FEATURE
In the A13, Apple added specialized hardware
to handle matrix multiplications and an updated
‘machine learning controller’ to balance those
compute tasks among the various parts of the
processor – CPU, GPU and Neural Engine. It did not,
as I predicted, add cores to the Neural Engine, but
since all parts of the CPU, GPU, and NE run at higher
clock speeds, performance improved.
This is an area Apple cares deeply about, and is a
necessary part of improving photo and video quality,
augmented reality, and many of Siri’s functions
throughout the operating system. With the higher
transistor budget afforded by the 5nm manufacturing
process, I think Apple will add Neural Engine
cores this time, and may make other architectural
improvements as well.
Apple added new matrix maths
hardware to the CPU in the
A13. The A14 may not have a
similar ‘new’ feature, but more
Neural Engine cores seems like
a reasonable expectation
FEATURE
IntheA13,Appleaddedspecializedhardware
tohandlematrixmultiplicationsandanupdated
‘machinelearningcontroller’tobalancethose
computetasksamongthevariouspartsofthe
processor–CPU,GPUandNeuralEngine.Itdidnot,
as I predicted,addcorestotheNeuralEngine,but
since allpartsoftheCPU,GPU,andNErunathigher
clockspeeds,performanceimproved.
ThisisanareaApplecaresdeeplyabout,andisa
necessarypartofimprovingphotoandvideoquality,
augmentedreality,andmanyofSiri’sfunctions
throughouttheoperatingsystem.Withthehigher
transistorbudgetaffordedbythe5nmmanufacturing
process,IthinkApplewilladdNeuralEngine
coresthis time,andmaymakeotherarchitectural
improvementsaswell.
Apple added new matrix maths
hardware to the CPU in the
A13. The A14 may not have a
similar ‘new’ feature, but more
Neural Engine cores seems like
a reasonable expectation
