Tegra 4 GPU will outperform the iPad 4's A6X

While few people seem to care about processors speeds on the desktop, it's a hot topic when it comes to mobile processors, and Nvidia has just raised the stakes with its new Tegra 4 processor.

The Tegra 4 has at its heart 72 custom Nvidia GeForce GPU cores, giving it six-times the graphics processing power of the current Tegra 3. Backing up the GPU is a new quad-core variant of ARM's Cortex-A15 CPU, a chip that Nvidia claims "delivers 2.6x faster Web browsing and breakthrough performance for apps."

According to AnandTech, the Tegra 4 processor will have six-times the arithmetic logic units (ALUs) that are present in the Tegra 3. If it is assumed that the Tegra 4 GPU cores will operate at 520 MHz -- which is the fastest that the Tegra 3 could go -- this means that the GPU will be capable of 74.8 GFLOPS (billion FLoating-point Operations Per Second) compared to the 71.6 GFLOPS that the PowerVR SGX 554MP4 inside Apple's A6X.

At CES 2013 Nvidia made the assertion that the Tegra 4 will be faster than the A6X both in 3D games and in GLBenchmark, but didn't provide further details on the matter.

This week, GLBenchmark results claiming to show Tegra 4 performance were leaked to the Web, but it appears that these are either fake or relate to prototype versions of the Tegra 4 running at much lower clock speeds.

While this seems to give Nvidia an advantage over Apple, the glory could be short-lived. Imagination Technologies, makers of the PowerVR GPU inside many smartphones and tablets -- including the iPhone and iPad -- have announced that its sixth-generation graphics core can deliver "20x or more" the performance of current-generation hardware while at the same time being five times more efficient.

Things are really starting to heat up in the mobile sector. - source

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Tegra 4 newly world's fastest mobile processor

Chip maker Nvidia has formally introduced the Tegra 4 mobile processor, claiming it is the world's fastest mobile chip.

The Tegra 4 -- which was previously known by the codename "Wayne" -- has at its heart 72 custom Nvidia GeForce GPU cores, giving it six-times the graphics processing power of the current Tegra 3. Backing up the GPU is a new quad-core variant of ARM's Cortex-A15 CPU, a chip that Nvidia claims "delivers 2.6x faster web browsing and breakthrough performance for apps."

The Tegra 4 also comes with worldwide support for 4G LTE voice and data by utilizing the optional the fifth-generation Nvidia Icera i500 chipset. Not only is this new chip far more power efficient than conventional modems, the i500 is 40 percent smaller than its predecessor, yet delivers four times the processing capability.

"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."

To allow devices to last longer between charges, the Tegra 4 includes a second-generation battery saver core for low power usage, and PRISM 2 Display technology that reduces backlight power. These, and other improvements means the Tegra 4 consumes up to 45 percent less power than the Tegra 3, allowing for up to 14 hours of HD video playback on devices.

The Tegra 4 also comes equipped with Computational Photography Architecture, which automatically delivers high dynamic range (HDR) photos and video by combining the processing power of the GPU, CPU and the camera's image-signal processor. - source

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