Connect with top gaming leaders in Los Angeles at GamesBeat Summit 2023 this May 22-23. Register here.
Nvidia revealed today that its quad-core next-generation Tegra mobile processor has a surprise in it: a fifth core, or computing brain. The processor, code-named Project Kal-El, has a previously unannounced companion core that operates at exceptionally low power.
The extra core runs at a lower frequency and allows the overall chip to keep operating when it has a light workload. When a user is watching videos, listening to music, or browsing the web, the low-power fifth core takes over and the rest of the chip shuts down. When the processing workload increases, Kal-El disables the companion core and turns on its four high-performance cores as needed, one at a time.
This capability is independent of the operating system. That means the operating systems and applications don’t need to be redesigned to take advantage of the fifth core. Nvidia also said that Kal-El will use less power than dual-core processors across all performance levels. The quad-core, or maybe penta-core, chip can handle a wide variety of processing tasks including web apps, games, mobile apps and multitasking.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eBvaDtshLY8&feature=player_embedded]
GamesBeat's creed when covering the game industry is "where passion meets business." What does this mean? We want to tell you how the news matters to you -- not just as a decision-maker at a game studio, but also as a fan of games. Whether you read our articles, listen to our podcasts, or watch our videos, GamesBeat will help you learn about the industry and enjoy engaging with it. Discover our Briefings.
