NVIDIA has just introduced the Tegra family of processors, the world's first
single-chip computer capable of the rich high definition and internet
experiences we've come to expect from our PCs, but on small pocket type
devices. NVIDIA Tegra is a tiny computer-on-a-chip, smaller than a US dime, designed from the ground up to enable the "visual PC experience" on a new generation of mobile computing devices while consuming the smallest amount of power.
On August 12, 2008, Intel will be presenting a paper on their future "many-core" processor architecture at SIGGRAPH 2008. Codenamed Larrabee, the new architecture will have many cores and feature a new approach to 3D graphics rendering. Yes, you read that right. Larrabee will introduce a new software rendering model for 3D graphics. In other words, Larrabee will mark Intel's first serious foray into 3D graphics since their last discrete graphics chip, the Intel i740. If Intel Larrabee works as predicted, the days of discrete graphics may be limited.
There are three important factors that make GeForce 8800 GT a better run for the money. First and foremost, the GPU is manufactured using 65 nm process, thus making it a smaller and cooler chip. The second change involves the way G92 communicates with the rest of the components; PCI Express 2.0 which in my opinion is more of an evolution than revolution (sort of like AGPx4 -> AGPx8). The last thing that has been overlooked when looking at enthusiast SKUs is VP2 or Visual Processor which takes care of HD video decoding.
Although many of us have already read about and even seen photos of the two new NVIDIA GTX 280 and GTX 260 graphics cards, today is the day we can finally tell you the whole story about the two cards. Yes, we behaved like gentlemen and we kept to our NDAs! Alright, now that everything's in the open now, let's get onto the good stuff - the new NVIDIA GT200 GPU and the two new NVIDIA GTX 280 and NVIDIA GTX 260 graphics cards.
The Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9650 quad-core processor is no mere upgrade of the Kentsfield-based Core 2 Extreme processors. Underneath the heatspreader lies a radically-different processor, built not only using the smaller 45 nm process technology but also Intel's new high-k dielectric and metal gate technology. The result? A smaller, cooler and more efficient processor. Oh, let's not forget... a 50% larger L2 cache! The Core 2 Extreme QX9650 sports a massive 12MB L2 cache. All with the same TDP of 130 W. Amazing, isn't it? But how fast is it really?
A team of researchers working jointly at Toshiba and Stanford have built the first 1GHz CMOS chip using nanotubes as interconnects. Although the nanotubes are only one part of the circuitry, the chip is an example of real-world nanotube technology that could herald future advances. Read More...
