It seems that NVIDIA is making true its reported focus on a completely new and high end “superphone” market. Its shiny new Tegra K1 processor still has to hit the market but we’re already seeing a variant that has only two CPU cores but both of which carry the 64-bit architecture.

At CES 2014 early this year, NVIDIA revealed the Tegra K1 processor. Being NVIDIA, the focus wasn’t really on the quad-core Cortex-A15 sitting inside but on the whopping 192 GPU cores based on the chip maker’s Kepler architecture. The early Tegra K1 benchmarks looked promising, blowing the competition in the mobile market out of the water and even surpassing Intel’s Haswell CPU and Iris GPU offering. The only thing that toppled the Tegra K1 was a combination of an Intel CPU and a dedicated NVIDIA mobile GPU.

nvidia-tegra-k1-64-bit-dual-core-1

It seems, however, that NVIDIA isn’t done impressing us just yet. Benchmark scores from AnTuTu revealed a slightly different Tegra K1. This one had a dual-core setup but the cores are based on an ARMv8 design, meaning they are 64-bit cores. Word is that this a new Denver architecture coming from NVIDIA. Although not explicitly indicated, this Tegra K1 is believed to also use the same 192-core Kepler GPU given the similar names.

nvidia-tegra-k1-64-bit-dual-core-2

Performance-wise, this variant falls just a wee bit under the original Tegra K1, with a score of 43617 running at 3.0 GHz versus the quad-core 32-bit variant’s 43851. The difference isn’t really that much, at least if the same components, like 2 GB of RAM and a 1080p display, are used for the tests. Nonetheless, it still speeds past even Qualcomm’s most recent Snapdragon 805. It will be interesting to see where NVIDIA will be using this 64-bit wonder when it comes to an actual mobile product.

VIA: MyDrivers

7 COMMENTS

  1. interesting….Thanks for the post. I wish nVidia and HTC would partner up and make a tablet that goes along with the upcoming One.

  2. meh. The 2 gigs of RAM is a killer. For the 64 bit K1, it needs to be at bare minimum 4 gigs of RAM. There is no way people will be able to play PC games on the 64 bit K1 (Which is possible) on 2 gigs of RAM.

    • What types of games are you expecting this to run? It will not run bf4 or big name games. This is powerful for a mobile phone but that’s as far as it goes. Even with 4gb ram it would still only run small games

    • They never will. A chip will always have the ability to run better and faster if given better cooling and more power(electricity). So you can always take the best mobile chip and add more power and cooling and it basically becomes a better desktop chip.

      However, if you meant when will mobile chips surpass CONSOLE gaming chips. Well, I think it will happen sooner than people think.

      I’m really excited about the NVIDIA K1. Hope they don’t let us down.(Although, I have to say I’m happy with my NVIDIA Note 7 with Tegra 4.)

  3. This but benchmark may be a bit misleading as the processor has to run in 32 bit mode in kitkat … I’ve seen screenshots of antutu benchmarks on this processor in android L and it scores 46900 ish while only clocked at 2.6ghz… So expect this device to be a beast… Also before you say what only 2 cores… It has 2 threads per core so virtually 4 cores. Can’t wait for the HTC volantis (nexus 8) to come out.

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