Skip to main content

Nvidia Tegra 3 quad-core specs unveiled – has a fifth core that helps increase battery life

nvidia-tegra-3-processor
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Yesterday, we got a good look at the new Asus Transformer Prime, which will be the first tablet to implement the new Tegra 3 processor. A sequel to the massively successful Tegra 2, which powers almost every tablet and a lot of phones, the Tegra 3 can actually support two dual-core processors, effectively making it a quad-core processor.  Well, kind of. It actually has a fifth low-power core in there too, meaning it’s actually a quint-core (or maybe pent-core?) processor. In any case, it’s a big leap forward for phones. Nvidia has released some specs on the new chip, which was formerly codenamed “Kal-El.” 

The new chip bests the Tegra 2 in a number of ways. It can support up to 1.3 GHz quad-core computing, meaning it can actually pump out more than 5GHz of power, relative to a single core. For RAM, it’s support doubles from 1GB to 2GB and graphics performance should be three times what it was on the Tegra 2 thanks to a new GPU unit that actually has 12 processor cores. 3D Stereo support, 32MP camera support (up from 12MP), and support for resolutions up to 2048×1536 pixels are all supported. 

Recommended Videos

What’s cool is that Nvidia has designed it so that the fifth core is a smaller, low-power processor that runs easy tasks. In a demo, the company shows that when you do something like turn on a new app, all four cores power up quickly to help open it fast and get you going, but when you’re using the app and just fiddling around, the four cores shut down and just the companion core stays on, meaning the whole setup uses a lot less battery life than you’d expect, while still delivering really fast performance when you need it. No additional programming from app developers or Google or anybody is needed for this new technology to work, claims Nvidia.

Get your weekly teardown of the tech behind PC gaming
Check your inbox!

So what does this all mean? Well, we hope it means that we’ll finally begin to see tablets that can perform multitasking that begins to rival desktops and advanced video game graphics and visuals on smartphones as well. If Nvidia has a quad-core processor out, it won’t be long before rival chipmakers out their own projects. If 2011 was the year of dual-core, then 2012 may be the year of the quad-core. 

Jeffrey Van Camp
Former Digital Trends Contributor
As DT's Deputy Editor, Jeff helps oversee editorial operations at Digital Trends. Previously, he ran the site's…
Check your Samsung Galaxy S24 right now for a new security update
A person holding the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra.

Samsung Galaxy S24 users can now download a new software update. Although it’s not the update people have been waiting for, it’s still important.

According to SamMobile, a new software update is being rolled out for the carrier-locked versions of the Galaxy S24, S24 Plus, and S24 Ultra. The firmware version for this update is S92xUSQS4AXJA, and it includes the November 2024 security patch. This update addresses multiple security vulnerabilities, but does not introduce any new features. Instead, it resolves dozens of security issues identified in the previous software version.

Read more
Best cell phone plan deals: T-Mobile, AT&T, Verizon, Mint Mobile and more
Woman

The best phone deals will get you some impressive savings on a new phone, but there are also deals available on ways to keep it connected. The best cell phone plan deals are scattered across carriers, with AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, and others currently offering some savings. Below you can find all of the information you need in order to save on a new cell phone plan, and if you’re in the market for a phone as well be sure to check out all of the iPhone deals, Google Pixel 8 deals, Samsung Galaxy S24 deals, Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 deals, and Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 deals going on today.
Mint Mobile: Get any 3-month plan for $15 per month
For a limited time, Mint Mobile has dropped the three-month price for all of its plans to just $15 per month. That means, the Unlimited plan, normally $30 per month, or $90 for three months, is no just $15 per month or $45 for three months. The base 5GB of data per month plan is $15 per month, and the 15GB per month plan is $15 per month, or $45 for three months. That is an incredible deal. All Mint Mobile plans include unlimited talk and text, access to 5GB high-speed data, free calling to Mexico and Canada, free mobile hotspot access, and WiFi calling support. You can't beat that!

U.S. Mobile: Pre-pay $23 per line per month
Prepaid wireless plans are a great option for light users, kids, and anyone else who won’t be consuming a lot of data on a daily basis. U.S. Mobile is one of the best prepaid service providers available today, allowing you to build your own custom plan, so you’re only paying for as many minutes, texts, and gigabytes of data as you want to. As just one example, its Unlimited Starter plan is just $23 per line, or $276 for 12 months -- saving you $72 per year. You get unlimited talk, text, and data, 10GB of hotspot data, international calling and texting, and more. If you're adding multiple lines to a plan, you can also unlock free extras like Disney+ and Netflix. U.S. Mobile even has an Unlimited Flex plan that goes for just $15 per month when you pre-pay for 12 months.

Read more
Miss the iPhone mini? This company may have an alternative for you
A person holding the Oppo Find X6 Pro, showing the back of the phone.

Here at Digital Trends, we're big fans of the Oppo series of phones. From the Reno 10 and its curved screen to the Oppo Find N2, these handsets rarely disappoint. Now, a new one might be on the horizon, ready to fill the iPhone mini-shaped hole in your heart.

According to known leaker Digital Chat Station (via Android Headlines), Oppo is preparing to announce a new, smaller flagship model that's separate from the recently revealed Find X8 and Find X8 Pro. Both of those models are confirmed for a global release, but the availability of this smaller flagship is unclear.

Read more