If you like the Qualcomm MSM7200 then you'll love this! [Archive]

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JulianL

2nd February 2008, 06:43 PM

Much as I like my Touch Cruise, I think I'm already lusting after my next device. I was looking through Qualcomm stuff to try and find the difference between the MSM7200 (the one in the Touch Cruise) and the MSM7200A. I didn't find the answer to my question but I did stumble across a press release from November last year about the latest chips in the MSM7xxx family (http://www.qualcomm.com/press/releases/2007/071113_Qualcomm_Introduces_Single_Chip.html).

As someone that is very concerned with battery life this is the bit that caught my eye: "Additionally, the three chipsets feature new power-saving innovations to deliver more than 80 hours of music playback, a full day of talk time, and more than a month of standby time."

Wow, those statistics represent a genuine step-change in battery life assuming they're not being stupid and quoting those numbers on the basis of using a car battery to power it! If HTC select one of these chips for their next device in 12 months or so, or a competitor's design with comparable characteristics, then I don't think that I'll be able to resist an upgrade.

- Julian

session

2nd February 2008, 06:59 PM

MSM7200A and MSM7200?

What is the difference? Is the A version the ATI enabled one? Could this be the difference? Could it be that there are actually two versions.

spellshaper

2nd February 2008, 07:15 PM

Is the A version the ATI enabled one?
As can bee seen from Brew 2007 PDF presentation both should have ATI Imageon2D/3D chip.

Hornet331

2nd February 2008, 09:48 PM

JulianL

2nd February 2008, 10:54 PM

imho the A version will be just a lower voltage binned version of the normal chipset.

Just look at cpus, intel desktop and mobile processors are alle the same, the only difference is, that the mobile versions work with lower voltage.

I suspect, based on the Google hits I did find, that there's more to it than that. There were some hits from Linux hacker forums where people were trying to port stuff to the MSM7200 and they only had code for the 7200A which apparently wasn't compatible (which seems to imply that it's not a 100% identical architecture). Also, interestingly, I found a hit from someone trying to put Android onto an MSM7200 and again the same issue, the Google code was only for a 7200A.

- Julian

njmarchetti

2nd February 2008, 11:16 PM

SabbeRubbish

3rd February 2008, 12:00 AM

I think the 7200A is a direct result of the Broadcomm/Qualcomm lawsuit.

7200 = Qualcomm infringing on Broadcomm patents

7200A = Qualcomm's attempt to longer infringe on Broadcomm patents.

I could be wrong, but I know that the MSM7200 is being redesigned asap after the patent rulings came out in favor of Broadcomm.

That sounds like the most logical explanation. They don't want to lose the 7200 name (or version or whatever) and all the eventually, the community just makes of it what it wants - let's try to think normal, why would they use almost the same name with revolutionary power changes? Both are identical in functionality, but different in implementation or whatever - making sure not to cross the line again ;)

JulianL

3rd February 2008, 01:13 AM

That sounds like the most logical explanation. They don't want to lose the 7200 name (or version or whatever) and all the eventually, the community just makes of it what it wants - let's try to think normal, why would they use almost the same name with revolutionary power changes? Both are identical in functionality, but different in implementation or whatever - making sure not to cross the line again ;)

Just to be clear, my first post and the link therein (the one talking about the huge increases in battery life) has absolutely nothing to do with the MSM7200/MSM7200A although it does relate to the MSM7xxx family as a whole. The link I posted is to the successor, or even the successor to the successor, to the MSM7200/MSM7200A.

There are two issues in this thread, both interesting in my view, but they are not related: (i) What the very latest chips fairly recently announced in the MSM7xxx family will be capable of, and (ii) what the heck is the difference between the now rather old (in the fast moving world of mobile techology) MSM7200 and MSM7200A chips.

Re the second issue and the theory that the 7200A is the non-infringing version, I agree that appears plausible but I'm still not convinced. I just found this fairly random link (http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0PIL/is_2007_Feb_20/ai_n18619481) of some random news site picking up a Qualcomm press release from Feb 2007. This press release is for the MSM7225 but what is interesting is that even a year ago it explicitly mentions the MSM7200A. Surely if the A version was a re-design because of the Broadcom issue then they wouldn't have been name-checking it in press releases a year ago?

- Julian

SabbeRubbish

3rd February 2008, 12:02 PM

Maybe they hoped the MSM7200 would not be sued ? ;) And they made a backup MSM7200A? :p I doubt it but hey, we might never find out, or the truth will come out one of these days ;)

slacker711

10th February 2008, 06:18 AM

The MSM7200a is the 65nm version of the MSM7200 (90nm). The big difference is a speed boost for the ARM11 processor from 400MHz to 528MHz. I assume that there should be some benefits to battery life as well...not sure about any other changes.

Slacker

dardar2

22nd February 2008, 12:25 PM

Also the msm7200a should allow video output up to 800x480.

dara

Draiko

28th February 2008, 11:21 PM

Qualcomm's own press release of the MSM7500 (http://www.qualcomm.com/press/releases/2005/050713_msm7500_convergence.html)

The ATi Imageon is built into the Main CPU along with the ARM11. Not too clear about the difference between the msm7200 and the msm7500 though.

The theories I've heard are:

MSM7200 has 2 ARM9 cores and ATi's Imageon while the MSM7500 has an ARM11, ARM9, and ATi Imageon

and

MSM7200 is the GSM/HSDPA version of the MSM7500

lazik

29th February 2008, 12:37 AM

http://www.ent.eetchina.com/PDF/2007FEB/DTCOL_2007FEB15_AVDE_RFR_AN_01.pdf?SOURCES=DOWNLOA D

Integrated 400 MHz ARM11™ applications
processor and 274 MHz ARM9™ microprocessor
deliver accelerated applications processing and
simultaneous modem processing; the dual-core
implementation provides hardware-based
security domains

My question about Qualcomm CPU:
Is in Polaris supported CPU scaling or is constant 400MHz?
Is there any software that show CPU speed on device with Qualcomm processor? I only find battery consumption with idle cpu status but this is not 100% answer about scaling.

rfarnell

29th February 2008, 03:19 PM

Have a look at this video as found here:

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=1974776&postcount=1430

http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/28/android-gets-handled-now-with-street-view/

About halfway through the video the person shows a demo of Quake.. listen to the chipset he mentions the phone has.. Than shake your fist at whoever won't let us have the driver...

gnick666

29th February 2008, 04:40 PM

I hate to quote my self but, i'll make an exception...

I know Android isn't very popular around here... but i found something interesting :D

http://www.helloandroid.com/node/22
Original Post: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=1961765&postcount=250

Android is BASED on the Qualcomm chipsets...

My question about Qualcomm CPU:
Is in Polaris supported CPU scaling or is constant 400MHz?
Is there any software that show CPU speed on device with Qualcomm processor? I only find battery consumption with idle cpu status but this is not 100% answer about scaling.

There is no app that can scale the dualcore CPU of the MSM 7x000 based devices, yet.
And i don't know if there is any intelligent scaleing function in it...