Photo: NVIDIA

Audiences were treated to something special at Nvidia’s Mobile World Congress, with images of the presentation of the new Tegra 2 3D processor, to be shipped early this year. Nvidia’s new processor is intended to be used in mobile gadgets featuring a 3D screen, while the Tegra 2 3D will have a Dual Corext A9 as its basis, and will be clocked up to 1.2 GHz, offering 5520 MIPS.

Two versions of the processor will be available, an AP25 version specifically for smartphones, while the T25 is available for tablets. Both will make use of the ARM dual Cortex A9 processor, making use of up to 1.2GHz of power.

3D conversion

Digital cameras have already arrived in the world of 3D, and 2011 will see handheld devices being taken over by 3D technology.

It has been predicted that upcoming mobile handsets will feature a Master Image TN-LCD display using cell parallax technology, which makes use of the individual cells to create a 3D effect instead of a parallax barrier, as seen in Nintendo’s 3DS console.

Threat to competition

Tablet and mobile phone users will enjoy making use of the 3D screen and being able to move the gadget around in the line of their sight, inside the viewing cone. Nvidia’s Tegra 2 3D will pioneer this new 3D technology and will pose as a threat to the Nintendo 3DS, not to mention Apple’s current generation of iPhones, iPods and iPads.

Master Image has already revealed a Hitachi handset featuring a slide-up 3D display.

Changing games

The Tegra 2 3D already promises to change the gaming platform in the mobile arena, primarily setting their eyes on the downfall of Intel, whose Atom technology cannot compete with the Tegra’s energy or graphics performance. Attempts to isolate Nvidia from the netbooks world have already backfired, with Chipzilla failing miserably in the debut in the market.

Photo: Apple

Intel has long been the front runner in producing faster and more innovative technologies, and its processors are central to the production of faster, more efficient PCs. The company’s family of Core 2 Duo processors is well equipped to handle the needs of even the most demanding user.

These processors combine two independent processor cores which share memory into one physical package – effectively creating two processors in one. Each core can complete multiple tasks simultaneously, enabling what Intel calls parallel computing. This technology allows for processors which are twice as fast as their predecessors, and which occupy the same amount of space.

Practical applications

It’s obvious that computer processing needs have changed dramatically over the years. Desktop PCs, specifically in the business world, have surpassed the basic needs of word processing and data entry, and are now responsible for e-commerce, inventory management, telecommunications, and security. In the home, PCs need to be able to handle various processor-intensive applications and manage high volumes of multimedia, including high-resolution photos and videos and music.

Photo: Apple

Because the dual-core processor itself multitasks, it enables users to do the same more efficiently and easily. Core 2 Duo desktops offer more performance for handling all of these tasks, and, thanks to Intel’s Intelligent Power management technology, consume less energy while doing so. These processors enable more to be done in less time, an advantage both at home and in the office. Moreover, they allow desktops to run quieter and to generate less heat than ever before.

Intel’s technology allows manufacturers to release desktops that are powerful, compact and efficient. Core 2 Duo processors are the heart of many of the latest nettops, all-in-one systems, point-of-sale systems, network servers, and traditional desktops in all price ranges.

Photo: NVidia

Shrinking processors, coupled with tiny flash memory, have meant that laptops have been able to pack greater power into their space-limited casing. One component that hasn’t enjoyed the same technological advancements is the laptop graphics card. This looks to change soon with recent innovations by both Gigabyte and Nvidia.

External graphics

Photo: Asus

If we go back all the way to 2008, one of the first high profile external GPUs was the Asus developed XG Station, a device that introduced Dolby sound to laptops as well as enhancing 3D graphics performance.

Not quite what it seems

However, the XG Station had to be output to a desktop monitor. In addition, the input to the XG Station was a PCI Express x16 graphics card, which most small laptops don’t have on board. To this effect, one would essentially have a laptop paired down to behave like a desktop, with the possible need to purchase additional components. The XG Station, due to prohibitive pricing and the aforementioned drawbacks, soon faded into obscurity.

Alternatives emerge

Photo: Gigabyte

Alas, external GPU talk has reemerged. Just a few weeks ago Gigabyte unveiled it’s Gigabyte M1405 laptop that comes with a docking station that has an external GPU, and Nvidia have hinted at similar product strategies. Nvidia’s notebook CPUs manager, Rene Haas, told X-bit Labs he felt external GPUs were a ‘big opportunity’ for his organisation. The problem with these devices, however, is their prohibitive pricing.

Details on both devices remain scant. Whether the challenges inherent to this product range will be overcome remains to be seen, but Gigabyte and Nvidia would both do well to avoid the glitches that doomed the XG Station.