Apple has changed the layout of the processor cores
This is a first analysis of Angronomics according to this, however, does not appear to be the case. Rather, the website assumes that the chip area of the A16 is slightly larger than that of the A15. This assumption is based on a recently published on Twitter, on which some structures of Apple’s new SoC can be identified.
Angstronomics cites a changed layout of the actual processor cores as one of the reasons for the growth of the so-called dies, which is due to the more complex logic. Both the performance cores, called “Everest” by Apple, and the efficiency cores called “Sawtooth” therefore take up a little more space than their predecessors “Avalanche” and “Blizzard”.
A16 with more level 2 cache than A15
In addition, Apple has significantly expanded the level 2 cache of the performance cores of the A16. This now has a capacity of 16 megabytes, with the A15 it was 12 megabytes. At the same time, the Californian company reduced the system level cache to 24 megabytes (A15: 32 megabytes), but according to Angstronomics this change does not compensate for the increased space requirement due to the enlargement of the L2 cache. Together with other changes, for example in the arrangement of the individual SoC areas, these measures lead to a slight increase in the chip area. The reduction in the structure width does not have the effect that would have been theoretically expected.
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