Posts tagged x86
Microsoft: Windows 8 will support ARM processors
Jan 5th
Microsoft dropped a bombshell at CES today, announcing that the next version of the Windows OS will run on ARM processors. The company stated that Windows for ARM will run on SoC (System on a Chip) architectures and will support hardware accelerated web browsing, media playback, and peripheral support on par with standard x86 Windows.
The move is aimed at extending the Windows experience to new devices. ”Windows PCs will continue to adapt and evolve,” CEO Steve Ballmer said in his keynote. “It means Windows will be everywhere on every kind of device without compromise.” The company showed off demo units running a future version of Windows (but with the user interface from Windows 7) on ARM chips from Qualcomm, Nvidia, and Texas Instruments.
The ARM-powered machines were running just Internet Explorer 9, Office for ARM, and an Epson printer driver. The Nvidia Tegra 2 demo box, however, was nonetheless impressive, smoothly playing the Iron Man 2 trailer in 1080p and running the IE9 HTML5 demos without any hiccups.
Read on for more details about Microsoft’s ARM announcement, and see our Smartphone Processor Guide for more information about ARM’s SoC processor architectures.
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VIA demos dual-core 1.6 GHz Nano DC desktop CPU, 720p HD video
Jun 3rd
VIA just demoed a prototype dual-core version of its much-acclaimed but hard-to-find Nano CPU at Computex in Taipei. The Nano DC is a 1.6 GHz dual-core processor, but VIA reps says it’s only meant for low-cost desktops, not netbooks. We did some digging and found that the prototype CPU basically consists of two of company’s single-core Nano 3000 dies put together in one package. The Nano 3000 is a 65nm chip, and putting two of them together probably pushes power and heat levels way too high for netbook usage.
Nonetheless, a 65nm dual-core Nano might still offer a decent low-cost CPU option for desktops. VIA’s demo motherboard paired the Nano DC with a VN1000 Digital Media Chipset and dual-channel DDR3 memory. VN1000 includes an S3 Chrome 520 GPU, which was demoing a 720p video loop and supports 1080p HD playback, DirectX 10.1, and HDMI and DisplayPort outputs.
VIA’s true (single-die) dual-core Nano chip for netbooks should be out by early next year. The company was experimenting with 45nm manufacturing processes but wasn’t able to lock down the details in time to launch the CPU this month, as originally planned.
Photo: Engadget
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Intel, Nokia to reveal “Penwell” Atom-based smartphone platform at MWC?
Feb 11th
Intel’s strategy for many years has been “x86 everywhere,” bringing the processors that power desktop computers down to laptops, netbooks, TVs, DVRs, and more, and now it looks like the company might finally be ready for a push into smartphones, courtesy of a deal with Nokia. Engadget reports that Intel and Nokia will make a joint presentation at Mobile World Congress next week. While the event will probably be related to something simple, like a refreshed Booklet (Nokia’s netbook), we’re told Intel and Nokia might begin to talk about a new wireless platform combining Intel’s CPU bits with a Nokia radio chipset. More information below.
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