File:Samsung-Exynos-4412-Quad_SoC_used_in_I9300.jpg · Wikimedia Commons · See Wikimedia Commons
system on a chip
Sign in to saveAlso known as system-on-a-chip, SOC, SoC, System on Chip, System-on-Chip, System-on-a-Chip, soc
type of integrated circuit; integration of the functions of a system on a chip
~31 min read
Encyclopedic overview
An Exynos 4 Quad (4412), on the circuit board of a Samsung Galaxy S III smartphone
A system on a chip, or system on chip (SoC), is an integrated circuit that combines most or all key components of a computer or electronic system onto a single microchip. Typically, an SoC includes a central processing unit (CPU) with memory, input/output, and data storage control functions, along with optional features like a graphics processing unit (GPU), Wi-Fi connectivity, and radio frequency processing. This high level of integration minimizes the need for separate, discrete components, thereby enhancing power efficiency and simplifying device design.
Excerpted from Wikipedia’s “system on a chip” article, available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence.