Nvidia's Tegra 250 will be the first mobile processor to reach production using ARM's Cortex-A9 CPU, giving it a performance advantage for smartphones, tablet computers, and other mobile devices. The second-generation Tegra processor has been sampling since 3Q09 and is expected to reach production in 2Q10. ST-Ericsson's U8500 and TI's OMAP4, which also use Cortex-A9, are due to enter production later in 2010.
Tegra 250 contains two Cortex-A9 CPUs, each running at up to 1.0GHz. Extrapolating from initial tests on the ARM CPU, this configuration should score 5760 on the Coremark test (using two threads). This represents more than twice the speed of the iPhone 3GS, Nexus One, or any other smartphone shipping today. It is also 40% faster than the Coremark score of the 1.6GHz Atom CPU (also using two threads with hyperthreading).
Nvidia would not specify the power consumed when both CPUs are firing at full speed, but we believe it exceeds 1.0W. The chip will typically operate at this level for only brief bursts, however, as the second CPU will rarely be needed. In fact, when playing audio or video, neither CPU is required, because the chip provides dedicated hardware engines for these functions. The company says that power consumption in these modes is similar to that of the original Tegra, which uses 150mW for HD (720p) video playback and just 15mW for audio playback.
Tegra 250 can decode video at 30fps and full HD (1080p) resolution for H.264 base and main profiles, but it is restricted to 720p for the ultrachallenging H.264 high profile (Blu-ray). The chip can also encode video at 1080p for H.264 base profile. Few other mobile processors can handle 1080p video at even the base profile.
On the 3D side, Nvidia says it has doubled the performance of the initial Tegra, resulting in a peak speed of 90 million triangles per second. This level is well beyond the performance of any mobile processor shipping or even sampling today.
Tegra 250 will appear initially in tablet computers and similar-sized devices that will debut by mid-2010. The chip will also be used in smartphones, but due to longer design and qualification cycles, these products will not ship until late 2010. Although new processors from ST, TI, and Intel will approach the performance of Tegra 250, Nvidia is already working on its third-generation processor, which it expects to sample before the end of this year. Now that it has the performance crown, Nvidia does not plan to give it up. --Linley
Linley Gwennap, principal analyst
Complete coverage of the U8500, OMAP4, and Atom appears in our recent report "A Guide to Mobile Processors."
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10 comments:
Have you considered that Apple is probably using the Cortex A9 in their A4 and so they will be on the market before Tegra 250. If you look at the web rending speed of the Ipad compared to the 3GS it is obvious that there is more at work then the difference in clock speed alone. Based on the stamping on the chip it was sampled in Sep 09 so maybe Apple beat Nivdia to market and they hold the crown.
The previous commenter makes a good point, but right now, it is unclear what CPU is inside the iPad. It could be a Cortex A8, A9, or possibly based on a PA Semi design. It's also not clear whether the Apple A4 has one CPU or two. I am skeptical that Apple will be able to match Tegra's performance, but it is possible. In any case, OEMs looking for a mobile processor can't buy the Apple chip, so its performance is moot for those designers.
If the A4 chip was indeed produced in Sept 09, it's unlikely that it's a custom design. After all, Apple acquired PA Semi in April and got it's ARM license in July hardly gives them any time to work on a custom architecture. It doesn't mean their not working on one now, but a new architecture takes time and a Cortex implimentation would be an appropriate stopgap. Having said that, my speculation is it's based on A8 and their saving the interesting stuff for their custom ARM when it's ready.
Great write-up Linley! One minor correction: next gen Tegra is already in production.
I would like to understand what operating systems its support, because making ASIC and then taking to mass production with full system working on it takes quite a lot of time, can you tell us who is their lead customers and which OS they are using Android ? Linux ? Proprietary SW?
I have heard from multiple sources that Tegra 250 can not really do dual-core 1 GHz operation. It appears to be limited to 700 MHz range for both at one time for some reason. Any insight?
Nvidia confirms that the Tegra 2 can run both CPUs at full speed simultaneously. In some systems, however, the designer may choose to limit the speed of one or both CPUs, generally for heat or power reasons. Many smartphones underclock their processors. For example, the CPU in the iPhone 3GS is capable of 800MHz but runs at only 600MHz to extend battery life. Nvidia may also choose to offer slower versions at a lower price. Keep in mind that there is a lot of FUD being spread by rival processor vendors.
arm have said that each core can run at 1ghz and has a power drain of 250mW (if designed at 60nm) how fucking awesome is that shit!
crazy man... you can get an iphone size device with dual core 1ghz processor and easily 1gb ram...
scale that up to tablet or notebook and your looking at serious gaming power!
It's now seems that the A4 is a cortex A8 with a PowerVR 535. It's no Tegra, not by a stretch, though a competent performer.
The Tegra 250 (as above) is a dual-core 1GHz A9 with a serious GPU. Also early Tegra-Android tablet prototypes are confirmed to have 1GB memory! Wow!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LTFzRsCj-bg
Another strong piece of the Tegra arsenal is the fact that android is getting the Unity 3D 3.0 development platform (used for more than a few iPhone games), which means that cross-development is now possible, and Tegra-Android tablets should have a healthy line-up of games and increased developer support.
Whoops.. The links with 1GB ram confirmation is here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KT2mZcMVnv4
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