Smartphone on chip mtk x30. MediaTek Helio X30 and the first smartphone with a new processor

The new top mobile processor MediaTek Helio X30 (MT6799 Deca Core) was presented on February 27 at the international exhibition MWC 2017 in Barcelona. Compared to its competitors, it has the best combination of performance and price.

Strictly speaking, Helio X30 (MT6799) deck core is a single-chip system (System-on-a-Chip or SoC for short), which includes, in addition to the CPU, a complete set of necessary components: a graphics accelerator, memory and disk subsystem controllers, a cellular modem , WiFi adapter, image processing co-processor and more.

The new MediaTek is produced using 10nm technology, which allows not only to increase the computing speed by 22%, but also significantly reduce power consumption by 40% compared to the previous 16nm. Helio X30 is directly produced by TSMC.

Specifications MediaTek Helio X30

Structure of Helio X30

CPU

MediaTek remains true to the ten-core architecture chosen a couple of years ago, in which the computing unit of the chipset consists of three computing clusters according to the 2 + 4 + 4 scheme. In the case of the new Helio X30 we have:

  • 2 high-performance cores ARM Cortex A73 (64 bit) with a frequency of up to 2.5 GHz
  • 4 quieter ARM Cortex A53 (64 bit) cores up to 2.2 GHz
  • 4 very "economical" cores ARM Cortex A35 (64 bit) with a frequency of up to 1.9 GHz

The operation scheme is similar to the previous Helio X20, when a more productive computing cluster is connected only when necessary. This results in maximum battery savings. It is important to note that if necessary, all the cores can work together to achieve maximum speed.

A new feature of MediaTek Helio X30 is CorePilot 4.0 smart resource allocation technology. Its essence is that, based on user behavior data and device temperature, the most suitable cores are selected for solving the current task. This has a beneficial effect on autonomy and battery life.

MediaTek representatives say that compared to last year's Helio X20, the new Helio X30 deca core has 35% more performance and consumes 50% less energy. Whether this is so remains to be seen in practical tests. And a lot will ultimately rest on the combination of hardware and software.

Memory

The MediaTek Helio X30 RAM controller is implemented quite “in an adult way” and supports dual-channel LPDDR4x memory with a clock frequency of 1866 MHz. That is, in this regard, the MT6799 is not inferior to its competitors in the face of HiSilicon Kirin 960, Snapdragon 835 and Exynos 8895.

As for the built-in flash drive, the manufacturer of smartphones (or other gadgets) based on the Helio X30 is free to choose between faster and more expensive UFS 2.1 memory and cheaper eMMC 5.1. It all depends on the device class.

The controller responsible for SD memory cards can work with drives up to 2 Tb (theoretically).

Graphic arts

Instead of last year's ARM Mali-T880 MP4, this year MediaTek decided to use a more powerful PowerVR 7XTP-MT4 graphics accelerator. As is clear from the number 4 at the end of the model number, this GPU is a quad-core one. Its maximum clock frequency is 800 MHz.

Representatives of the company guarantee a performance increase of as much as 2.4 times while reducing power consumption by 60% compared to the integrated graphics of MediaTek Helio X20.

The new graphics controller supports screens with a resolution of 4K Ultra HD 3840×2160 pixels and hardware video encoding in h.264 and h.265 formats, and decoding - h.264/h.265/HEVC. It also claims to work with 4K HDR10 format.

The built-in MediaTek Helio X30 modem supports 4G LTE Category 10 networks, which guarantees a maximum download speed of up to 450 Mbps and upload up to 150 Mbps if the operator has the appropriate equipment.

It can also work with such rather exotic mobile communication standards as CDMA2000 1x/EVDO Rev. A (SRLT). It is also worth noting the support for such chips as VoLTE, ViLTE, LTE-U / LWA, Ultra HD Voice (EVS), etc.

Image processing co-processor

The dedicated 14-bit co-processor Imagiq 2.0 Helio X30 is sharpened to work with dual cameras, the maximum resolution is 16 Mp for each sensor. When using a single sensor, modules with a resolution of up to 28 Mp can be used.

There is a built-in electronic image stabilizer, support for 10x ClearZoom digital zoom and Temporal Noise Reduction (TNR) technology for intelligent digital noise removal. All this is available both in photo and video mode.

Compare MediaTek Helio X30 with…

Qualcomm Snapdragon 835

Far from in favor of the Helio X30. The new chipset from Qualcomm includes eight custom high-performance Kryo 280 cores, which even from a purely technical point of view are superior to the CPU MT6799. The same goes for graphics and most other components.

HiSilicon Kirin 960

This is where the MediaTek Helio X30 has some chances to compete in performance, since both processors use the same cores, just in a different combination.

In the "discipline" of single-core computing The MT6799 may well beat the Kirin 960 due to the slightly higher clock speed of the ARM Cortex A73 cores (if we take the Huawei Mate 9 with its 2.4 GHz as the benchmark). But in multi-core development, Huawei is likely to show better results.

As for graphics, the Kirin 960 will most likely be the favorite of the race again - due to twice the number of GPU cores.

Exynos 9 Series 8895

With the new Samsung Helio X30 mobile chipset, there is hardly any point in competing. There are four custom cores of the new generation Exynos M2, and a twenty-core graphics accelerator ARM Mali-G71, which leave no chance for the budget X30.

In terms of cellular communications, the new "stone" MediaTek loses in general to all its competitors over the past two years. The latter have already mastered LTE Cat.12-Cat.16 with a data download rate of up to 1 Gb / s (Snapdragon 835 and Exynos 8895), and Helio X30 is trailing behind.

Smartphones based on MediaTek Helio X30

It is expected that the first device based on Helio X30 Deca Core will be Meizu Pro 7, which is expected to be announced in April-May 2017. Closer to summer or already in June, Vernee Apollo 2 should also appear. The creators of the latter also announced the use of MT6799.

There were rumors that the leaders of the current leaders of the Chinese “smartphone industry” Oppo and Vivo would be interested in the new “stone” of MediaTek. However, according to recent reports, they have changed their plans. The situation with Xiaomi is also incomprehensible, which “threatens” to switch to processors of its own design.

Surely Helio X30 will be of interest to smaller vendors from the Middle Kingdom, who are just interested in an inexpensive but powerful solution for entry-level flagships.

MediaTek Helio X30 parameters in brief

CPU:

  • First CPU cluster: 2 x ARM Cortex-A73 @ 2.5GHz
  • Second CPU cluster: 4 x ARM Cortex-A53 @ 2.2GHz
  • Third CPU cluster: 4 x ARM Cortex-A35 @ 1.9GHz
  • 64-bit: Yes
  • Heterogeneous Multi-Processing: Yes

Memory

  • RAM: Up to 8 Gb LPDDR4x @ 1866MHz Dual Channel
  • Storage device: UFS 2.1 or eMMC 5.1
  • microSD: Yes

Graphic arts

  • GPU: IMG PowerVR 7XTP-MT4
  • GPU frequency: 800 MHz
  • Maximum screen resolution: 4K Ultra HD 3840 x 2160 pixels
  • Hardware video encoding: h.264/h.265 @ 30fps
  • Hardware video decoding: h.264/h.265/HEVC @ 30 fps

Camera

  • Dual cameras: 16MP+16MP
  • Single cameras: 28MP
  • Video recording: up to 3840 x 2160 @ 30 fps
  • Camera Options: VPU, Wide+Zoom/Dual Zoom/Color+Mono, ClearZoom, TNR, InstantAE with CCU, ZSD
  • Signal handler: MediaTek Imagiq 2.0.

Communications and communications

  • Cellular standards: 2G GSM, 3G UMTS, 4G FDD/TDD LTE, CDMA2000 1x/EVDO Rev. A (SRLT)
  • LTE Category: 10
  • Special abilities: VoLTE, ViLTE, Wi-Fi calling, Ultra HD Voice (EVS), RCS. LTE-U/LWA
  • WiFi: IEEE 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac 2.4/5 GHz
  • Bluetooth: v5.0
  • FM radio: Yes
  • Navigation: GNSS (GPS + Glonass, BeiDou)

Other

  • Proprietary technologies: CorePilot, Imagiq, MiraVision, Tiny Sensor Hub, EnergySmart Screen
  • DSP: Cortex M4

In this year's fast-paced race for leadership in the processor market, MediaTek seems to be far behind. While Samsung and Qualcomm topped the top of the most in-demand processor manufacturers, reaching a whole new level in terms of device performance, 2017 will be a very important year for the Taiwanese brand. However, the beginning of next year does not bode well: the new flagship processor Helio X30, announced, apparently did not find a response in the hearts of either consumers or manufacturers.


It is already known that the top three brands Huawei, OPPO, and Vivo, do not plan to use the Helio X30 as part of their future flagships. And if Huawei's lack of interest can be explained by the fact that the company uses Kirin processors of its own production, then the refusal of Vivo and OPPO - two of the fastest growing brands in China - to cooperate with MediaTek came as a surprise to many. Models manufactured by HTC in 2017, most likely, will also not receive the Helio X30 processor. MediaTek can only hope for brands like Meizu and Xiaomi. According to rumors, the future flagship of 2017 from Meizu will be based on the aforementioned MTK processor. While Xiaomi has recently increasingly preferred processors from Qualcomm.


All these circumstances seem strange, because on paper Helio X30 looks like a powerful processor, quite worthy of a flagship device. First of all, it uses an efficient version of the 10nm architecture that can meet the requirements of the most advanced devices. MediaTek claims that thanks to the two Cortex A73 cores, processor performance has increased by 43% and power consumption has decreased by 53% compared to the previous generation.
Despite the above parameters, things are not going well for the Helio X30. And MTK will have to compete with competitors in order to regain its market position in 2017.

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And its slightly improved version “in person” will take root in mobile devices (the latter is currently installed in only three smartphones), as they have already prepared a much more advanced change - the MediaTek Helio X30 processor. It is this chip, announced a couple of hours ago by MediaTek, that will become the successor to the 10-core X25.

Unlike the mentioned Helio X20 / X25, which are characterized by a 20nm microarchitecture, MediaTek Helio X30 intends to manufacture using TSMC's most advanced 10nm FinFET process technology. However, the "thirty" will retain the 10-core scheme: four Cortex A73 cores will operate at 2.8 GHz, four Cortex A53 - at 2.2 GHz, and the remaining two Cortex A35 will be limited to 2 GHz.

A significant leap forward in the technological process has entailed massive changes in the graphics capabilities of the Helio X30, which will now be assigned to a quad-core accelerator. According to the developers, if before the graphics subsystem demonstrated an average level of performance, then with PowerVR 7XT the presented solution will be able to compete in performance with top-end chips from third-party companies in resource-intensive applications with an emphasis on the 3D component.

MediaTek Helio X30 Features

  • up to 8 GB LPDDR4 RAM;
  • the Universal Flash Storage version 2.1 standard that replaced the eMMC interface, which was approved four months ago;
  • cameras up to 40 MP or dual cameras with a resolution of 26 MP;
  • three-band Wi-Fi;
  • modem LTE Cat. 12.

Given the fact that neither the X20 nor the X25 have yet received proper distribution, it is worth expecting the Helio X30 to appear in commercial production no earlier than the III-IV quarter of 2017.

Helio X30 processor: 10 cores, 10nm process technology, new architecture. Maximum optimization of battery consumption. Power increase 35%. Energy saving 50%.

At MWC-2017, the company of top SoCs was replenished with the MediaTek Helio X30 processor. The chipset, manufactured using the 10nm process technology, is aimed at flagships that will hit the market in Q2 2017.

Helio X30 specifications: technical process

Helio X30 is the Taiwanese company's first processor, which is manufactured using a 10 nm process technology. (The previous generation of Helio X20 chipsets was manufactured using the 20 nm process technology.) What the transition to 10 nm process brings is well known - the size of computing units is reduced and battery consumption is reduced, while performance is increased.

According to the company's representatives, in normal mode, Helio X30 consumes 50% less energy than its predecessor. The increase in power was 35%. Chipset heating has also decreased, which is clearly demonstrated in the following video from the manufacturer:

Helio X30: number of cores, architecture, frequency

The increase in power and optimization of energy consumption is not only achieved through a new process technology. The architecture has been redesigned: the number of cores in Helio X30 is the same (10), but their type and clock frequency have changed noticeably.

In Helio X30 we see 3 clusters of cores instead of the usual two. Peak power is provided by 2 Cortex A73 cores operating at 2.5 GHz. (Similar kernels are in). Even under maximum load, they consume 20% less power than their predecessors - ARM Cortex A72 cores.

The "medium power" cluster is represented by the well-known Cortex A53 cores. The key difference is that there are 4 of them, not 8, as in the Helio X20, and the Cortex A53 cores operate at an increased frequency of 2.2 GHz.

A cluster with minimal power consumption is formed by 4 Cortex A35 cores. They accelerate to 1.9 GHz and consume 30% less power than the Cortex A53. At the same time, the power of Cortex A35 is 80-100% of the Cortex A53 cores. The illustrations will help to present all this better, the images are clickable.

Helio X30: graphics adapter

We figured out the architecture of the Helio X30 processor and the number of cores, then it will be easier and more interesting. Gamers should be pleased with the new PowerVR 7XTP-MT4 graphics adapter. It operates at a frequency of 800 MHz, which is not bad even in comparison with Snapdragon. Compared with previous Helio chipsets, the updated graphics are 2.4 times faster and 60% more economical. You can count on high fps in the most demanding games with less battery consumption.

The Helio X30 chipset supports displays with resolutions up to 2560 x 1600 pixels. Recording and playback of 2160p video at 30 frames per second is possible.

Helio X30: CorePilot 4.0 optimizer to save battery

A draining battery is a source of headache for most users. To somehow deal with this, the Helio X30 has a special battery consumption optimizer CorePilot 4.0, which can extend the battery life cycle by 25%.

Company representatives compare CorePilot 4.0 with a heart. When the load increases, the heart begins to beat at a faster pace. When we sleep, the heart rate slows down. The new Helio X30 processor should work on the same principle - accelerate under load and slow down in standby mode and solve simple tasks.

The duties of the "regulator" were assigned to CorePilot 4.0. Its main task is to provide maximum performance with minimum energy consumption. CorePilot acts as a task scheduler. Accounts for user activity. Monitors chipset temperature and FPS. Controls battery charge. Depending on the current situation, it activates powerful or energy-efficient clusters of cores, changes the clock frequency and voltage.

Helio X30: camera support

Technological innovations have also touched the camera. Image processing is now handled by two 14-bit ISPs (image signal processors) with Imagiq 2.0 technology. They will be accompanied by the Vision Processing Unit (VPU). It performs some of the computational tasks when processing photos and videos and offloads the processor. A similar technology is implemented in the new one, which supports recording in 4K @ 120 fps format.

Smartphones on Helio X30 will support a single camera module with a resolution of up to 28 MP or a dual module of 16 MP + 16 MP. It will be possible to record video at 30 fps with a resolution of 2160p.

Helio X30: modem

The modem is not doing as well as the competition. Helio X30 received a tenth category modem. LTE Cat.10 is capable of receiving data at speeds up to 450 Mbps, and transmitting at up to 150 Mbps. By today's standards, this is not the best performance, because the Snapdragon 835 with the LTE X16 modem supports download speeds up to 1 Gbps.

On the other hand, the data transfer speed is similar there, so in terms of quickly uploading new photos and videos to social networks or Instagram, in fact, there is no difference.

Helio X30: memory

Helio X30 supports 16-bit LPDDR4x 1866MHz RAM up to 8GB. Note the new UFS 2.1 interface for flash memory. The combination of fast LPDDR4x and UFS 2.1 will speed up applications and games.

Smartphones on Helio X30

The first smartphones based on MediaTek Helio X30 will be available in the second quarter of 2017. At a press conference at MWC-2017, the company's executive vice president, Jeffrey Joo, said that no more than 10 models will be released on the Helio X30 this year.

The Helio X30 processor looks promising. Not better than the main market players, but better than its predecessors. We are waiting for new smartphones on Helio X30 and their performance in the main benchmarks.