NVIDIA Tegra 4 details slip

Apparent new leaks have hinted that NVIDIA's next-generation Tegra, for now called the Tegra 4, should be a generational leap. The future 28 nanometer chip was said by VR-Zone's tips to be getting GPGPU support to use its graphics core for boosting CUDA, OpenCL, and other general-purpose tasks. The simple addition would hint at a graphics core multiple generations newer than what's in the Tegra 3, which dates back to the 2006-era PlayStation 3.

It's possible that NVIDIA will use the current-generation Kepler core just introduced earlier this month. CEO Jen-Hsun Huang has already mentioned Kepler coming to smartphones, although he didn't say whether it was imminent or would only filter down over multiple years as with the NV40 series core in the Tegra 3.

Some of the claims are more speculative, although it's considered probable the Tegra 4 would use the much faster ARM Cortex-A15 for four main cores with 32 to 64 graphics cores. Most other companies are expected to leap to quad A15s as well, including Apple, but they may not see as much of a graphics improvement. NVIDIA would also be likely keen to tie in cellular hardware from its buyout of Icera.

NVIDIA has been trying to establish a yearly cycle for Tegra chips and could unveil the Tegra 4 late this year. Typically, however, any launches towards the end of the year have been limited to a handful of releases, and most of the real launches took place later that year.

By Electronista Staff

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industry, NVIDIA, ARM, mobile phones, Tegra, Cortex