NVIDIA's Tegra 2 Take Two: More Architectural Details and Design Wins
by Anand Lal Shimpi on January 5, 2011 2:51 PM EST- Posted in
- Smartphones
- Motorola Droid
- Tegra 2
- LG
- Optimus 2X
- ATRIX 4G
- Mobile
- NVIDIA
Memory Controller
NVIDIA’s Tegra 2 only has a single 32-bit LPDDR2 memory controller, but supports running it at up to 600MHz (667MHz with standard DDR2). By comparison, TI is using two 32-bit LPDDR2 memory channels on its OMAP 4. NVIDIA claims that its expertise in designing GPU memory controllers allowed it to get by with only a single 32-bit LPDDR2 memory controller. NVIDIA stayed away from going with a dual-channel interface in order to keep power consumption down.
Video Decode Engine
NVIDIA claims the Tegra 2’s video decoder can decode 1080p H.264 baseline profile (no CABAC) at 20Mbps while only drawing 400mW. The power draw numbers seem suspiciously low but we’ll have to test that for ourselves once we can get our hands on Tegra 2 smartphones in the coming months.
Full Flash GPU Acceleration
Borrowing another aspect from the desktop GPU segment, Tegra 2 can fully accelerate flash video and flash content in hardware.
Integrated Image Signal Processor
NVIDIA is also releasing a little more information about its custom ISP (Image Signal Processor) inside Tegra 2.
While it’s too early to tell anything about the quality of Tegra 2 smartphone cameras, NVIDIA’s ISP is extremely high performance. The ISP can burst through 12MP images at 11 frames per second.
LG’s Optimus 2X uses the Tegra 2’s fast ISP to be able to shoot in a burst mode that fires off 6 shots in sequence without interruption.
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DigitalFreak - Wednesday, January 5, 2011 - link
Anand or Brian - any idea what carriers the 2x will be available on in the US?therealnickdanger - Wednesday, January 5, 2011 - link
While I don't know anything officially (I don't think anyone does yet), LG brought its current Optimus line to all carriers. I would imagine that they will do the same with the 2X - assuming one carrier seeking exclusivity doesn't dump a pile of cash on LG's doorstep.If the LG Optimus (S, T, One) are any indication of the build quality of the 2X, then I will probably be in line to buy one as soon as it is made available on Sprint. I love my Optimus S.
Cali3350 - Thursday, January 6, 2011 - link
Probably the iPhone 4. When it comes to being smooth iOS is untouched at this point in time (probably because everything is GPU accelerated).Cali3350 - Thursday, January 6, 2011 - link
Clearly posted in response to the wrong item, sorry.metafor - Wednesday, January 5, 2011 - link
I think those are "throughput" numbers, not latency numbers. The technical reference manual:http://infocenter.arm.com/help/index.jsp?topic=/co...
states "cycles" definition is merely the minimum number of cycles it takes to issue, not actually execute the instruction.
VADD, for instance, takes 4 cycles for VFP (scalar) and 3 cycles for NEON/ASE (6 to writeback).
Cali3350 - Wednesday, January 5, 2011 - link
Have to say Im pretty wildly disappointed with how you guys seem to be mentioning it will be several months before this thing launches.I am desperately waiting for a new phone right now, but want the new tech. The HTC Mecha looks like it will be a killer phone but will still be running the same old Snapdragon HTC has used since the Incredible. I was really hoping either the Optimus or the Motorola Tegra 2 phone would be out by end of January/February, but that seems like its DEF not happening after reading this. That is all sorts of disappointment.
aebiv - Wednesday, January 5, 2011 - link
You mean the HD2 and the Nexus One... Incredible and EVO were late to the Snapdragon game.sirsoffrito - Thursday, January 6, 2011 - link
I have a Droid Incredible. I beg to differ.solipsism - Wednesday, January 5, 2011 - link
Is the die size different from the Cortex-A8? I’m wondering how this could affect placement in other smartphones.solipsism - Wednesday, January 5, 2011 - link
Er, I mean in the dual-core variety.