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HTC Thunderbolt Speculation Dual Core or Single
- Thread starter gobluejd
- Start date
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- htc thunderbolt
rushmore
Extreme Android User
I have a Tegra 2 device and agree. Most folks that get "impatient" or think that a single core is good enough will probably have buyer's remorse not getting a dual core.
Tegra 2 has four killer advantages:
1. Performance (Flash and games)
2. Audio quality
3. Battery life
4. Reference standard for Android dev work
gobluejd
GOBLUE!
There is NOTHING wrong with SINGLE CORE. There are NO PHONES out with dual core, correct? Eventually single will be phased out. When the market has ALL DUAL CORE out and someone releases a phone with single, then single core will not be good enough.
rushmore
Extreme Android User
We are referring to future products, so it is relative, since if there is a future option and you can choose, Tegra 2 would be the logical choice (for most blog reader types like us). Nothing touches the chipset. At least until the end of next year. Even then, the new chips will have to deal with the same maturity curve the Tegra 2 has.
I am a gadget freak. Have had or thoroughly tested Droid, Droid 2, Droid Global, Galaxy X, Incredible, Galaxy S, Galaxy Tab, Archos 70/101.
The chipsets in those are all second tier performers to the Tegra 2. Nvidia will dominate in 2011 and with Google's blessing.
Why buy a single core if you can get a dual for similar price and features? I like Sense, but not that much. Heck, I would take the gawd awful Wiz with a Tegra 2, than Sense with a single core.
Wolfedude88
Android Expert
The only reason I want this phone at all, is because I think it will be easier for devs to release custom roms, kernels than the Droid Bionic, it is going to be a good year for phones.
gobluejd
GOBLUE!
I like sense enough, want a bigger screen, and honestly like HTC products. I do not use my phone for gaming. It is business mixed with a little personal.
I think those that want this phone and read these threads have been educated well enough to make a decision. For me, dual core means nothing now as I am fine with my Incredible. It is rooted, running Stock Sense Froyo and I do not ever say "I wish this was faster" or "my god gaming on this sucks". A year from now (or earlier), when programs are taking advantage of DC I am sure my opinion will change. By then HTC will have something that will be better or if it matters to me then, I will have to look at other manufactures.
I am always getting new phones. Heck when I buy the TB it will be on someone else's upgrade
then mine comes in June.It will be single core. Here are the specs from HTC..
Networks: LTE 700, CDMA EvDO revA
Operating system: Android™ 2.2 + HTC Sense
Display: 4.3” WVGA TFT capacitive touch screen
Camera: 8MP with autofocus, LED Flash (2x LED), 1.3MP front facing camera
Memory: 8GB emmc + 768 RAM Memory card, preinstalled 32 GB microSD™
WLAN: 802.11 b/g/n
Bluetooth: 2.1 with EDR (3.0 when available)
GPS: GPS/AGPS
Battery: 1400 mAh
Special features: Dual mics with noise cancellation, Surround sound, Compass sensor, G-Sensor, Proximity sensor, Light sensor, 3.5mm audio jack, MicroUSB, FM radio, LTE SIM slot , TI audio DSP
Chipset: Qualcomm
Networks: LTE 700, CDMA EvDO revA
Operating system: Android™ 2.2 + HTC Sense
Display: 4.3” WVGA TFT capacitive touch screen
Camera: 8MP with autofocus, LED Flash (2x LED), 1.3MP front facing camera
Memory: 8GB emmc + 768 RAM Memory card, preinstalled 32 GB microSD™
WLAN: 802.11 b/g/n
Bluetooth: 2.1 with EDR (3.0 when available)
GPS: GPS/AGPS
Battery: 1400 mAh
Special features: Dual mics with noise cancellation, Surround sound, Compass sensor, G-Sensor, Proximity sensor, Light sensor, 3.5mm audio jack, MicroUSB, FM radio, LTE SIM slot , TI audio DSP
Chipset: Qualcomm
As far as the dual core = better battery life, that has to do with electronics theory, specifically energy loss due to heat dissipation and efficiency (resistance). Saying having one core running at 700 MHz is worse than two cores each doing 350 MHz will result in better battery life is valid only if each core of the dual core is more efficient than that of the single core. If not it will lose energy in the form of heat dissipation.
Another issue is how much does each type use at idle. If a single core uses x amount of power on idle, the amount of power a dual core will be greater than a single at idle, because you have two 1GHz cores instead of one, again unless each core is more efficient than that of the single core. So you may very well be using more power on idle with a dual core but less with heavy use compared to a single core.
An analogy is you have a 30 ton load to transport. Two semis will have less of a load on each than if a single semi tried to haul it, but now you are fueling two devices. The only way this is a better scenario is if the two semis get a better average mpg (ie power consumption) than a single semi. Granted, mechanically the two semis will lessen the the strain to haul the total load than if it were hauled by a single semi (which is analagous to heat over time breaking down the material in the chips causing a mechanical/parts failure).
Another would be you have one bulb hooked up to a power source. If you add a second in parallel, each light is dimmer and it puts more of a load (draws more current) on the power source. Now you're using more power than originaly but possibly getting more light than with a single bulb. If you switch to bulbs that are more efficient, you can get the same amount of light while drawing less power. But that's the kicker, in the dual core each device must be more efficient than the single core they are replacing. The PC industry ran into this when they switched to dual core. Some manufacturers where taking two existing single cores and putting them together. It had more processing power, but drew more power and generated more heat.
There are certain laws which cannot be overcome. Energy cannot be created or destroyed, only converted, in this case into heat. If you can lessen the amount of resistance the energy must travel through to accomplish it's task, you get higher output with the same or less power consumtion. It's basic electronics.
So basically what it boils down to is, is each core of the Tegra 2 more efficient than a single core snapdragon, hummingbird, or OMAP? If so then power consumtion and heat dissipation will be reduced for a comparable task. If not then it will still the have higher processing power threshold, but will have the same or worse power consumption and heat dissipation for a comparable task.
Another issue is how much does each type use at idle. If a single core uses x amount of power on idle, the amount of power a dual core will be greater than a single at idle, because you have two 1GHz cores instead of one, again unless each core is more efficient than that of the single core. So you may very well be using more power on idle with a dual core but less with heavy use compared to a single core.
An analogy is you have a 30 ton load to transport. Two semis will have less of a load on each than if a single semi tried to haul it, but now you are fueling two devices. The only way this is a better scenario is if the two semis get a better average mpg (ie power consumption) than a single semi. Granted, mechanically the two semis will lessen the the strain to haul the total load than if it were hauled by a single semi (which is analagous to heat over time breaking down the material in the chips causing a mechanical/parts failure).
Another would be you have one bulb hooked up to a power source. If you add a second in parallel, each light is dimmer and it puts more of a load (draws more current) on the power source. Now you're using more power than originaly but possibly getting more light than with a single bulb. If you switch to bulbs that are more efficient, you can get the same amount of light while drawing less power. But that's the kicker, in the dual core each device must be more efficient than the single core they are replacing. The PC industry ran into this when they switched to dual core. Some manufacturers where taking two existing single cores and putting them together. It had more processing power, but drew more power and generated more heat.
There are certain laws which cannot be overcome. Energy cannot be created or destroyed, only converted, in this case into heat. If you can lessen the amount of resistance the energy must travel through to accomplish it's task, you get higher output with the same or less power consumtion. It's basic electronics.
So basically what it boils down to is, is each core of the Tegra 2 more efficient than a single core snapdragon, hummingbird, or OMAP? If so then power consumtion and heat dissipation will be reduced for a comparable task. If not then it will still the have higher processing power threshold, but will have the same or worse power consumption and heat dissipation for a comparable task.
It all depends on how you want to look at it. It has an improved processor, screen, memory, and body. I'd say there is a lot to look forward too. 
I wouldn't get hung up on the dual core thing, it looks plenty fast enough in all the videos I've seen. Compared to my first HTC phone the Eris this thing is a miles ahead.
I found this link while reading up on the processor...
http://www.phonearena.com/news/Veri...ragon-MSM8655-Processor-and-LTE-Modem_id15734
Another encouraging report.
I wouldn't get hung up on the dual core thing, it looks plenty fast enough in all the videos I've seen. Compared to my first HTC phone the Eris this thing is a miles ahead.I found this link while reading up on the processor...
http://www.phonearena.com/news/Veri...ragon-MSM8655-Processor-and-LTE-Modem_id15734
Another encouraging report.
