Apple downgrades new M2 iPad Air, 9-core GPU instead of 10-core

Re:Apple downgrades new M2 iPad Air, 9-core GPU instead of 1... by Rinzler89 on Saturday June 01, 2024 @05:58PM (#40549405)

I wonder if you can unlock that missing core with the pencil trick[1].

[1] https://computer-communication.blogspot.com/2007/06/unlockin...

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Apple downgrades new M2 iPad Air, 9-core GPU instead of 1... by hi-v-rocknroll on Saturday June 01, 2024 @06:54PM (#40549811)

Doubtful because it's Apple, possibly configured by laser or wire jumpers just prior to package encapsulation.

Older GeForces were hackable similarly, but then Nvidia shifted to specific resistance values: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=5398555

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Apple downgrades new M2 iPad Air, 9-core GPU instead of 1... by Rinzler89 on Saturday June 01, 2024 @07:21PM (#40549977)

I forgot the /s.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Apple downgrades new M2 iPad Air, 9-core GPU instead of 1... by hi-v-rocknroll on Tuesday June 04, 2024 @06:57PM (#40579796)

Obviously but I bet someone in the future will decap future "vintage" random chips to determine if additional cores exist and/or can be unlocked. Dial-a-yield configuration and bin sorting are how yield is maximized and supply chain SKUs are minimized which aren't precisely optimal on individual examples.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Apple downgrades new M2 iPad Air, 9-core GPU instead of 1... by adamsiem on Saturday June 01, 2024 @11:52PM (#40551182)

I was looking at my paperweight at the office on Friday, an Athlon Socket A CPU, staring at the tape and graphite, thinking about how and why I dragged the lead to do some magic. Thanks for the reminder.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Apple downgrades new M2 iPad Air, 9-core GPU instead of 1... by adamsiem on Sunday June 02, 2024 @12:12AM (#40551266)

Contemporary Example: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=40533761

[ Parent | on HN ]