One of the first major announcements at CES in Las Vegas is the new processor Nvidia Tegra X1, which replaces the K1 from this manufacturer and surpasses it in two essential sections: processability y Energy Efficiency .
In the first case, this is due to the inclusion of eight 64-bit compatible cores. These use big.LITLLE technology, so they work in two blocks of four “cores” depending on the user's needs: if maximum power is sought, the Cortex-A57 is used and, if the greatest capacity is not necessary, the Cortex-A53 is used. By the way, their manufacturing technology is 20 nanometers.
Higher performance
As announced by the manufacturer itself, the Nvidia Tegra X1 processor offers a higher capacity than the model currently on the market (the Tegra K1 and which is included in devices such as the Nexus 9). An example of this is that in bechmark such as 3D Mark it has been indicated that almost multiply by two the capacity of the previous SoC.
In addition to its big.LITTLE CPU, the performance jump comes with support for LPDDR4 memories and a very fine-tuned management of low-power states, allowing you to switch between high performance y energy savings without compromising experience. The result is a SoC capable of delivering sustained power peaks with controlled thermal consumption.
Options that are part of the new processor is the ability to reproduce images with 4K quality at 60 frames per second and, in addition, that its processing capacity reaches the TeraFLOPS (which has led Nvidia itself to compare it at times with models like the Intel Core i7). And, all this, with a very contained energy consumption that does not exceed the 10 watts, as confirmed by the president of the company, Jen-Hsun Huang.
In the multimedia field, the Tegra X1 integrates hardware decoding of H.265 / HEVC, H.264 y VP9 with support 10 bits, which allows video 4K is 60 fps smoothly and efficiently. At the software level for graphics and computing, it offers compatibility with DirectX 12, OpenGL 4.5, OpenGL ES 3.1, Android Extension Pack, CUDA and modern APIs like Vulkan, opening the door to engines like Unreal Engine 4 on mobile devices.
Unrivaled graphics capabilities
The new Nvidia Tegra X1 integrates a GPU (graphics card) that uses the Maxwell architecture and that is the same that is present in GeForce GTX cards. Inside this component there are 256 nuclei, which is sixty-four more than in previous processor of the company and, therefore, it is not surprising that a capacity much higher than that of other processors on the market is announced - for example, twice that of Apple's A8X.
The Tegra X1's Maxwell GPU runs at a frequency close to GHz and inherits desktop technologies such as VXGI (Voxel Global Illumination) y multi-frame anti-aliasing, improving global illumination and edge smoothing in real time. This, combined with its 256 rendering cores, enables complex scenes and high-level technical demos to be run with an outstanding power/consumption ratio.
That is, on paper we are facing a device that is very close to the quality of current game consoles and, yes, with a much higher energy efficiency. We will have to see its behavior in the specific tests to see if what was promised is a reality, but it seems that Nvidia's bet is the most interesting.
Designed for gaming and entertainment devices
Nvidia conceived Tegra X1 as an engine capable of carrying high-level games to Android tablets and devices, and demonstrated this with demos such as Elemental with Unreal Engine 4 executed with barely 10 W, very modest numbers compared to traditional desktop hardware. This gaming focus is also evident in its ecosystem: the chip has powered products Shield and has been incorporated into popular entertainment platforms such as Nintendo Switch, where the balance between graphics performance and efficiency is key.
Multimedia support and APIs for creators
For content creators and developers, Tegra X1 stands out for its compatibility with modern engines and a wide range of APIs: DirectX 12, OpenGL 4.5, OpenGL ES 3.1, AEP, CUDA y Vulkan. This makes it easier to carry advanced techniques from PC to mobile and take advantage of the GPGPU acceleration for video tasks, light AI or post-processing. In playback, it handles 4K60 in H.265 and VP9 with color of 10 bits and high dynamic range, which fits with current services and displays.
Also in cars
Well, this is another bet that comes with the new Nvidia Tegra X1, since with the arrival of Nvidia Drive CX and PX this is possible. The first is a system that provides information to the user and, also, supplies all the entertainment-oriented content (up to a maximum of four panels). As to DrivePXThis is in charge of managing the information necessary for the car to be considered “smart”. An example of this is that it is capable of using up to twelve simultaneous cameras. And, all this, governed with the new Nvidia Tegra X1.
In automotive, DRIVE PX can jointly process the flow of up to 12 cameras, reaching the order of 1.300 billion pixels per second to create environment model of the vehicle and enable advanced functions such as assisted parking or collision warning. For its part, DRIVE CX It is designed for digital booths and can manage multiple screens, working in harmony with QNX, Linux o Android. Also with DRIVE Studio Manufacturers design interfaces, instrument panels and navigation taking advantage of the graphical power of the X1.
An evolution called Tegra X1+
Over time, Nvidia introduced a revision of the chip, the Tegra X1 +, which maintains the philosophy of the original X1 but makes a leap in efficiency by moving to 16 nm and boost frequencies. Conserves CPU 4x Cortex-A57 + 4x Cortex-A53 and the GPU 256-core CUDA Maxwell, but adds platform improvements such as LPDDR4X, HDMI 2.0b with UHD 4K@60fps and support of HDR advanced (Dolby Vision, HDR10 +, HLG), as well as Dolby Atmos in audio and AI upscaled to 4K on compatible devices.
In standard performance tests (Antutu, Geekbench, 3DMark, PCMark), the X1 and X1+ stood out for their sustained graphics power, placing it among the most capable solutions in TV-Boxes and multimedia centers. It should be noted that, depending on the device that integrates it, there may be compatibility differences. 32 / 64 bits in apps, but the SoC's potential for demanding Android games and decoding H.265/VP9 4K remains a reference.
The Nvidia Tegra X1 processor is already in production but an exact date for its launch has not been confirmed, although it has will be part of the Shield product range from the manufacturer itself.
Source: Nvidia.
Tegra X1 consolidates itself as a mobile SoC with desktop vocation: Efficient 64-bit CPU, 256-core Maxwell GPU with next-generation PC technologies, codecs and APIs, and a reach that transcends mobile to shine in Gaming, TV y automotive; the X1+ revision refines that formula with improved efficiency, HDR, and AI features.