Teardowns Show Samsung Built the A5

**Paul Daniel Ash** · 03-15-2011, 05:19 PM

The iPad's A5 chip was manufactured by Samsung, according to two independent teardowns and analyses of the latest generation system-on-a-chip. Despite rumors that Apple was going with Taiwan Semiconductor to fab the A5, decapsulations of the SoC by UBM TechInsights and Chipworks clearly show telltales of a Samsung fab process.

The process analysis and lab techs at UBM TechInsights dissected the A5 using optical die and scanning electron microscope cross-section images to look at the edge seal of the silicon die and the pitch of the first metal interconnect, as well as taking logic and SRAM transistor gate measurements. They then compared what they found to other manufacturers, including other chips fabbed by Samsung using its 45nm process, such as the A4 SoC found in the iPhone and the original iPad. The indicators all lined up clearly, showing that Samsung must have been responsible for the chip's fabrication.

Chipworks this week also did a decap of the A5 and their chipheads experts also concluded, by comparing the shape of the transistor gates and dielectric layers in the A5 to last year's A4 CPU, that Samsung is the manufacturer. Both analyses found 512 MB of Low Power DDR2 DRAM, but UBM, which decapped two different A5s from two separate iPad 2s found different DRAM chips in each: one from Samsung and one from Elpida. This indicates that Apple is being flexible in its component sourcing, which may prove vital as Japan struggles to restart its manufacturing industry after the devastating Sendai earthquake.

The rumors about Apple going to a new chip foundry aren't put to rest by these revelations, however. These reports, which go back to the early part of this year, rely both on industry gossip and raw business pragmatics to assert that Apple will get future chips from Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), the world's largest independent foundry. TSMC has the most capacity for 40-nm molds, which will be key for the A5's future development as the current 45-nm chip is almost twice the size of the A4. Additionally, as Samsung is pitting its Galaxy smartphones and Galaxy Tabs against the iPhone and iPad, Apple is at the mercy of a major competitor for an essential component of its products. With that competition heating up, it's reasonable to expect that relationship may be on its way out sooner rather than later.

Source: AppleInsider

**steve-z17** · 03-15-2011, 05:30 PM

Cool, thanks Samsung! You've made Apple very happy..and rich

**z3r01** · 03-15-2011, 05:33 PM

Thanx samsung for making this and making the galaxy suck

**steve-z17** · 03-15-2011, 05:35 PM

Originally Posted by z3r01

Thanx samsung for making this and making the galaxy suck

Lol, yeah!

**feidhlim1986** · 03-15-2011, 05:38 PM

Samsung do make good stuff.

**drewstone** · 03-15-2011, 06:01 PM

way to go Samsung, good lookin' out!!

**jesmith8** · 03-15-2011, 06:11 PM

Originally Posted by feidhlim1986

Samsung do make good stuff.

Yeah... Just not "good" tablets.. lol

**Silverado1987** · 03-15-2011, 06:14 PM

Originally Posted by z3r01

Thanx samsung for making this and making the galaxy suck

Lol yeah WTF

**The6uest** · 03-15-2011, 06:25 PM

I have a Samsung tv and am really happy with it. IF, and thats a big IF, I decide to get an Android tablet in the future, it will probably be a 10" Samsung, but for now I'm sticking with the iPad 2.

**se23** · 03-15-2011, 06:27 PM

Surprise Surprise!

**delusion950** · 03-15-2011, 06:31 PM

If they can't beat then join them.

**TheJailbreakGenius** · 03-15-2011, 06:44 PM

We already knew about this from the iFixit article.

Not really important. Maybe Apple will just use both manufacturers.

**feidhlim1986** · 03-15-2011, 06:56 PM

Originally Posted by jesmith8

Yeah... Just not "good" tablets.. lol

The Galaxy Tab 10.1 with Honeycomb looks pretty good. As does the Galaxy S 2, which makes even the iPhone 4 look outdated. Dual-Core A9, 1GB RAM, 8-Core GPU, Super AMOLED,1080p video recording, 8MP Rear Cam, 2MP front Cam, NFC, HDMI, Wifi N, Bluetooth 3.0.

Gimme all that in a sleek Apple designed case and iOS for iPhone 5

**The Amazing Atheist** · 03-15-2011, 07:42 PM

I've always liked samsung. Their products are cheap and they're almost indestructible. I ran over my samsung mp3 player with my car on accident and it still works...the screen has a small chip in the corner though.

Sent from my iPod touch using ModMyi

**Giorgio79** · 03-15-2011, 08:07 PM

Great Job Samsung !

**iCR4C** · 03-15-2011, 08:17 PM

Samsung to the rescue again

Sent from my iPhone using ModMyi

**lootbot** · 03-15-2011, 08:46 PM

Originally Posted by Th3_Amazing_Ath3ist

I ran over my samsung mp3 player with my car on accident and it still works...the screen has a small chip in the corner though.

lmao at that

**Bluemoldycheeze88** · 03-15-2011, 10:49 PM

It's amazing how Samsung makes great products for Apple, but their own products generally blow. Oh well at the end of the day it's all about the
Dollar.

Sent from my iPhone using ModMyi

**Ddaniel87** · 03-16-2011, 12:31 AM

Originally Posted by feidhlim1986

The Galaxy Tab 10.1 with Honeycomb looks pretty good. As does the Galaxy S 2, which makes even the iPhone 4 look outdated. Dual-Core A9, 1GB RAM, 8-Core GPU, Super AMOLED,1080p video recording, 8MP Rear Cam, 2MP front Cam, NFC, HDMI, Wifi N, Bluetooth 3.0.

Gimme all that in a sleek Apple designed case and iOS for iPhone 5

First of all let's compare a phone vs a phone, your comparison doesn't make any sense, it's like comparing a full size car vs a small car, they are completely two categories

**AkkeDaBest** · 03-16-2011, 03:58 AM

Originally Posted by feidhlim1986

The Galaxy Tab 10.1 with Honeycomb looks pretty good. As does the Galaxy S 2, which makes even the iPhone 4 look outdated. Dual-Core A9, 1GB RAM, 8-Core GPU, Super AMOLED,1080p video recording, 8MP Rear Cam, 2MP front Cam, NFC, HDMI, Wifi N, Bluetooth 3.0.

Gimme all that in a sleek Apple designed case and iOS for iPhone 5

Oh wow a future device beats the last years' iPhone in hardware

The software still is better in the iPhone

Jailbroken iOS FTW!

Your favorite Apple, iPhone, iPad, iOS, Jailbreak, and Cydia site.

Thread: Teardowns Show Samsung Built the A5

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