Before the release of the new iPad, there was a lot of speculation as to what processor would be used and what capabilities would it have. The iPad 2 has an A5 processor which is a dual core main processor that includes a dual core graphics processor (or GPU) and 512 MB of RAM. The separate GPU handles the new display while the main processor handles the other operations. Many of the rumors prior to the new iPad announcement had guessed that the new iPad would have an upgraded processor, possibly an "A6" which would have a quad core main processor, a quad core GPU, and more internal memory.
The new iPad has what they are calling an A5X processor which is still a dual core main processor, but the GPU now is quad core. The change was likely driven by the new "retina display" which increases the iPad resolution from the previous 1024 by 768 to 2048 by 1536. That resolution change quadruples the number of pixels the system has to handle, but it's more manageable with the improved GPU. Although not as dramatic a change as was predicted by the pundits, the GPU upgrade is still a great performance boost.
The A5X specs are not public, but the new processor may also have an increased amount of cache, more memory, and a faster clock speed which would further improve the overall performance of the new iPad. The battery in the new iPad puts out 42.5W compared to the battery of the iPad 2 which puts out 25W, but the reported life of the new iPad is the same as the previous iPad.
The new iPad appears to take longer to charge. It appears that the new iPad takes about 7 hours to charge, as opposed to its the iPad 2, that took 4 hours to charge. The new iPad's Retina Display takes 7 watts of power compared to the iPad 2's 2.7-2.8 watts, which is the main reason for the power drain.
The new iPad has the improved GPU and retina display, but are they worth an upgrade from previous versions? They certainly seem to be. The new iPad's increased resolution allows playback of 1080p HD movies in actual 1080p and it will render text in eBooks so they look very crisp. Many current and new apps will likely take advantage of the increased resolution as well by offering richer and more detailed graphics.
The power of the new GPU goes beyond just the new display. The upgraded GPU enables the new iPad to use its backside camera to shoot 1080p HD video, and then provides support for editing the movie in the iMovie app. AirPlay video streaming is also improved to 1080p if you invest in the newest version of Apple TV.
The new iPad has some great improvements over the previous model, and the quad core CPU is definitely a significant part of those improvements.
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