Intel isn’t the only chipmaker to announce a new chip during the Mobile World Congress, as Qualcomm Incorporated also announced its next mobile processor architecture for the Snapdragon family.
The new processor micro-architecture to be employed in the next-generation Snapdragon, code-named Krait, will offer speeds of up to 2.5 GHz per core and deliver a whopping 150% higher overall performance, as well as 65% lower power consumption than currently available ARM-based CPU cores. These chipsets will be available in single- (MSM8930), dual- (MSM8960) as well as quad-core (APQ8064) versions and include a new Adreno graphics processing unit (GPU) series, which will also boast up to four 3D cores to deliver up to 15 times better performance.
According to Qualcomm, Adreno 320 (utilised on the quad-core APQ8064) will enable the same kind of graphics performance that is capable on today’s latest game consoles, but for mobile devices. It will also support 3D and stereoscopic (S3D) games, capture and playback of S3D photos and videos and output in full HD to a 1080p display over an HDMI connection.
All of the chipsets in the range will also sport an integrated multi-mode LTE modem and integrated connectivity solutions the likes of Wi-Fi, GPS, Bluetooth, FM and support for near field communication (NFC), as well as stereoscopic 3D (S3D) video and photo capture and playback. The company also stated that these chipsets will support every major operating system.
“Just as the original Snapdragon revolutionized smartphones with the first 1 GHz processor, these new generations of Snapdragon will revolutionize the next wave of mobile entertainment and computing,” said Steve Mollenkopf, executive vice president and group president for Qualcomm.
“We believe we have an incredible lineup of chips and software, representing a single platform that OEMs can utilize to create new devices ranging from mass market smartphones with integrated LTE, to tablets, to next generation computing and entertainment devices.”
Qualcomm stated that samples of the MSM8960 should become available in Q2 2011 and samples of the MSM8930 and APQ8064 are anticipated within early 2012.
