Node frequencies: iPad 1 vs iPad 4

[sje]

I have run some extended analysis searches with Stockfish on the original Apple iPad and on the current fourth version iPad. I have noticed that the iPad 4 has a node frequency which is almost exactly five times that of the original iPad.

[JuLieN]

I have run some extended analysis searches with Stockfish on the original Apple iPad and on the current fourth version iPad. I have noticed that the iPad 4 has a node frequency which is almost exactly five times that of the original iPad.

The iPad 4 has two cores when the iPad 1 has only one. So it means that each core of its A6X chip is 2.5 times faster than the one of the first A4 chip that powered the iPad 1. The A6X runs at 1.4 GHz and the A4 at 1GHz, so each core is 2.5/1.4 = 1.79 times more efficient. Impressive!

[sje]

I note that the latest iPad circuitry includes a super duper four core graphics processor; perhaps it could be used for chess calculations.

The speeds will get even better for bitboard programs once the handhelds go to 64 bit ARM CPUs.

I'm waiting for the day when tablets get really cheap and quality public domain textbooks became common. The academic textbook corporate oligarchies need to be destroyed.