What is mobile processor?
When asked — "what mobile processor is", the average answer is "that’s the brain inside my phone and it runs everything". And that would be all good - for start at least. I get it a lot by the way, even from so called "technically educated" guys.
Just as the name implies, a processor processes instructions in order to carry out certain functions that make your device operate properly.
The performance of your smartphone is influenced by many factors, including the operating system, manufacturer layout, and even your network provider. But the one essential element that’s mainly responsible for the speed, efficiency, and battery life of your smartphone is of course the processor - and its not your granddad’s chip anymore. It receives and executes every command, performing enormous number of calculations per second. |
The effectiveness of the processor directly affects every application you run, When you swipe your way down a web page, you’re commanding the processor to make literally billions of simultaneous and instantaneous interactions. When you do something more complex, like playing 3D games with – intensive graphics or capturing 1080p video, the load put on your processor can be quite immense. The ability of the processor to coordinate efficient communication between the wireless data, graphics, and memory is essential to smooth operation.
Now you probably start appreciating how much power it needs to provide you with all the great mobile experiences you've grown used to, like web browsing, mobile applications, location awareness, stunning graphics and gaming, HD and 3D video, dual cameras, crystal-clear audio, and seamless touchscreens?
The CPU, GPU, audio and video engine, connectivity features (GPS, WiFi, FM), and 3G/4G modem are the major components of a processor that control the operation of your smartphone. Let’s take a look at what they do, and how they work together with the processor to make every action so seamless.
Now you probably start appreciating how much power it needs to provide you with all the great mobile experiences you've grown used to, like web browsing, mobile applications, location awareness, stunning graphics and gaming, HD and 3D video, dual cameras, crystal-clear audio, and seamless touchscreens?
The CPU, GPU, audio and video engine, connectivity features (GPS, WiFi, FM), and 3G/4G modem are the major components of a processor that control the operation of your smartphone. Let’s take a look at what they do, and how they work together with the processor to make every action so seamless.
CPU
CPU, or Central Processing Unit. This is the “brain” of your smartphone or should I put - a bunch of specialized brains working together. The CPU receives commands, makes instant calculations, and sends signals throughout your device. The vast majority of CPUs are designed around a blueprint from a company called ARM. it is the most widely used 32-bit instruction set architecture in terms of quantity produced today (although Intel is looking to introduce a totally new system called Quark and it will be based on the x86 architecture. Recently Apple moved to a 64-bit desktop-class architecture with their new A7 chip, however is still designed around ARM architecture.)
It is within the CPU that the ‘multi-core’ aspect of processors comes in, with the terms dual-core or quad-core literally referring to |
the amount of CPU cores on the SoC. While it doesn't quite mean that every core added will double processing speed, it does stand to reason that more CPU cores will enable the SoC, and in turn the handset, to run more efficiently.
There are multiple ways to gauge the performance of a CPU, including checking the Gigahertz (GHz) speed under the processor specs. This tells you how many instructions the chip can complete in one second. A 1 GHz processor can process roughly 1 billion cycles-per-second. In the past, the CPU handled the visuals that were sent to the screen in addition to its other duties, but the demands of high quality graphics led to the development of another component to lighten its load— the GPU. |
GPU
GPU, or Graphics Processing Unit. The GPU assists the CPU by handling the visuals. By adding a dedicated GPU chip, your phone does a much better job handling a multitude of graphics-related chores than the CPU could alone. You’ll notice the difference when you watch a movie or play a graphics-intensive game. Video won’t stutter, photo-edits appear more quickly, and fast-moving objects won’t appear pixilated with an integrated GPU. What’s more, the GPU frees up the CPU, allowing it to conserve or redirect its resources.
ISP
Camera ISP Image Signal Processor. An integrated Image Signal Processor provides the “oomph” for many of your smartphone’s camera functions. It is designed to deliver a tightly bound image processing package and enable an improved overall picture and video experience. An integrated ISP can also be invaluable when it comes to things like instant image capture, high-resolution support, image stabilization, and other image enhancements. I explained it in the separate chapter that you can find HERE
RADIO & MODEM
Radio & 3G/4G Modem. These components control your connection to the world. Broadly speaking, the radio receives and transmits voice connections and the modem enables your phone to send and receive digital signals. When enabled with 4G LTE, the radio and modem have a high-speed mobile wireless network at their disposal, capable of speeds that mimic your home WiFi connection. When working closely with the CPU and GPU, a 4G LTE modem can deliver seamless, fluid access from your LTE network to your applications.
MEMORY CONTROLLER
Memory Controller. A memory controller integrated into the processor plays an important role, as it provides a direct link to your phone’s memory. It ensures an instant connection to frequently used files and applications. This means less wait time when you call up your photo album, browse your favorite website or read your text messages.
AUDIO/VIDEO
Audio and Video. A good processor will also have dedicated processing units that handle audio and video. So the next time a smartphone is playing back your favorite music track or a 1080p video clip, a well-designed processor will have a component dedicated to each task.
The All-In-One Design
Sometimes these components exist as different chips in a device, but the exceptionally powerful and power-efficient processors have all of them situated on a single chip called system-on-a-Chip (SoC). When they’re grouped together onto the processor, it’s referred to as “integrated.” Bringing them closer together provides advantages for the operation of your phone, like faster communication and reduced power consumption. Old-style, not-integrated processors and their scattered circuitry simply can’t keep up.
Sometimes these components exist as different chips in a device, but the exceptionally powerful and power-efficient processors have all of them situated on a single chip called system-on-a-Chip (SoC). When they’re grouped together onto the processor, it’s referred to as “integrated.” Bringing them closer together provides advantages for the operation of your phone, like faster communication and reduced power consumption. Old-style, not-integrated processors and their scattered circuitry simply can’t keep up.