The Unisoc 9863 can be known as an MTK 9863, the Spreadtrum 9863, a 9863A or the SC9863A SoC processor.
Yes. The SC9863 is a mid range processor that is good for an android head unit. By no way, the fastest SoC, it outclasses all the QuadCore chips.
No. The SC9863 is not an QuadCore SoC. The SC9863 is an OctaCore processor.
Yes. The SC9863 is capable of more than 2Gb RAM but it will depend on the manufacturer to how much is actually fitted.
The SC9863 is a mid-range phone chip. So this puts it to the higher end of the android headunit scale.
The SC9863 is typically clocked at 1.6Ghz
The SC9863 has 8 cores of ARM Cortex A55
SC9863 Cores
The 9863 android head unit SoC (processor) has 8 cores. This makes the Spreadtrum SC9863 an OctaCore processor. These 8 cores are of the ARM Coretx A55 variety. The 8 cores are configured into 2 clusters. Typically 4 of these cores are clocked at 1.6Ghz for high performance. The remaining 4 cores are clocked at 1.2Ghz for power saving.
ARMv8.2-A enabled SoC cores with NEON co-processor and Floating Point Unit for improved processing performance.
OctaCore
The Spreadtrum SC9863 is considered a OctaCore processor. This is due to its 4 core + 4 core configuration. The total number of ARM cortex cores is Eight.
Phone Processor
The SC9863 is yet another middle of the road phone processor that has made it’s way into the android head units. These mid-range phone chips are used in the higher end android headunits. There is phone specific silicon within the SoC that doesn’t get used in the android headunit. Making this processor not the most cost efficient way of powering a car head unit.
4+4 core is divided to give a performance and battery saving processing core. The 2 differently clocked clusters are used to either give a good battery life or as needed a boots in processing power for intensive tasks. This is great for a phone when battery life is such a premium but irrelevant to an android head unit. The car head units are connected to an unlimited power source making the use of a phone processor a questionable move. It is certainly not ideal.
RAM
The SC9863 can access the modern levels of RAM that the older and very limited QuadCores are unable to do. This enhanced architecture of the OctaCore SC9863 means up to 8Gb RAM is fitted. Although the manufacturer can fit less RAM, it not an good selling point. Customers of android headunits are looking for at least 4Gb RAM. Units with 6Gb RAM or 8Gb RAM are more appealing so fitting less than 4Gb would be pointless in the sales pitch.
RAM Technology handled by SC9863:
LPDDR3
LPDDR4/4X
Graphics Capabilities
The SC9863 employs the PowerVR Series8XEP Graphics Processors and supports:
- Vulkan 1.2
- OpenGL ES 3.x/2.0/1.1 + Extensions
- OpenCL 3.0
- Android NN HAL
SC9863 Overall
Overall the SC9863 Octacore processor is a vast improvement over the dire quadcore offerings found in android headunits. The processing power is light years ahead of the 8227L and its clones. The extra RAM that all the modern android headunit processors is a valuable boot to performance over the 32b QuadCores. The 9863 is a low to mid range phone processor from around the year 2018. Don’t expect modern high-end phone style performance from it. The SoC just isn’t capable. But what it can do is a pretty good job for you android head unit. If you are looking for the very fastest android head unit processor, this is not it, by a long measure. What that SC9863 Octacore can do is blow all the quadcores out of the water.
