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0 pointshvidgaard9y ago0 comments

I don't think we'll see an Arm/x86 hybrid, that wouldn't make sense as they're completely different ISAs and they either need to cross translate between them, or dobble compile everything.

But a heterogenous CPU certainly does make sense. A super efficient, but not particular fast core for specific tasks that are more or less always running, and the beefy full core for regular work. If it eeks out another 2 hours of battery life, I can see Apple doing it when they're redoing a CPU from the ground up.

0 comments

nardi9y ago

Too late, Apple already invented that: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apple_A10

The A10 is the new chip in the iPhone 7. It has two fast cores and two energy-efficient cores.

EDIT: Sorry, "invented" was the wrong word. Apple is already doing that. My point was that the parent's idea isn't new.

gcp9y ago

Apple already invented that

ARM already offered this (A7+A15|A17, A53+A57|A72|A73), and Android phones have been using the design for years.

hvidgaardOP9y ago

That is just an argument for them doing it for their laptop chips as well. It makes perfect sense from a battery life point of view.

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