdown attack (whitepaper) exploits variant 3.
There is a Variant 3a, which appears to affect only certain ARM processors.
What’s The Difference Between Meltdown & Spectre?
Spectre tricks the CPU branch predictor into mis-predicting the wrong path, thereby speculatively executing code that would not otherwise be executed.
Meltdown takes advantage of the out-of-order execution capability of modern processors, tricking them into executing malicious code that would normally not be allowed.
The Spectre name is based on both the root cause – speculative execution, and the fact that it is not easy to fix, and will haunt us for a long time like a spectre (ghost).
The Meltdown name was chosen because the vulnerability “basically melts security boundaries which are normally enforced by the hardware“.
How Bad Are Meltdown & Spectre?
The Spectre exploits let an attacker access and copy information from the memory space used by other applications.
The Meltdown exploit lets an attacker copy the entire physical memory of the computer.
Unless patched, the affected processors are vulnerable to malware and cyberattacks that exploits this CPU bug to steal critical information from running apps (like login and credit card information, emails, photos, documents, etc.)
While the Meltdown exploit can be “fixed”, it is likely that the Spectre exploit cannot be fixed, only mitigated, without a redesign of the processors. That means we will have to live with the risks of a Spectre attack for many more years to come.
The Intel-SA-00086 Detection Tool does NOT detect the processor’s susceptibility to these vulnerabilities. It only checks for different vulnerabilities affecting the Intel Management Engine.
InSpectre
Our reader Arthur shared that the Gibson Research Corporation has an aptly-named utility called InSpectre.
It checks for Meltdown and Spectre hardware and software vulnerabilities in a Windows system. It will help you check if your system is getting patched properly against these vulnerabilities.
What Is Being Done??? Updated!
Note : The terms “mitigate” and “mitigation” mean the possibility of a successfully attacked are reduced, not eliminated.
Intel has started issuing software and firmware updates for the processors introduced in the last 5 years. By the middle of January 2018, Intel expects to have issued updates for more than 90% of those CPUs. However, that does not address the other Intel processors sold between 2010 and 2012.
Microsoft and Linux have started to roll our the KPTI (Kernel Page Table Isolation) patch, also known as the KAISER (Kernel Address Isolation to have Side-channels Efficiently Removed) patch.
The KPTI or KAISER patch, however, will only protect against the Meltdown exploit. It has no effect on a Spectre attack.
Microsoft Edge and Internet Explorer 11 received the KB4056890 security update on 3 January 2018, to prevent a Meltdown attack.
Firefox 57 includes changes to mitigate against both attacks.
Google Chrome 64 will be released on 23 January 2018, with mitigations against Meltdown and Spectre attacks.
For Mac systems, Apple introduced mitigations against Spectre in macOS 10.13.2 (released on 8 January 2018), with more fixes coming in macOS 10.13.3.
For iOS devices, Apple introduced mitigations against Meltdown in iOS 11.2 and tvOS 11.2.
On 8 January 2018, Apple released iOS 11.2.2, which mitigates the risk of the two Spectre exploits in Safari and WebKit, for iPhone 5s, iPad Air, and iPod touch 6th generation or later.
Google patched Android against both exploits with the December 2017 and January 2018 patches.
Google shared details of their Return Rrampoline (Retpoline) binary modification technique that can be used to protect against Spectre attacks. It is a software construct that ensures that any associated speculative execution will “bounce” (as if on a trampoline) endlessly.
On 11 January 2018, AMD announced that the “majority of AMD systems” have received the mitigation patches against Spectre 1, albeit some older AMD systems got bricked by bad patches. They also announced that they will make “optional” microcode updates available for Ryzen and EPYC processors by the same week.
In the same 11 January 2018 disclosure, AMD also shared that Linux vendors have started to roll out OS patches for both Spectre exploits, and they’re working on the “return trampoline (Retpoline)” software mitigations as well.[adrotate group=”2″]
On 8 February 2018, an Intel microcode update schedule revealed that their Penryn-based processors are also vulnerable, adding an additional 314 CPU models to the list of vulnerable processors.
On 14 February 2018, Intel revealed an expanded Bug Bounty Program, offering up to $250,000 in bounty awards.
Some AMD PCs Got Bricked
In the rush to mitigate against Meltdown and Spectre, Microsoft released Windows 10 patches that bricked some AMD PCs. They blamed the incorrect / incomplete documentation provided by AMD.
Intel’s rush to patch Meltdown and Spectre resulted in buggy microcode patches, causing several generations of their CPUs to randomly and spontaneously reboot.
So far, over 800 Intel CPU models have been identified to be affected by these spontaneous reboot issues. If you have one of the affected CPUs, please hold off BIOS / firmware updates!
Intel has identified the cause as the Spectre 2 patches in their microcode updates for some of these processors. They’re still investigating the cause of the other affected CPU models.
Fortunately for Windows users, Microsoft issued the KB4078130 emergency update to stop the reboots while Intel worked to fix the issue.
First and foremost – DO NOT PANIC. There is no known threat or attack using these exploits.
Although we listed a number of important patches below, the buggy updates are worse than the potential threat they try to fix. So we advise HOLDING OFF these patches, and wait for properly-tested versions a few weeks down the line.
If you are using an iOS device, get updated to iOS 11.2 or tvOS 11.2.
If you are using Firefox, update to the latest Firefox 57.
If you are using Google Chrome, make sure you watch out for Chrome 64, which will be released on 23 January.
Download and install the latest software firmware updates from your PC, laptop, motherboard brands. In particular, install the latest driver for the Intel Management Engine (Intel ME), the Intel Trusted Execution Engine (Intel TXE), and the Intel Server Platform Services (SPS)
If you are using an Intel system, hold off updating your firmware, unless you have already verified that your CPU is not affected by the buggy Intel patches, or Intel has already issued corrected patches.
The Performance Impact Of The Mitigation Patches
Many benchmarks have been released, showing performance impacts of between 5% to 30%, depending on the type of benchmark and workload. Microsoft has called those benchmark results into question, stating that they did not cover both operating system and silicon microcode patches.
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AMD today officially launched the AMD Opteron A1100 System-on-Chip (SoC). Formerly codenamed “Seattle“, the AMD Opteron A1100 is the first AMD device to use the 64-bit ARMv8-A processor microarchitecture, instead of the usual x86 microarchitecture.
The ARMv8-A microarchitecture allows for a more energy-efficient device, but their unfamiliarity with it may have been the reason why the Opteron A1100 was delayed almost 18 months.Today’s launch marks the end of that protracted development process.
The AMD Opteron A1100 Revealed
The AMD Opteron A1100 was designed around the ARM Cortex-A57 processor cores to deliver better power efficiency and lower costs. Coupled with enterprise-class features, AMD is hoping that it will allow them to penetrate the datacenter or hyperscale computing market.
The AMD Opteron A1100 processor will feature up to 8 ARM Cortex-A57 processor cores, backed by up to 4 MB of shared L2 cache and a large 8 MB L3 cache. Its dual-channel memory controller supports up to 128 GB of DDR3 or DDR4 memory.
Connectivity-wise, it supports two 1o Gb Ethernet ports, a single PCI Express 3.0 slot and up to 14 SATA3 devices. Take a look at the Opteron A1100 chip diagram
Here are the market segments that AMD plans to target with the Opteron A1100 SoC. Basically anyone who wants a cheap, efficient SoC for massive deployments.
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To support those solutions, AMD has already prepared a complete solution stack. This is what probably took them so long to qualify the Opteron A1100 for the enterprise market.
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AMD Opteron A1100 Model & Package Details
AMD will initially offer 3 models – the AMD Opteron A1170, the AMD Opteron A1150 and the AMD Opteron A1120. Here are their key specifications :
Whether they come with 4 or 8 processor cores, all Opteron A1100 processors will have the same SP1 package, because they are all the same chip. The quad-core models will just have half the cores disabled.
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AMD Opteron A1100 Memory Support
To cater to the enterprise market, the AMD Opteron A1100 will support both DDR3 and DDR4 memory in three different interfaces – UDIMM, RDIMM and SO-DIMM.
Basically, the AMD Opteron A1100 will support memory speeds up to 1866 MHz for DDR4 memory, and 1600 MHz for DDR3 memory. You can run them in single- or dual-channel modes using up to 4 memory modules.
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