Arm Unveils 2024 CPU Core Designs, Cortex X925, A725 and A520: Arm v9.2 Redefined For 3nm

Arm Cortex A520: Same 2023 Core Optimized For 3 nm

The Arm Cortex-A520 isn't architecturally different, nor has it been changed compared with last year's TCS2023 introduction. Instead, it has been optimized for the latest 3 nm process technology, enhancing its efficiency and performance. This core, part of the second-generation Armv9.2 architecture, delivers some additional compute power for everyday tasks in mobile and embedded devices while maintaining peak levels of energy efficiency and reducing power consumption expected from Arm's smallest core.

These architectural tweaks ensure that the Cortex-A520 can maximize the potential of the 3 nm process, achieving higher transistor density and better overall performance without any significant changes to its fundamental design.

The Cortex-A520 showcases a significant 15% energy saving compared to the Cortex-A520 (TCS23). This improvement is critical for devices with prolonged battery life, such as smartphones and Internet of Things (IoT) devices. By optimizing power consumption, the Cortex-A520 ensures efficient performance without compromising energy usage.

The graph on the above slide clearly illustrates the relationship between power and performance for the Cortex-A520 compared to its predecessor, the Cortex-A55, and the previous Cortex-A520 (TCS23). The latest Cortex-A520 explicitly designed for the 3 nm notably improves power efficiency across various performance levels. This means that the Cortex-A520 consumes significantly less power for a given performance point, demonstrating Arm's commitment to providing performance gains across 2024's Core Cluster and focusing on refining things from a power standpoint to the smallest of the three Cortex cores.