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Later this year, Texas Instruments will start to deliver a new dual-core processor - the OMAP4430 - designed for smartphones and tablet PCs. The OMAP4430 chip is twice as powerful as today's single-core processors in OMAP3 family. This means that applications will run much faster on mobile devices, says product manager Robert Tolbert of Texas Instruments.
The new processor runs at a clock frequency of up to 1 GHz, but uses 50 percent less power than its predecessor, the OMAP3630. Devices with the new dual-core processor will be able to play ten hours of 1080p video playback, compared to the OMAP3630 that could only manage four hours of video playback in 720p. The new chip can play more than 15 hours of video in 720p.
The processor is based on ARM's latest Cortex-A9 design, while the earlier pieces in OMAP3 family is based on the Cortex-A8. Motorola's new X-Droid phone is based on the Cortex-A8, among others. Texas Instruments has a strong position in the smartphone segment, but also take aim at Tablet PCs with its OMAP4 chips. They're in for some competition however, as Nvidia has already announced chips based on the Cortex-A9 for Tablet PCs.
The OMAP4430 processor will be created with a 45 nanometer process, but Texas Instruments is planning to move to the improved 28-nanometer process in the future, which will provide additional improvements - especially in the form of reduced energy consumption.
