Chip Makers Showcase New Processor Tech at CES

nvidia-tegra4

At the Consumer Electronics Show, NVIDIA introduced the Tegra 4 mobile processor, with faster graphics processing and web browsing and new camera capabilities. (Image: NVIDIA)

The same semiconductor companies that fuel the data center are showing off new technologies this week in Las Vegas, at the 2013 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES).

Intel Ultrabooks and Video Sharing

Chipmaker Intel (INTC) used CES to outline plans to accelerate new mobile device experiences across a growing portfolio of smartphone, tablet and Ultrabook offerings. Highlights included an Intel Atom processor-based platform for the smartphone market, tablets running the first 22 nanometer quad-core Atom SoC, lower power Intel Core (codenamed Haswell) processor lineups reaching as low as 7 watts, and the 4th generation Intel Core processors powering a range of Ultrabooks.

Intel also announced a collaboration with Comcast to enable customers to view live and on-demand television content on Intel-based devices. With an Intel Puma 6MG XG5 multi-screen video gateway customers can enjoy the XFINITY TV experience on IP set-top boxes, Ultrabook devices, Intel-based all-in-one PCs, tablets and smartphones as well as smart TVs in the home. The gateway allows any screen in the home to access high-quality live and on-demand entertainment. Comcast is working with Intel to develop this technology based on upcoming enhancements to the DLNA Premium Content Guidelines to deliver its XFINITY TV experience to Intel-based devices in the home. DLNA is a set of interoperability guidelines that enable the delivery of enhanced content services and secure transport of protected digital content to devices around the home.

NVIDIA launches Tegra 4 

NVIDIA (NVDA) introduced the Tegra 4 mobile processor, with faster graphics processing and web browsing and new camera capabilities through computational photography. The Tegra 4 features 72 custom NVIDIA GeForce CPU cores and the first quad-core application of ARM's Cortex-A15. It also enables worldwide 4G LTE voice and data support through an optional chipset, the fifth-generation NVIDIA Icera i500 processor.

"Tegra 4 provides enormous processing power and efficiency to power smartphones and tablets, gaming devices, auto systems and PCs," said Phil Carmack, senior vice president of the Tegra business at NVIDIA. "Its new capabilities, particularly in the area of computational photography, will help improve a whole range of existing products and lead to the creation of exciting new ones."

Qualcomm Snapdragon

After treating CES attendees to some cutting edge technology previews to be used in the the new J.J. Abrams "Star Trek Into Darkness" movie, Qualcomm Technologies (QCOM) announced it is sampling the first products in its latest generation of Snapdragon processors. New Snapdragon 800 processors enable the mobile experience with UltraHD video, dual image signal processors and HD multichannel audio with DTS-HD and Dolby Digital Plus for enhanced audio. The Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 processor features a new Krait 300 quad-core CPU with speeds up to 1.9GHz, a new speed enhanced Adreno 320 GPU and support for LPDDR3 memory.

“With the overwhelming success of our previous Qualcomm Snapdragon platforms, our mobile processors have emerged as the platform of choice for high-end mobile devices,” said Steve Mollenkopf, president and chief operating officer of Qualcomm. “With more than 50 design wins already secured with the first products of the Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 and 800 processors, we are advancing our vision and setting the standard for excellence in mobile computing.”

AMD unveils new APUs

AMD  provided an early look at its new 2013 accelerated processing units (APUs) and announced a new OEM relationship with VIZIO. At CES it demonstrated working silicon of its first true system on chip (SoC) APUs, which will be the industry’s first quad-core x86 SoCs. AMD also introduced the new APU codenamed “Richland” which is currently shipping to OEMs and delivers visual performance increases ranging from more than 20 percent to up to 40 percent over the previous generation of AMD A-Series APUs.

During an AMD press event at CES VIZIO was on hand to showcase a new relationship and portfolio of AMD-based platforms. VIZIO’s new AMD portfolio includes an 11.6” APU-powered tablet PC, two high-performance ultrathin notebooks in both 14” and 15.6,” and an impressive 24” All-in-One (AiO) system. “VIZIO is entering the consumer PC market in an even bigger way in 2013 and we are thrilled to include AMD in our line-up for the premium visual and gaming performance we believe their processors deliver,” said Lily Knowles, vice president of Product Marketing, VIZIO. “AMD provides the VIZIO tablet, notebooks and All-in-One with the best graphics and visual experience for our customers.”