Card outperform an $80 more expensive AMD GPU in power, gaming, and noise
From Gizmodo: OS X Bug Exposes Lion Log-In Details in Clear Text
From Ars Technica: Apple tests Samsung 32nm process on A5-equipped iPad 2 and Apple TV
As noted recently by Chipworks, Apple is now shipping some iPad 2 models (and all third-generation Apple TV devices) with a 32nm A5 processor built on Samsung’s power-efficient “high-dielectric metal gate” (HK+MG) process. These products give Apple a relatively low-volume test bed to ensure its architecture works well with the process, and extensive testing by AnandTech shows that the 32nm process offers significant power savings over the older 45nm process used for processors in other iOS devices.
Apple’s A4, A5, and A5X processors, used in the most recent iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch models, are built using the 45nm process. Effectively, 45nm is the absolute smallest size that can be used to create a transistor or other circuit element on a chip using a 45nm process. This also affects the minimum distance between elements as well.
from Ars Technica
From Droid Life: Samsung Announces 1.4GHz Quad-Core Exynos Processor, Will Come Equipped in New Galaxy SIII
We no longer have to rely on the rumors, folks. Samsung has officially announced that their brand new quad-core Exynos processor, clocked at a hefty 1.4GHz, will power the new Galaxy SIII that is to be unveiled next month in London. Samsung states that the new chip can deliver twice the computing power at 20% lower power consumption over their already battery-efficient dual-core chip. Samsung’s VP of System LSI marketing had this to say about the new Exynos processor:
The quad-core processor offers phenomenal multitasking abilities surpassing any single or dual application processor. Since all the cores must share a single battery, the power management and efficiency in the limited battery capacity are indispensable for mobile computing devices. Given the diverse functionalities consumers are demanding from their mobile devices today, the Exynos 4 Quad meets those high-performance needs while keeping power consumption very low.
Now that the new quad-core Exynos is official and we know that it will power the upcoming SGSIII, who here can’t wait for this thing to come to the States? Read the full press release down below.
Samsung’s New Quad-Core Application Processor Drives Advanced Feature Sets in Smartphones and TabletsÂ
Designed on 32nm HKMG process, new energy-efficient chip exceeds 1.4GHz per core.
SEOUL, Korea–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd., a world leader in advanced semiconductor solutions, today introduced the industry’s first quad-core application processor built on the High-k Metal Gate (HKMG) low-power process technology. With unprecedented performance capabilities exceeding 1.4GHz based on the ARM® CORTEXTM A9 quad-core, the powerful, yet energy-efficient Exynos 4 Quad, allows system-level architects to integrate maximized power efficiencies into smartphones and tablets which enables double the processing power at a 20 percent lower power bill over its predecessor, the 45nm process-based Exynos 4 Dual.
“The quad-core processor offers phenomenal multitasking abilities surpassing any single or dual application processor. Since all the cores must share a single battery, the power management and efficiency in the limited battery capacity are indispensable for mobile computing devices,†said Taehoon Kim, vice president of System LSI marketing, Device Solutions, Samsung Electronics. “Given the diverse functionalities consumers are demanding from their mobile devices today, the Exynos 4 Quad meets those high-performance needs while keeping power consumption very low.â€
Multi-core processing delivers enhanced performance, enabling users to accomplish more tasks in a shorter period of time. For example, a task such as streaming video can run on one core while the other cores update applications in the background, connecting to the web and scanning virus-check simultaneously.
Benefitting from a use case where the parallel processing and workload sharing among the four cores is necessary, the Exynos 4 Quad is particularly well-suited for heavy-load applications such as 3D games, video editing, and calculation-intensive simulation.
Due to its 32nm HKMG low-power process and power-saving design, the Exynos 4 Quad has two times the processing capability over the 45nm process based Exynos 4 Dual while consuming 20-percent less power. To improve power efficiency, Samsung adopted hot-plug functionality to support on-off switching for each core as well as the per-core dynamic voltage and frequency scaling (DVFS), which offers a dramatic reduction in power consumption by adapting different levels of voltage and frequency when changing workloads.
Having identical form factor measurements (12mm X 12mm X 1.37 mm), the Exynos 4 Quad is pin-to-pin compatible with the 32nm process based Exynos 4 Dual, allowing mobile device designers to immediately adopt the new solution without additional cost, engineering or design efforts.
In addition, the new processor incorporates a full HD 30 frame per second video hardware codec engine for high resolution 1080p video recording and play-back, an embedded image signal processor interface for high-quality camera functionality and an HDMI 1.4 interface for sharp and crisp multimedia content transmission.
Samsung developed a power management IC (PMIC), the S5M8767, as a companion chip to power the Exynos 4 Quad processor. By integrating various circuitry such as nine highly efficient and programmable buck converters and 28 low-dropout regulators (LDOs) into the small package of 5.0 mm x 5.0mm x 0.4mm, the S5M8767 is designed to scale up or down the dynamic voltage depending on the clock speed in 6.25mV step for managing power delivery and maximizing battery life at the system level.
Already in production, the Exynos 4 Quad is scheduled to be adopted first into Samsung’s next Galaxy smartphone that will officially be announced in May. Samsung’s Exynos 4 Quad is also sampling to other major handset makers.
“The application processor is a crucial element in providing our customers with a PC-like experience on mobile devices. Samsung’s next Galaxy device, which will be officially announced soon, offers uncompromised performance and ground breaking multi-tasking features, thanks to Exynos 4 Quad’s powerful performance and efficient energy management technology,†said Hankil Yoon, Senior Vice President of Product Strategy Team, Samsung’s Mobile Communications Business.
Last year, Samsung introduced a new online hub dedicated to its Exynos processor. Designed to facilitate easy communication with industry partners and end users, the new micro-site takes you a step closer to the ultimate experience Exynos delivers; product information, user experience and information on promotion events. More information can be found at http://www.samsung.com/exynos.
from Droid Life
From Engadget: Intel puts Ivy Bridge on the map: first 22nm product, decent official benchmarks, quad-cores from $174
We hear that pilgrims have already started flocking to the town of Ivybridge (population 12,056) in the forested depths of southwest England. Very soon though, you’ll be able to pay homage to Moore’s Law without travelling further than your favorite online retailer, because the third generation of Intel Core processors has just launched and should be available to buy before the end of this month. These include eight different variants of Core i7 for desktops and notebooks (including Ultrabooks of course), plus five types of Core i5 destined for desktops only. Those watching out for cheaper dual-core i5, i3 and Pentium-branded options will have to wait a little longer, because today’s launch is all about the high-end. And just how high is ‘high’? Judging from the gossip we’ve heard, and from benchmarks of leaked desktop and notebook chips, we’re looking a significant improvement over Sandy Bridge. But if you want the first official boasts, then read on.
from Engadget
From Engadget: The NOFAN CR-95C: a fanless copper CPU cooler for your next-gen build
Interesting times to be shopping around for a processor, but what about a new cooler to go with it? This unassuming little work of art is the copper special edition of the NOFAN CR-95C, which is rated to cool CPUs of up to 100W TDP without the need for a fan. Judging from all the Intel and AMD leaks, that level efficiency ought to have you covered regardless of whether you opt for Ivy Bridge or Trinity — so long as you don’t mind hanging around until June, because FanlessTech reckons we won’t see it go on sale any sooner.
from Engadget
From Engadget: Nokia N900 rises from the grave, replaces robot’s head
Nokia’s buried-but-beloved N900 smartphone has performed many parlor tricks in the past, but its latest role as a carbon-fiber swaddled cyborg cranium just might take the cake. Using the equally forsaken MeeGo OS, a roboticist by the name of Sascha hacked his way into the phone’s three-axis controller and other components in order to bring his Bioloid creation to life. The smartphone’s video streaming and remote access functions may also give this bipedal mech a leg-up on the last N900 robo we admired — but we’ll need to see some video of it all in action before we make that call. Meanwhile, let’s just hope that this unholy union of rejected parts doesn’t become self-aware and turn on the company that cast it away.
from Engadget