Apple Uses Intel's Nehalem Die Shot in A5 CPU Slide

At the Apple event with the big iPhone 4S reveal, the company took the time to highlight again its A5 processor – the same processor that's been running in the iPad 2 since earlier this year. The leap from the Apple A4 in the iPhone 4 to the A5 is fairly significant, as it moves up an ARM generation as well as adds a second core.

Graphically, the A5 is exceptionally strong compared to the previous Apple generation, and is besting today's strongest competition. Apple has a lot to be proud of for its package-on-package system-on-chip design choices.

At the mention of the A5's dual-core capability the official promo video (above), Apple used a fairly attractive-looking die shot. Our friend Anand of AnandTech also noticed the die shot and tweeted about the striking similarities between Apple's image of its A5 and Intel's 45nm Nehalem CPU.

Apple's image of its A5

Intel's 45nm Nehalem

We're sure that Apple wasn't trying to mislead anyone into thinking that its A5 chip is an equivalent to Intel's Nehalem design. They say that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, and liberally borrowing from Intel's excellent die shots is nothing but a compliment… and likely the product of some uninspired Photoshopping.

Marcus Yam
Marcus Yam served as Tom's Hardware News Director during 2008-2014. He entered tech media in the late 90s and fondly remembers the days when an overclocked Celeron 300A and Voodoo2 SLI comprised a gaming rig with the ultimate street cred.
  • billybobser
    I think you'll find Apple designed Nehalem, and are currently pursuing intel in the courts for copyright infringement on the 'look and feel' of their chip.
    Reply
  • shades_aus
    Apple said about copying Intel - "They say that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery"

    So answer me this then. Why are they suing Samsung and trying to prevent them from launching products that resemble their own??
    Reply
  • cookoy
    For Apple the sincerest form of flattery comes with $$$ attached. Lots of them.
    Reply
  • DSpider
    Wow... That was a blatant copy-paste. Look closely:


    Sorry if I got the perspective wrong, I'm not very good with Gimp.

    Mess with the hue a little, reduce saturation, etc., and I'm pretty sure it's the same thing. And yeah, poor, "poor" Samsung...
    Reply
  • spiketheaardvark
    Anand of AnandTech gets some serious nerd cred for recognizing a die shot.

    Next in news. Apple, after patenting the "look and feel" of a computer chip, sues everybody.
    Reply
  • mdsiu
    Well...someone at Apple is fired
    Reply
  • ap3x
    Figures you guys would go there. If they did use a die layout from Intel it was probably given to them or assisted by Intel. Their relationship with Intel is extremely deep to the point where they influence Intel's products in many cases. They are truly partners.
    Reply
  • ap3x
    spiketheaardvarkAnand of AnandTech gets some serious nerd cred for recognizing a die shot.Next in news. Apple, after patenting the "look and feel" of a computer chip, sues everybody.
    Yea Anand has some serious nerd cred. The guy is nothing short of amazing with the information his site provides.
    Reply
  • mavroxur
    Wow, how sad, Apple. Just as sad as suing Samsung for "copying" the iPad.... after much Photoshop work, it sure does look similar... >_>
    Reply
  • SneakySnake
    Samsung releases multiple products with a UI that's clearly copying the iOS look and feel...

    Apple uses a dieshot of a nehalem CPU to makes an illustration about a CPU in one slide of a presentation...

    Clearly those are very different things, grow up people, get off the hate train, and get on the common sense train

    here come my down votes
    Reply