Benchmarks: Tegra 3 and Tegra 2 have faster processing speeds, A5 and A5X offer better graphics performance

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A5X and Tegra 3 benchmarked
A month ago iPad 2 and Asus Transformer Prime were benchmarked by Laptop Mag. Tests show A5X has better graphics performance and read/write speeds but that Tegra 3 was still faster in other aspects.

Yesterday, benchmarks comparing A5X, A5, Tegra 3, and Tegra 2 were reported by IGN. IGN tested their processing speeds and graphics performance using the new iPad, iPad 2, Asus Transformer Prime TF201, and Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1.

Processing Speeds

Processing speeds were measured using GeekBench and the raw CPU speed of Tegra 3 wasn’t surprising at all. It scored twice than A5X and A5. Worth noting is the fact that Tegra 3 is a quad-core processor, explaining why it performs better than A5 and A5X in terms of overall speed. What caught our attention was the dual-core Tegra 2 inside Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 which scored 100 or so points higher than Apple’s A5 and A5X processor which have the same number of cores. Even more interesting was iPad 2’s A5 which scored higher than A5X during raw CPU speed tests. The processing speed scores are as follows:

1. Tegra 3, quad-core (Asus Transformer Prime) = 1540
2. Tegra 2, dual-core (Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1) = 905
3. A5, dual-core (iPad 2) = 753
4. A5X, dual-core (new iPad) = 750

A high score doesn’t translate to a smooth user experience though. Software still plays role in weighing how well a processor performs. The scores reflected above only show raw CPU speeds which test hardware performance without the software.

Graphics Performance

Graphics performance of A5X, A5, Tegra 3, and Tegra 2 were acquired using GLBenchmark 2. Results on the first round of tests reflect graphics performance in accordance to a display’s maximum resolution. During the Egypt test, the A5 chip inside iPad 2 scored the highest at 59 frames per second (fps). A5, Tegra 3, and Tegra 2 follow shortly. The Pro test which measures 3D graphics performance showed a similar pattern. Apple’s A5 CPU scored highest and was followed by A5, Tegra 3, and then Tegra 2.

A second round of tests showed different results though, when all four processors were tested with a 720p screen resolution. The new iPad blasts off to the top spot, followed by iPad 2, Asus Transformer Prime, and Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1. Results are shown below:

1. A5X, dual-core (new iPad) = 138 fps, Egypt. 240 fps, Pro.
2. A5, dual-core (iPad 2) = 90 fps, Egypt. 147 fps, Pro.
3. Tegra 3, quad-core (Asus Transformer Prime) = 82 fps, Egypt. 56 fps, Pro.
4. Tegra 2, dual-core (Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1) = 69 fps, Egypt. 43 fps, Pro.

Conclusion

The results are overwhelming given all the numbers we showed you but we can still make something out of it without giving you a headache. Starting with processing speed, benchmarks show that Tegra 3 and Tegra 2 are faster than any of Apple’s CPUs. And we can’t say A5X scoring lowest in this test wasn’t expect. The new iPad’s Retina Display takes its toll on the dual-core architecture of A5X, limiting its overall processing speed. When it comes to graphics performance, Apple is ahead regardless of screen resolution. A5X and A5 outperform NVIDIA’s Tegra 3 and Tegra 2 processors when it comes to graphics.

via IGN

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Editor in Chief with passion for gadgets and web technology. He is writing gadget news, covering mobile gear, apps and concept devices.

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