# Apple A5X

> system on a chip (SoC) designed by Apple Inc.

**Wikidata**: [Q2858729](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2858729)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apple_A5X)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/apple-a5x

## Summary
The Apple A5X is a system on a chip (SoC) designed by Apple Inc. and manufactured by Samsung Electronics. It features a dual-core ARM Cortex-A9 central processing unit and a quad-core PowerVR SGX543MP4 graphics processing unit. Introduced on March 16, 2012, it is a member of the Apple A series and was built using a 45 nm lithography process.

## Key Facts
- **Entity Type:** System on a chip (SoC)
- **Developer:** Apple Inc.
- **Manufacturer:** Samsung Electronics
- **Announcement Date:** March 16, 2012
- **Discontinuation Date:** October 23, 2012
- **Microarchitecture:** ARM Cortex-A9
- **CPU Cores:** 2
- **GPU:** PowerVR SGX543MP4 (4 cores)
- **Die Area:** 162.94 mm²
- **Fabrication Process:** 45 nm lithography
- **Series:** Apple A series (Positioned between Apple A5 and Apple A6)
- **Class:** Subclass of Apple Silicon

## FAQs
### Q: Who manufactures the Apple A5X?
A: While the chip was designed by Apple Inc., the physical manufacturing was handled by Samsung Electronics, a South Korean multinational electronics corporation.

### Q: What are the technical specifications of the Apple A5X?
A: The chip features a dual-core ARM Cortex-A9 processor and a quad-core PowerVR SGX543MP4 graphics processor. It has a die area of 162.94 square millimeters and utilizes 45 nm lithography technology.

### Q: How long was the Apple A5X in production?
A: The Apple A5X had a short lifecycle in the market; it was announced on March 16, 2012, and discontinued on October 23, 2012.

## Why It Matters
The Apple A5X represents a specific iteration in Apple's silicon lineage, serving as a bridge between the Apple A5 and the Apple A6 within the Apple A series. As a subclass of Apple Silicon, it exemplifies Apple's strategy of designing proprietary architecture—specifically the ARM Cortex-A9 microarchitecture—rather than relying solely on off-the-shelf components. Its significant die area of 162.94 mm² highlights the engineering resources allocated to integrating a quad-core graphics processing unit (PowerVR SGX543MP4) alongside the dual-core CPU. This design emphasized graphics performance, distinguishing it within the product timeline of 2012. The collaboration with Samsung Electronics for the 45 nm fabrication process also underscores the complex supply chain relationships utilized in semiconductor production during that era.

## Notable For
- **Quad-Core Graphics:** Integration of the PowerVR SGX543MP4, providing 4 graphics cores.
- **Apple Silicon Lineage:** Being a distinct subclass of the broader "Apple Silicon" family and part of the "Apple A series."
- **Short Lifecycle:** A market presence of approximately seven months (March 2012 to October 2012).
- **Large Die Size:** A chip area of 162.94 mm², which is substantial for a mobile processor of its generation.
- **Manufacturing Partner:** Production by Samsung Electronics despite being an Apple-designed product.

## Body

### Development and Classification
The Apple A5X is a **system on a chip (SoC)** that falls under the umbrella of **Apple Silicon**. It was developed by **Apple Inc.**, the American multinational technology company, and serves as a component within the **Apple A series** of processors. Within this series, it chronologically follows the **Apple A5** and precedes the **Apple A6**.

### Hardware Architecture
The architecture of the A5X is built around the **ARM Cortex-A9** microarchitecture. It contains:
- **CPU:** A dual-core processor (2 cores).
- **GPU:** A dedicated graphics processing unit identified as the **PowerVR SGX543MP4**, which features 4 cores.

### Fabrication and Specifications
The physical production of the A5X was carried out by **Samsung Electronics**. The chip was fabricated using a **45 nm lithography process**. The physical dimensions of the silicon die measure **162.94 square millimeters**.

### Chronology
- **Inception:** The chip was officially announced on **March 16, 2012**.
- **Conclusion:** It was discontinued shortly thereafter on **October 23, 2012**.

### Identifiers
The chip is also known by various aliases and identifiers including **A5X**, **APL5498**, **S5L8945X**, and **アップルA5X**.

## Schema Markup
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  "description": "System on a chip (SoC) designed by Apple Inc. featuring a dual-core ARM Cortex-A9 CPU and quad-core PowerVR GPU.",
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## References

1. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013