‘Super chip’ outperforms supercomputer from 15 years ago
1 min read
Nvidia has launched Tegra X1, a mobile 'super chip' offering a processing performance of more than 1Tflop. According to the developer, X1 provides twice the processing power of its predecessor, the Tegra K1, and will be targeted at embedded products, mobile devices, autonomous machines and automotive applications.
Based on Nvidia's Maxwell architecture, the X1 chip features 256 GPU cores, as well as four ARM Cortex-A57 cores and four Cortex-A53 cores. The Maxwell GPU in Tegra X1contains two streaming multiprocessors (SM), each of which consists of 128 CUDA cores, as well as texture units and a Polymorph engine.
The chip, made on a 20nm process. is said to be capable of handling 60frame/s of 4K video or 1.3 Gpixel of camera throughput.
"We see a future of autonomous cars, robots and drones that see and learn, with seeming intelligence that is hard to imagine," said CEO Jen-Hsun Huang. "They will make possible safer driving, more secure cities and great conveniences for all of us.
"To achieve this dream, enormous advances in visual and parallel computing are required. The Tegra X1 mobile super chip … is a giant step into this revolution."
According to Nvidia, the Tegra X1 has more power than ASCI Red, the fastest supercomputer of 15 years ago. The first teraflop computer, ASCI Red occupied consumed 500kW and required 1600sq ft. By comparison, Tegra X1 draws less than 10W.
