T-Mobile G1 using multi-core Qualcomm processor?

22 September 2008 by Staff Editor

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Yes

+14 [14 votes]

A forum user has tipped off Android Community on the G1 chipset. It appears the chipset used in the G1 will be made by Qualcomm, and is one of the company’s 7201 multi-core processors, a dual core to be precise. It is said to be more stable and energy efficient than most processors; however, unusually, the two cores are not the same.

The first core is a speciality core dedicated solely to phone functionality such as making phone calls.
The second core is a general purpose core intended for applications, in order to accommodate more application processing load. The end result should be less lag due to overloaded phone processors.

According to the tip, clock speed for both cores will be the same. Because of this, overclocking the G1 will not have much of an increase in performance. There are reportedly still some problems with the multi-core setup that, under specific situations, may cause the phone to crash; Qualcomm is apparently “working around the clock” to fix the drivers at the root of this.

Join the Discussion (12 comments)

NetCom

09-22-2008 10:40 PM
Yup - here are the features:

Technical Features
- Supports WCDMA/HSUPA and EGPRS networks
- Multimedia Broadcasting Multicast Service (MBMS)
- Integrated ARM11� applications processor and ARM9� modem
- QDSP4000� and QDSP5000� high-performance digital signal processors (DSP)
- 528 MHz ARM11 Jazelle� Java� hardware acceleration
- Support for BREW� and Java applications
- Qcamera�: Up to 6.0 megapixel digital images
- Qtv�: Playback up to 30 fps VGA
- Qcamcorder�: Record up to 24 fps QVGA
- Up to 4 million triangles per second, and 133 million depth-tested, textured 3D pixels per second fill rate
- gpsOne� position-location assisted-GPS (A-GPS) solution
- Support for third-party operating systems
- Digital audio support for MP3, aacPlus� and Enhanced aacPlus
- Integrated Mobile Digital Display Interface (MDDI), Bluetooth� 1.2 baseband processor and Wi-Fi� support
Duplicated post is located here
razor1981

09-22-2008 10:40 PM

This would make sense. I was beginning to worry that this phone would not have the processor speed it would need to keep up with the data intensive applications.

NetCom

09-22-2008 10:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by razor1981

This would make sense. I was beginning to worry that this phone would not have the processor speed it would need to keep up with the data intensive applications.

Hey dude

what we gonna do about the avatar situation

razor1981

09-22-2008 10:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by htc_dreamer

Hey dude what we gonna do about the avatar situation

I don't know man...I think we must have snaked it from the same person on another forum at the same time!

Stanovoy

09-22-2008 10:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by htc_dreamer

Yup - here are the features:

Technical Features

Supports WCDMA/HSUPA and EGPRS networks
Multimedia Broadcasting Multicast Service (MBMS)
Integrated ARM11� applications processor and ARM9� modem
QDSP4000� and QDSP5000� high-performance digital signal processors (DSP)
528 MHz ARM11 Jazelle� Java� hardware acceleration
Support for BREW� and Java applications
Qcamera�: Up to 6.0 megapixel digital images
Qtv�: Playback up to 30 fps VGA
Qcamcorder�: Record up to 24 fps QVGA
Up to 4 million triangles per second, and 133 million depth-tested, textured 3D pixels per second fill rate
gpsOne� position-location assisted-GPS (A-GPS) solution
Support for third-party operating systems
Digital audio support for MP3, aacPlus� and Enhanced aacPlus
Integrated Mobile Digital Display Interface (MDDI), Bluetooth� 1.2 baseband processor and Wi-Fi� support

Duplicated post is located here

Precisely

The "Integrated ARM11� applications processor and ARM9� modem" is the Qualcomm 7201. The ARM11 and ARM9 operate on different architectures. So if an application uses the functionality of both, i.e. sms, mms, etc., that may cause a crash. However, crashing is VERY rare and only under VERY specific conditions, that's why the problem was only discovered recently. Thus far, it appears to be a driver issue. Last weekend, a number of Qualcomm engineers working on the 7201 worked late into the night on both days.

On a separate note... Apparently, G1 will be the first device sporting the new 7201.

NetCom

09-22-2008 11:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by razor1981

I don't know man...I think we must have snaked it from the same person on another forum at the same time!

No problem - let me know if you like it - I can change it to something else
Stanovoy

09-22-2008 11:08 PM

So G1 won't have a real GPS?? I thought it has been confirmed that it has GPS. Unless you meant GPS + A-GPS? Oh well, we will find out in 10 hours...
MrAndroidson

09-23-2008 02:07 AM

looks like the whole GPS confirmation will have to wait til zero hour for it to be set in stone.
bradynapier

09-23-2008 02:27 AM

I don't think you have much to worry about. The largest thing Google has concentrated on is GPS functionality and using geo locations. Not having GPS would single-handedly ruin the device unless they announce functionality in the near-future... or some sort of bluetooth gps keychain included or something - which I actually like the idea of.
mazimi

09-23-2008 08:39 AM

I thought most smart phones today have the same setup with one core dedicated to apps and one dedicated to telephony. I know the HTC Wizard (T-Mobile MDA) had this type of setup.
ritterrav

09-23-2008 09:15 AM

this phone is the best
theluketaylor

09-23-2008 06:32 PM

mazimi is correct; it is very common for smartphones to have 2 processors. The more powerful and general purpose chip (often a system on chip) provides the interface and runs applications. The second chip manages the wireless radios and often has dedicated hardware for this task. RIM in paticular has used this configuration for some time especially in their CDMA version phones