Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 to use a weird 1+2+2+3 CPU architecture

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In May this year, the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 processor was released. This is an enhanced version of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1. It uses the 4nm process of TSMC, however, the architecture remains the same as the previous generation. At the end of this year, there will be a second-generation flagship processor in the Snapdragon 8 series. This chip should be the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2. According to reports, this processor will also use TSMC’s 4nm process. However, there will be a significant change in the CPU architecture design.

According to @DCS, this device  (SM8550), that is, Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 will use TSMC N4 process. As for its configuration, it will have “1*Makalu-Elp+2*Makalu+2*Matterhon+3*Klein R1, X3-A720-A710-A510, Adreno740 GPU”. His revelations are very mysterious. However, there is some meaning that we can make out of it. First off, this chip will use an Adren 740 GPU.

On the CPU end, it uses a x3 large core x1 + A720 medium core x2 + A710 medium core x2 + A510 small core x3. Judging from this revelation, the GPU upgrade of Snapdragon 8 Gen2 to Adreno 740 is a regular change. However, there is nothing regular about the changes in the CPU architecture.

From the current exposure, it appears that Snapdragon will move from the 1+3+4 three-cluster architecture to a 1+2+2+3 four-cluster architecture. There are now two types of medium-core chips. However, the design is basically more complex. This may also lead to more CPU scheduling problems, but there will be some benefits too. In theory, it is more flexible to use in various scenarios.

At present, this revelation has not been officially confirmed. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 should be released in December this year. The first smartphone to use this processor may also be the flagship Xiaomi 13 series. Of course, other manufacturers will inevitably rush to launch during this period.

Snapdragon 8 Gen2

Back in March, @iceuniverse revealed that Qualcomm’s flagship processors in the second half of this year and next year will be manufactured by TSMC. This means that Qualcomm is changing its foundry after using Samsung for the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 SoC.

It is worth noting that Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 and Snapdragon 8 Gen1 use Samsung. Previously, industry insiders claims that the yield rate of TSMC foundry is higher than that of Samsung. Taking the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 Plus as an example, starting from the third quarter, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 Plus has produced more than 50,000 pieces per quarter. The current yield rate now exceeds 70%. This is significantly higher than that of the Samsung OEM Snapdragon 8 Gen 1. This is one of the reasons why the company wants the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 to use TSMC’s process.