Design Process:
-ASICs are designed from scratch to meet a specific set of requirements, while SoCs are built around an existing processor architecture (X86, ARM, RISC V), and incorporate a combination of pre-designed and custom built components.
Configurability:
– ASICs can not be reprogrammed, while SOCs can be reprogrammed to add a new functionality or modify existing features.
Integration:
– SOCs integrates multiple components onto a single chip, including the processor, memory, and peripherals, while ASICs may only integrate a few components, such as memory and I/O.
Time to Market:
– SOCs time to market quicker than ASICs, because of its pre-designed components.
Performance:
– ASICs are designed to deliver high-performance for a specific task, while SOCs are designed to provide balance of performance and flexibility.
Cost:
– ASICs are more expensive, while SOCs can be cost effective.
Power Optimization:
– ASICs can be optimized for power optimization, while SOCs may not be as power efficient due to its pre-designed components.