NVIDIA Introduces Tegra 4i, Its First Integrated Tegra LTE Processor, Reference Smarphone
NVIDIA today introduced its first fully integrated 4G LTE mobile
processor, the NVIDIA Tegra 4i, which the company claims its
significantly faster yet half the size of Qualcomm's competitive
chips.
Previously codenamed "Project Grey," the Tegra 4i processor
features 60 custom NVIDIA GPU cores; a quad-core CPU based on ARM's
newest core -- the R4 Cortex-A9 CPU -- plus a fifth battery saver
core; and a version of the NVIDIA i500 LTE modem optimized for
integration. Nvidia claims that the result is an extremely power
efficient, compact, high-performance mobile processor that enables
smartphone performance and capability previously available only in
expensive super phones.
Tegra 4i's new 2.3 GHz CPU was jointly designed by NVIDIA and ARM.
Utilizing the same architecture as Tegra 4's GPU, Tegra 4i features five times the number of GPU cores of Tegra 3 for console-quality gaming experiences and full 1080p HD displays. It also integrates an optimized version of the NVIDIA i500 software - defined radio modem which provides LTE capabilities.
Tegra 4i mobile processor's camera capabilities include the NVIDIA Chimera Computational Photography Architecture recently announced in Tegra 4. This delivers features including always-on high dynamic range (HDR) capabilities, first tap to track functionality and first panoramic photos with HDR.
Chimera architecture provides the power to conduct nearly 100 billion mathematical operations per second to perform image processing, using computational techniques used in X-ray CT scanners, deep space telescopes and spy satellites.
The Chimera architecture also includes persistent tap-to-track technology, which allows users to touch the image of a person or object to focus on within a scene. The camera then locks in on that subject whether it moves or the camera is repositioned to a better angle, while maintaining proper focus. Persistent tap-to-track also adjusts the camera exposure depending on any movement, helping avoid under- or over-exposure of the image's subject or background.
Nvidia also officially today announced the NVIDIA i500 LTE modem, which was previewed at CES. The modem is based on Icera's soft modem technology and implements the entire modem baseband in software. Nvidia claims that this approach allows the modem to dynamically allocate more processing resources to the most challenging processing functions required at any given time, making it much more efficient than traditional hardware-centric implementations.
Icera's modem can be extended through software updates providing feature upgrades and performance enhancements.
ASUS VivoTab Windows RT tablet is equipped with Nvidia's first-generation LTE multi-mode modem, the i410. The i410 is now certified for use on AT&T?s LTE multi-mode network and is a testament to the capabilities of the soft modem architecture. It's been the foundation for the i500, Nvidia's second-generation LTE modem, which has more than five times the computational capacity of its predecessor.
NVIDIA also introduced its reference smartphone platform code-named "Phoenix" for the Tegra 4i processor. Phoenix is a blueprint that phone makers can reference in designing and building future Tegra 4i smartphones to help get them to market quicker.
The Tegra 4i mobile processor will be demonstrated in the NVIDIA booth at the 2013 Mobile World Congress show in Barcelona, Spain, on Feb. 25-28.
| Tegra 4 | Tegra 4i | |
| Processor | ||
| CPU Cores | 4 + 1 | 4 + 1 |
| CPU Architecture | ARM Cortex-A15 | ARM Cortex-A9 r4 |
| Max Clock Speed | 1.9 GHz | 2.3 GHz |
| GPU | ||
| Custom GPU Cores | 72 | 60 |
| Computational Photography Architecture | Yes | Yes |
| Memory | ||
| Memory Frequency | DDR3L & LPDDR3 | LPDDR3 |
| Memory Size | 4 GB | 2 GB |
| Display | ||
| LCD | 3200 x 2000 | 1920 x 1200 |
| HDMI | 4K (UltraHD) | 1080P |
| Modem | ||
| Architecture | Optional LTE Chipset | Integrated i500 LTE |
| LTE | Cat
3/Cat 4+CA 100-150 Mbps DL (50 Mbps UL) FDD and TD-LTE, TMs 1-8 |
Cat
3/Cat 4+CA 100-150 Mbps DL (50 Mbps UL) FDD and TD-LTE, TMs 1-8 |
| HSPA+ | Cat
24/6 42 Mbps DL (5.7 Mbps UL) Plus cats 6, 8, 10, 14, 18 |
Cat
24/6 42 Mbps DL (5.7 Mbps UL) Plus cats 6, 8, 10, 14, 18 |
| TD-HSPA | Cat
24/6 4.2 Mbps DL (2.2 Mbps UL) Including TD-SCDMA |
Cat
24/6 4.2 Mbps DL (2.2 Mbps UL) Including TD-SCDMA |
| Package | ||
| Package Size/Type | 23x23
BGA 14x14 FCCSP |
12x12
POP 12x12 FCCSP |
| Process | 28 nm | 28 nm |
Tegra 4i's new 2.3 GHz CPU was jointly designed by NVIDIA and ARM.
Utilizing the same architecture as Tegra 4's GPU, Tegra 4i features five times the number of GPU cores of Tegra 3 for console-quality gaming experiences and full 1080p HD displays. It also integrates an optimized version of the NVIDIA i500 software - defined radio modem which provides LTE capabilities.
Tegra 4i mobile processor's camera capabilities include the NVIDIA Chimera Computational Photography Architecture recently announced in Tegra 4. This delivers features including always-on high dynamic range (HDR) capabilities, first tap to track functionality and first panoramic photos with HDR.
Chimera architecture provides the power to conduct nearly 100 billion mathematical operations per second to perform image processing, using computational techniques used in X-ray CT scanners, deep space telescopes and spy satellites.
The Chimera architecture also includes persistent tap-to-track technology, which allows users to touch the image of a person or object to focus on within a scene. The camera then locks in on that subject whether it moves or the camera is repositioned to a better angle, while maintaining proper focus. Persistent tap-to-track also adjusts the camera exposure depending on any movement, helping avoid under- or over-exposure of the image's subject or background.
Nvidia also officially today announced the NVIDIA i500 LTE modem, which was previewed at CES. The modem is based on Icera's soft modem technology and implements the entire modem baseband in software. Nvidia claims that this approach allows the modem to dynamically allocate more processing resources to the most challenging processing functions required at any given time, making it much more efficient than traditional hardware-centric implementations.
Icera's modem can be extended through software updates providing feature upgrades and performance enhancements.
ASUS VivoTab Windows RT tablet is equipped with Nvidia's first-generation LTE multi-mode modem, the i410. The i410 is now certified for use on AT&T?s LTE multi-mode network and is a testament to the capabilities of the soft modem architecture. It's been the foundation for the i500, Nvidia's second-generation LTE modem, which has more than five times the computational capacity of its predecessor.
| NVIDIA i500 SPECIFICATIONS | |
| Baseband | |
| LTE | Cat 3/Cat 4 100-150 Mbps DL (50 Mbps UL) FDD and TD-LTE, TMs 1-8 |
| Carrier aggregation | Dual IceLink™ interfaces for downlink CA Up to 10 MHz+10 MHz |
| HSPA+ | Cat 24/6 42 Mbps DL (5.7 Mbps UL) Plus cats 6, 8, 10, 14, 18 |
| TD-HSPA | Cat 24/6 4.2 Mbps DL (2.2 Mbps UL) Including TD-SCDMA |
| 2G | GSM, GPRS, EDGE Up to class 12 |
| 2G/3G voice | Multi mic AEC/noise reduction AMR-WB, AMR-NB, FR, EFR, HR |
| LTE voice | CSFB and VoLTE (IMS) CSFB with SI tunneling, VoLTE with SRVCC |
| Other features | IceClear™ Interference cancellation |
| Package | 7mmx7mm package |
| Process | 28 nm |
| RF | |
| RF Bands | Single-chip multi-band FDD and TDD LTE/HSPA+/EDGE and TD-SCDMA |
| RX diversity | Multi-band RX diversity |
| FDD | Multi-band FDD HSPA and LTE functionality: Bands 1 – 14, 17 – 21, 24 – 26, 27, 29, 90 |
| TDD | Multi-band TDD LTE and TD-SCDMA functionality: Bands 33 - 41 |
| Package | 6.5 mmx6.5 mm package |
| Process | 65 nm CMOS |
NVIDIA also introduced its reference smartphone platform code-named "Phoenix" for the Tegra 4i processor. Phoenix is a blueprint that phone makers can reference in designing and building future Tegra 4i smartphones to help get them to market quicker.
The Tegra 4i mobile processor will be demonstrated in the NVIDIA booth at the 2013 Mobile World Congress show in Barcelona, Spain, on Feb. 25-28.
