Nvidia: New chip for handhelds

[Chewbenator]

http://www.tomshardware.com/2008/02/11/nvidia_enters_cpu_market_/

Barcelona (Spain) - Nvidia today unveiled its first CPU. The APX 2500 is a system-on-a-chip (SoC) product that is aiming for Windows Mobile handhelds. Despite the fact that it is not scheduled to hit the market until late this year, the chip is bound to raise more than just one eyebrow.

"Ultra-Low Power GeForce" (ULP GeForce)

[RPGWiZaRD]

Not entirely suprising, I've almost expected it to happen and they've got to start somewhere. But it's an interesting news and hopefully it's not only this segment they have in their mind in future but I doubt they'll go for any computer desktop and server market. :p:

I think it's due to unclear future of current GPU solutions, they're testing something else they might build onto if everything goes fine. Large as NVIDIA is today it would be wiser starting now than in say 10 years.

[G80]

The same story about Nvidia entering the CPU market was heard over a year ago, but it seems like its finaly materializes. Although at a sligthly different approach then what the majority of people thought it would be.

[irev210]

It is an ARM 11 "CPU"

nvidia just integrated

[thenrz]

Hmm, that honestly sounds sweet!


If I get a raise, I've been looking for a handheld...I just get fed up with :banana::banana::banana::banana:ty storage and overall unit smoothness...

[comment]

Could bring us some pretty cool, but also bulky smartphones:

http://img161.imageshack.us/img161/5007/apx2500platform2tk8.jpg

http://img232.imageshack.us/img232/6062/apx2500platform3fe7.jpg

Gotten from nVidia's official APX 2500 press release (http://www.nvidia.com/object/io_1202741043286.html).

Specs to be found here (http://www.nvidia.com/object/apx_2500.html).

[irev210]

Hmm, that honestly sounds sweet!


If I get a raise, I've been looking for a handheld...I just get fed up with :banana::banana::banana::banana:ty storage and overall unit smoothness...



You are looking at the wrong thing then. The power of a banias (yes the one before Dothan).

google "silverthorne" This right here is the future of handheld devices. When Intel sold their X-SCALE processors to Marvell, I wondered what they were up to. Bottom line, x86 is coming to handhelds, in a powerful powerful way.



Chandrasekher introduced the Intel® Ultra Mobile platform 2007 (formerly codenamed "McCaslin") for MIDs and UMPCs and said systems will be available over the summer from Aigo*, Asus*, Fujitsu*, Haier*, HTC* and Samsung*. The Intel Ultra Mobile platform 2007 is based on the Intel processor A100 and A110, the Intel 945GU Express Chipset and the Intel ICH7U I/O Controller Hub.

[Tulatin]

Hm. Call this a smack in the face to those who were questioning Fud's interview stating exactly this before, then.

[Ego]

Could bring us some pretty cool, but also bulky smartphones:

http://img161.imageshack.us/img161/5007/apx2500platform2tk8.jpg

http://img232.imageshack.us/img232/6062/apx2500platform3fe7.jpg

Gotten from nVidia's official APX 2500 press release (http://www.nvidia.com/object/io_1202741043286.html).

Specs to be found here (http://www.nvidia.com/object/apx_2500.html).

Nice product :up: If i have spare $ i will get that:D

[Bobsama]

AS long as it's functional, the bulk doesn't matter that much. That looks sleek enough and small enough to function as a functional smartphone or similar.

[p8ntslinger676]

hell i'd buy one, and good for nvidia :D

[mnewxcv]

why hdmi? like that thing can output much at 1080..and why would u hook it up to a tv in the first place?

[mcoffey]

Until they find a way to OC and WC a CPU in a PDA/Cell phone device, I'l stick with my Blackberry and pass:D

andyc

[BrowncoatGR]

This is nvidia entering the consumer devices market not the cpu market. I guess tis will compete with AMDs Imageon(**correction**not Xilleon as i wrote at first, thats their DTV chip)

[turtletrax]

I wonder how hot they will run considering you can bake a potatoe on a 680i?

[mcoffey]

I wonder how hot they will run considering you can bake a potatoe on a 680i?

LOL,

That's what I'm talking about:D I don't need a burn scar tatto on my ass from another cell phone:D

andyc

[gallardo]

Until they find a way to OC and WC a CPU in a PDA/Cell phone device, I'l stick with my Blackberry and pass:D

andyc

Haha! I guess that's the next step in Xtreme. Cascading your mobile phone to beat entry level CPUs. Is SPI runnable on a mobile phone yet?


Seriously though, that is one fine looking phone. Could be a little thinner, but it's ok as it is too. And a 5MP camera with GPS and Wi-Fi... What more could you want from a phone?

[JamesAvery22]

I wonder how hot they will run considering you can bake a potatoe on a 680i?

First thing I wondered :) Hopefully this ULP product will have no correlation to their chipset's in terms of power consumption.

Eh UMPC's don't do much for me. Very very small niche applications. No full keyboard or no keyboard at all so no good for emails or business.

If they started getting into Pocket-PC arena then I'd smile. ARM-11 is more UMPC/Windows CE territory. The pocket-PC has no competition in terms of CPUs...

[Gunslinger]

Could bring us some pretty cool, but also bulky smartphones:

http://img161.imageshack.us/img161/5007/apx2500platform2tk8.jpg

http://img232.imageshack.us/img232/6062/apx2500platform3fe7.jpg

Gotten from nVidia's official APX 2500 press release (http://www.nvidia.com/object/io_1202741043286.html).

Specs to be found here (http://www.nvidia.com/object/apx_2500.html).

You suppose that thing will get 100FPS playing Brickbreaker? :rofl:

[Aleki]

Until they find a way to OC and WC a CPU in a PDA/Cell phone device, I'l stick with my Blackberry and pass:D

andyc

it has been done(with the exception of no w/c kits.. yet).
hell, i even overclocked my tmobile dash 20% from stock :D
if i didnt have plans for my dell 51v i'd overclock that too, but i need it for a bigger project ;)

[JamesAvery22]

it has been done(with the exception of no w/c kits.. yet).
hell, i even overclocked my tmobile dash 20% from stock :D
if i didnt have plans for my dell 51v i'd overclock that too, but i need it for a bigger project ;)

intel's xscale stuff lets you OC PDA's as well :)

[saaya]

cpu=!cpu... this soc processor has nothing to do with desktop cpus...

[Piotrsama]

Nothing to do with x86 architecture, right?

[FischOderAal]

cpu=!cpu... this soc processor has nothing to do with desktop cpus...

:up:


Nothing to do with x86 architecture, right?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ARM_architecture

so it's a RISC

[JargonGR]

http://img232.imageshack.us/img232/6062/apx2500platform3fe7.jpg


The speaker slot and some of the design lines are so similar to my LG Viewty! I would not be surprised if LG is behinds this as well.

LG is really aggressive in many markets lately and they made some great partners too. They are even working with Mark Levinson for their high end Audio product line.


We will see...

[DeathReborn]

http://img232.imageshack.us/img232/6062/apx2500platform3fe7.jpg


The speaker slot and some of the design lines are so similar to my LG Viewty! I would not be surprised if LG is behinds this as well.

LG is really aggressive in many markets lately and they made some great partners too. They are even working with Mark Levinson for their high end Audio product line.


We will see...

It reminds me of a PMP more than a "smart"phone. If this isn't too expensive I could see replacing an old Archos 504 with one.

[Monkeywoman]

the Xperia, Sony's Windows Mobile phone has a 520Mhz cpu and ATI gpu. link to some vid, http://gizmodo.com/354853/video-first-hands-on-sony-ericssons-xperia-x1

[Frank M]

You are looking at the wrong thing then. The power of a banias (yes the one before Dothan).

google "silverthorne" This right here is the future of handheld devices. When Intel sold their X-SCALE processors to Marvell, I wondered what they were up to. Bottom line, x86 is coming to handhelds, in a powerful powerful way.



Chandrasekher introduced the Intel® Ultra Mobile platform 2007 (formerly codenamed "McCaslin") for MIDs and UMPCs and said systems will be available over the summer from Aigo*, Asus*, Fujitsu*, Haier*, HTC* and Samsung*. The Intel Ultra Mobile platform 2007 is based on the Intel processor A100 and A110, the Intel 945GU Express Chipset and the Intel ICH7U I/O Controller Hub.

You have a minor mix-up here.
Silverthorne and Poulsbo are part of the Menlow platform;
the A100 and A110 (600 & 800 MHz), 945GU (133 or 166MHz instead of the
400MHz of the normal 945G) are part of the McCaslin platform.

McCaslin is "available" in theory - but manufacturers don't see a market for
it yet, they rather stick to the ULV Celeron 900MHz. Menlow is still under
development, should be coming this year. The Silverthorne cpu is a 45nm
part based on a very cut-down Core core (e.g. no OoO), will have speeds
from 600 to 1200MHz, with the lowest ones consuming a bit over half a watt
peak and the fastest ones having the performance of Dothans of a slightly
higher speed.

Be aware though that while this may have been designed to be very low
power consumption relative to other x86 processors, ARM/RISC processors
are still consume much less, so battery life will be a big limiting factor here.

[[XC] 2long4u]

Where's the die shot?

[Shintai]

Today was the day the hype about nVidia entering x86 died.

It is a good company move from nVidia. They know how har they will be pressed in the future on the PC front. So they need to expand their markets. And cellphones/handhelds are simply gaining and being replaced faster than anything else.

[Hornet331]

Until they find a way to OC and WC a CPU in a PDA/Cell phone device, I'l stick with my Blackberry and pass:D

andyc

you allready can oc your ppc. ;)

thought watercooling will be a bit harder. :p:

[Zytek_Fan]

Hmmm I might have to get that phone :D

[WRC]

nvidia eneters the cpu market, and intel on gpu's. Look how the tables have turned

[hecktic]

yes this is good news.... soon enough this may drive all CPU prices down and may even hurt AMD at the same time...

so good for nvidia :)

[LordEC911]

nvidia eneters the cpu market, and intel on gpu's. Look how the tables have turned
FYI-
Nvidia did not enter the CPU market.
Intel has always been in the GPU market and the world leader.

[k|ngp|n]

Could bring us some pretty cool, but also bulky smartphones:

http://img161.imageshack.us/img161/5007/apx2500platform2tk8.jpg

http://img232.imageshack.us/img232/6062/apx2500platform3fe7.jpg

Gotten from nVidia's official APX 2500 press release (http://www.nvidia.com/object/io_1202741043286.html).
[/url].

That is tight! :D

[Zytek_Fan]

http://youtube.com/watch?v=qXjKCEdFByM
http://youtube.com/watch?v=kxSN9L7wKm4

[Cooper]

Thread title changed. NVidia is present on this market with GoForce for a while already.

[villa1n]

now we just need a non apple mobile os with a decent gui ^^:up: hows mobile 7 shaping up touch wise.. the symbian based one on the s60 is terrible.

[comment]

2long4u;2765099']Where's the die shot?Here you go:

http://img182.imageshack.us/img182/7982/apx2500chipps3.jpg

Also taken from the official press release. The second vid posted by Zytek_Fan also shows the chip.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=qXjKCEdFByM
http://youtube.com/watch?v=kxSN9L7wKm4As a phone, it's way too bulky to me.

To judge from the vids, it seems a bit buggy or at least unresponsive.

[BitsAndPieces]

Nice finally we can play Crysis at 2500*1900 on a psp :D