Apple A8X | HiSilicon Kirin 960 | |
CPU comparisonIn this CPU comparison, we compare the Apple A8X and the HiSilicon Kirin 960 and use benchmarks to check which processor is faster.
We compare the Apple A8X 3 core processor released in Q3/2014 with the HiSilicon Kirin 960 which has 8 CPU cores and was introduced in Q4/2016. |
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Apple A series (22) | Family | HiSilicon Kirin (29) |
Apple A8/A8X (2) | CPU group | HiSilicon Kirin 960 (2) |
8 | Generation | 5 |
A8 | Architecture | Cortex-A73 / Cortex-A53 |
Mobile | Segment | Mobile |
Apple A6X | Predecessor | -- |
Apple A9X | Successor | -- |
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CPU Cores and Base FrequencyThe Apple A8X is a 3 core processor with a clock frequency of 1.50 GHz. The processor can compute 3 threads at the same time. The HiSilicon Kirin 960 clocks with 2.40 GHz, has 8 CPU cores and can calculate 8 threads in parallel. |
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Apple A8X | Characteristic | HiSilicon Kirin 960 |
3 | Cores | 8 |
3 | Threads | 8 |
normal | Core architecture | hybrid (big.LITTLE) |
No | Hyperthreading | No |
No | Overclocking ? | No |
1.50 GHz 3x Typhoon |
A-Core | 2.40 GHz 4x Cortex-A73 |
-- | B-Core | 1.80 GHz 4x Cortex-A53 |
Internal GraphicsGraphics (iGPU) integrated into the processor not only enable image output without having to rely on a dedicated graphics solution, but can also efficiently accelerate video playback. |
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Apple A8X | GPU | ARM Mali-G71 MP8 |
0.45 GHz | GPU frequency | 0.90 GHz |
-- | GPU (Turbo) | -- |
5 | GPU Generation | Bifrost 1 |
20 nm | Technology | 16 nm |
1 | Max. displays | 2 |
32 | Compute units | 8 |
256 | Shader | 256 |
No | Hardware Raytracing | No |
No | Frame Generation | No |
2 GB | Max. GPU Memory | 2 GB |
-- | DirectX Version | 11 |
Hardware codec supportA photo or video codec that is accelerated in hardware can greatly accelerate the working speed of a processor and extend the battery life of notebooks or smartphones when playing videos. |
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Apple A8X | GPU | ARM Mali-G71 MP8 |
No | Codec h265 / HEVC (8 bit) | Decode / Encode |
No | Codec h265 / HEVC (10 bit) | Decode |
Decode | Codec h264 | Decode / Encode |
No | Codec VP9 | No |
No | Codec VP8 | Decode / Encode |
No | Codec AV1 | No |
Decode | Codec AVC | Decode / Encode |
Decode | Codec VC-1 | No |
Decode / Encode | Codec JPEG | Decode / Encode |
Memory & PCIeUp to 2 GB of memory in a maximum of 1 memory channels is supported by the Apple A8X, while the HiSilicon Kirin 960 supports a maximum of 6 GB of memory with a maximum memory bandwidth of 12.8 GB/s enabled. |
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Apple A8X | Characteristic | HiSilicon Kirin 960 |
LPDDR3-1600 | Memory | LPDDR4-1600 |
2 GB | Max. Memory | 6 GB |
1 (Single Channel) | Memory channels | 2 (Dual Channel) |
12.8 GB/s | Max. Bandwidth | 12.8 GB/s |
No | ECC | No |
2.00 MB | L2 Cache | -- |
4.00 MB | L3 Cache | 4.00 MB |
-- | PCIe version | -- |
-- | PCIe lanes | -- |
-- | PCIe Bandwidth | -- |
Thermal ManagementThe Apple A8X has a TDP of 8 W. The TDP of the HiSilicon Kirin 960 is 5 W. System integrators use the TDP of the processor as a guide when dimensioning the cooling solution. |
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Apple A8X | Characteristic | HiSilicon Kirin 960 |
8 W | TDP (PL1 / PBP) | 5 W |
-- | TDP (PL2) | -- |
-- | TDP up | -- |
-- | TDP down | -- |
-- | Tjunction max. | -- |
Technical detailsThe Apple A8X has 6.00 MB cache and is manufactured in 20 nm. The cache of HiSilicon Kirin 960 is at 4.00 MB. The processor is manufactured in 16 nm. |
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Apple A8X | Characteristic | HiSilicon Kirin 960 |
20 nm | Technology | 16 nm |
Chiplet | Chip design | Chiplet |
Armv8-A (64 bit) | Instruction set (ISA) | Armv8-A (64 bit) |
-- | ISA extensions | -- |
-- | Socket | -- |
None | Virtualization | None |
No | AES-NI | No |
iOS | Operating systems | Android |
Q3/2014 | Release date | Q4/2016 |
-- | Release price | -- |
show more data | show more data | |
Apple A8X
3C 3T @ 1.50 GHz |
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HiSilicon Kirin 960
8C 8T @ 2.40 GHz |
Apple A8X
3C 3T @ 1.50 GHz |
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HiSilicon Kirin 960
8C 8T @ 2.40 GHz |
Apple A8X
3C 3T @ 1.50 GHz |
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HiSilicon Kirin 960
8C 8T @ 2.40 GHz |
Apple A8X
3C 3T @ 1.50 GHz |
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HiSilicon Kirin 960
8C 8T @ 2.40 GHz |
Apple A8X
Apple A8X @ 0.45 GHz |
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HiSilicon Kirin 960
ARM Mali-G71 MP8 @ 0.90 GHz |
Apple A8X
3C 3T @ 1.50 GHz |
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HiSilicon Kirin 960
8C 8T @ 2.40 GHz |
Devices using this processor |
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Apple A8X | HiSilicon Kirin 960 |
Apple iPad Air 2 | Huawei Honor 8 Pro Huawei Honor 9 Huawei Mate 9 Huawei Mate 9 Pro Huawei Mate 9 Porsche Huawei MediaPad M5 Huawei Nova 2s Huawei P10 |