nvidia shield | KitGuru https://www.kitguru.net KitGuru.net - Tech News | Hardware News | Hardware Reviews | IOS | Mobile | Gaming | Graphics Cards Mon, 07 Oct 2019 13:05:30 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.4.3 https://www.kitguru.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/cropped-KITGURU-Light-Background-SQUARE2-32x32.png nvidia shield | KitGuru https://www.kitguru.net 32 32 Information points towards a new Nvidia Shield could be in development https://www.kitguru.net/tech-news/james-dawson/information-points-towards-a-new-nvidia-shield-could-be-in-development/ https://www.kitguru.net/tech-news/james-dawson/information-points-towards-a-new-nvidia-shield-could-be-in-development/#respond Mon, 07 Oct 2019 12:33:08 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=428861 It looks like Nvidia may have an updated Shield on the way. Rumours have been circling since March that updates to the controller and remote are coming along with a potential console refresh too. Now there are new rumours to suggest a completely new device is in development. Earlier in the year, there were rumours …

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It looks like Nvidia may have an updated Shield on the way. Rumours have been circling since March that updates to the controller and remote are coming along with a potential console refresh too. Now there are new rumours to suggest a completely new device is in development.

Earlier in the year, there were rumours suggesting a potential refresh of the Nvidia Shield, with a code hinting there could be a new controller and remote. Not long after we saw a device pop up on the Play Developer console called “mdarcy” suggesting a console refresh was coming. Further to that an FCC submission also supported the idea.

However, new evidence about the FCC submission points towards a completely new console is in the making. XDA-Developers sifted through the Shield Experience 8.0 update, which rolled out earlier last week. It was found that mentions of “sif” and “mdarcy”, along with older console versions were in various bits of code. This could be a good indication that a brand-new console is in development now.

The current theory is that “mdarcy” is just an updated version of the 2017 Shield codenamed “darcy”, due to the similar product name and the fact it runs an upgraded t210b01 Tegra X1 chip, according to kernel source code. An update to the original FCC filing has been provieded which suggests a minor refresh could be on the way for “darcy”.

According to Android Police, that leaves us with “sif” potentially being a completely new device which was spotted in a recent FCC filing. According to the code found in the Shield Experience 8.0 update, “sif” will not be equipped with a TV tuner or USB port. The device looks like it will keep an SD card reader, run the same Tegra X1 processor as “darcy” and have the potential for an internal power supply.

If you combine all these features and potential omissions this could hint towards “sif” being a device with a dongle like form factor, or at the very least be a smaller and more compact design. Nvidia has yet to confirm any new Shield device launches, or if there any are even in development. However, we will be keeping a close eye on events since this new information has come to light.

KitGuru says: With such little info coming from Nvidia regarding the Shield at the moment, it's difficult to know what they have planned. Hopefully, these new rumours about a completely new device coming, are true.

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Nintendo to release first-party titles such as Super Mario Galaxy on Nvidia Shield https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/damien-cox/nintendo-to-release-first-party-titles-such-as-super-mario-galaxy-on-nvidia-shield/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/damien-cox/nintendo-to-release-first-party-titles-such-as-super-mario-galaxy-on-nvidia-shield/#comments Tue, 05 Dec 2017 17:53:19 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=356757 While Nintendo Switch owners patiently wait for signs that the company will bring its traditional Virtual Console to the platform, Nvidia Shield users will be getting treated to a selection of Wii titles. Each game will be remastered to Full HD, but unfortunately will only be available in China. This information comes from Niko Partner's …

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While Nintendo Switch owners patiently wait for signs that the company will bring its traditional Virtual Console to the platform, Nvidia Shield users will be getting treated to a selection of Wii titles. Each game will be remastered to Full HD, but unfortunately will only be available in China.

This information comes from Niko Partner's ZhugeX, an industry insider with a long history of bringing Eastern news to the West. The games in question include Super Mario Galaxy, New Super Mario Bros. Wii, The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess and Punch-out!!!.

Currently, the price of an Nvidia Shield over in China is ¥1,499, which is roughly £168.50 according to Google's conversion. Nvidia has already tapped a number of developers to work on titles for its Shield, but none have the extensive repertoire and reputation that Nintendo carries with it.

The deal has reportedly been in the works for quite some time for Chinese distribution company iQiyi, Nvidia and Nintendo. The latter two companies previously worked together in bringing the Nintendo Switch to life using the Nvidia Tegra processing chip to handle the device.

Nintendo has been making an effort to place its first-party titles on platforms other than its own, as shown by Pokemon, Fire Emblem and more recently, Animal Crossing make their way to smartphones.

This, however, doesn’t make this any less of a strange move for the company. In fact, Android being an open-source platform could mean that these titles might eventually make their way to other territories, but nothing has been announced outside of its Chinese release.

Despite the unorthodox treatment of its titles, Nintendo’s latest plan does fall in line with how complex Chinese releases usually are. Developers and publishers often struggle to release properties under its strict guidelines, as seen with PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds, but that doesn’t make it an impossible task.

KitGuru Says: While I am a little disappointed at the lack of official word on the Switch’s inevitable Virtual Console, let alone Gamecube support, I am happy that Nintendo is willing to push the boundaries on its usual distribution model. This seems like a more unpredictable Nintendo that we’ve seen before, meaning we could be in for some more surprises down the line.

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Nvidia issues voluntary recall for Shield tablet wall adapters in Europe https://www.kitguru.net/channel/generaltech/matthew-wilson/nvidia-issues-voluntary-recall-for-shield-tablet-wall-adapters-in-europe/ https://www.kitguru.net/channel/generaltech/matthew-wilson/nvidia-issues-voluntary-recall-for-shield-tablet-wall-adapters-in-europe/#respond Thu, 10 Aug 2017 13:24:41 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=343237 Nvidia is no stranger to recalls when it comes to its Shield products. However, this time around things are much less severe. After receiving single digit reports of Shield tablet and Shield TV European wall adapters breaking, a voluntary recall is being issued for replacements. The voluntary recall only affects the European wall adapter for …

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Nvidia is no stranger to recalls when it comes to its Shield products. However, this time around things are much less severe. After receiving single digit reports of Shield tablet and Shield TV European wall adapters breaking, a voluntary recall is being issued for replacements.

The voluntary recall only affects the European wall adapter for the Shied tablet and Shield TV. The recall is being put in place after Nvidia determined that some of these adapters could break and pose “a risk of electrical shock”. In all, Nvidia has received reports from six customers who were shocked, so to avoid this issue affecting anyone else, around 7,000 affected units are being put on the recall list.

Not all European plugs need to be recalled for replacement though, as this only affects Shield tablet and Shield TV units shipped between July 2014 and May 2017. If you live in continental Europe and use one of these adapters, then you can check if yours is on the recall list before taking any action.

All you need to do is unplug the adapter and take a look at the back. There will be a small square grid. If yours does not have punch marks in the last two triangles of row 16, then you can register for a replacement. Alternatively, if your plug foes not have a letter ‘B’ imprinted on the back, then you should register for a replacement.

You can find all of the details on the recall at Nvidia’s page. There you will find full instructions as well as registration information.

KitGuru Says: There have only been a few reports of complaints stemming from these adapters but still, it’s safer for everyone if Nvidia puts a voluntary recall program in place now. If you don’t use the European wall adapter for charging or power, then you can safely ignore this. 

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Original Shield TV owners won’t be left behind, will get new features https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/android/matthew-wilson/original-shield-tv-owners-wont-be-left-behind-will-get-new-features/ https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/android/matthew-wilson/original-shield-tv-owners-wont-be-left-behind-will-get-new-features/#comments Mon, 09 Jan 2017 19:04:52 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=316983 At CES last week, Nvidia announced that it would be releasing a brand new Shield TV set top box with a slew of software updates. However, owners of the original Shield TV won't necessarily need to buy a whole new box to enjoy these updates as all of the new software features will be pushed …

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At CES last week, Nvidia announced that it would be releasing a brand new Shield TV set top box with a slew of software updates. However, owners of the original Shield TV won't necessarily need to buy a whole new box to enjoy these updates as all of the new software features will be pushed out to the original Shield TV as well.

Internally, the new Shield TV uses identical hardware to the original, the main physical difference between the two is size/design, with the new one shrinking things down a bit. Given that both boxes are on par in terms of raw power, all of the new software features will work across both boxes.


In fact, Nvidia will be continuing to support the original Shield TV with software updates alongside the new version according to Android Central. This means that Android 7.0 Nougat will be coming to the original box. You will also get future updates like Google Assistant, which means upcoming products like the Nvidia Spot will work with your new Shield TV.

If you like the look of the new smart remote or game pad, then these will both work with the old Shield TV as well. Essentially, if you already have a Shield TV, you don't really need to rush out and buy a new one.

KitGuru Says: A lot of Nvidia's stage time at CES this year was spent talking up future software updates for the Shield TV. That said, I am still surprised to learn that there are no internal hardware differences between the two. If you already have a Shield TV, then you don't really need to do anything but ensure you install the new software updates. Do any of you currently own a Shield TV

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Mysterious Nvidia tablet passes FCC certification https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/tablet-pc/matthew-wilson/mysterious-nvidia-tablet-passes-fcc-certification/ https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/tablet-pc/matthew-wilson/mysterious-nvidia-tablet-passes-fcc-certification/#comments Wed, 20 Jul 2016 15:53:42 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=300065 Nvidia first launched its original Shield Tablet back in 2014 and since then, it has been supported with regular updates and features like Game Stream and GeForce Now have improved significantly. However, it is about time for a hardware update and it looks like there might be one on the way soon as a mysterious …

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Nvidia first launched its original Shield Tablet back in 2014 and since then, it has been supported with regular updates and features like Game Stream and GeForce Now have improved significantly. However, it is about time for a hardware update and it looks like there might be one on the way soon as a mysterious Nvidia tablet recently went through FCC certification.

A new Nvidia tablet passed the Federal Communication Commission’s tests on the 15th of July. The tablet sports the model number P2523 and while we don’t know anything in terms of exact hardware specifications, we do know that its form factor will be very similar with an 8-inch screen. Exact dimensions are 8.6 x 4.8 x 0.3 inches, which means it will have slightly thinner bezels than the original Shield.

NV_SHIELD_Tablet_SHIELD_Hub_app-e1415877421561

Finally, we know that the new tablet will support both 2.4GHz and 5GHz WiFi bands. It really isn’t much information to go on, but it at least confirms that Nvidia is working on a new tablet, perhaps with a launch planned for later this year once Android Nougat launches, though that is just speculation on my part.

KitGuru Says: While the original Nvidia Shield tablet is still a competent device today, it would be nice to see Nvidia release a tablet based on the Maxwell or Pascal architecture due to the increased performance per watt. Do any of you own a Shield tablet at the moment? Would you upgrade to a newer model?

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Nvidia Shield Android TV Review https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/android/matthew-wilson/nvidia-shield-android-tv-review/ https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/android/matthew-wilson/nvidia-shield-android-tv-review/#comments Fri, 01 Apr 2016 09:30:02 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=287015 While set-top streaming boxes are a fairly saturated marketplace, most of these boxes don't take aim at gamers with powerful enough hardware. However, this is not the case with the Nvidia Shield Android TV, a sleek and small streaming box powered by the Tegra X1 20nm SoC, which utilises the Maxwell architecture and makes a big …

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While set-top streaming boxes are a fairly saturated marketplace, most of these boxes don't take aim at gamers with powerful enough hardware. However, this is not the case with the Nvidia Shield Android TV, a sleek and small streaming box powered by the Tegra X1 20nm SoC, which utilises the Maxwell architecture and makes a big push for 4K content. 

Shield Front Page

The star of the show here is really the Tegra X1 chip, which is based on the 20nm manufacturing process and sports an octa-core CPU configuration, with four of ARM's cutting-edge A57s paired with four lower-power A53s. Then on the GPU side you will find second generation Maxwell architecture with 256 CUDA cores, support for Nvidia ShadowPlay, GeForce Now and 4K decoding for technologies like HEVC.

Specifications and Features:

  • Tegra X1 processor.
  • 64-bit CPU.
  • Maxwell GPU with 256 CUDA cores.
  • 3GB of RAM.
  • Android TV.
  • HDMI 2.0.
  • 802.11ac WiFi.
  • Gigabit Ethernet.
  • 16GB of internal storage.
  • Micro SD card slot.
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KitGuru Reader Awards – You have spoken! https://www.kitguru.net/tech-news/annual-awards/andrzej/kitguru-reader-awards-you-have-spoken/ https://www.kitguru.net/tech-news/annual-awards/andrzej/kitguru-reader-awards-you-have-spoken/#comments Tue, 05 Jan 2016 08:25:43 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=279575 Hot on the heels of the KitGuru Editorial Awards, we have just completed counting on the very first KitGuru Reader Awards! We want to thank the army of readers who took the survey – we very much appreciate the time you spent telling us your favourite products. Since we launched KitGuru six years ago, we've …

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Hot on the heels of the KitGuru Editorial Awards, we have just completed counting on the very first KitGuru Reader Awards! We want to thank the army of readers who took the survey – we very much appreciate the time you spent telling us your favourite products.

Since we launched KitGuru six years ago, we've been paying careful attention to the kind of hardware our audience cares about. With over 316,000 of you telling us what you love/hate over on Facebook, we looked at all of the options and decided to add in a smart spread of categories that should satisfy all of you.

And we added some new options – including sections for wearable technology as well as tablets, VR and more options for motherboards.

Methodology
On 17th November, we explained how the nominations would work, with voting in stages. KitGuru readers chose the nominees – and then voted on the best products in each category. Full details here.

Voting 
From 1st December through to 20th December, KitGuru readers racked up votes on the products that they had nominated. Details here.

To make it easier to present the results, we have divided into broad categories like ‘Central Processing' for CPUs and motherboards.

We hope you enjoy reading all about YOUR selections – don't forget to let us know what we should do differently next time over on Facebook!

KitGuru-Reader-Awards-2016-Featured-Image

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Nvidia is issuing a recall for Shield Tablets due to fire risk https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/tablet-pc/matthew-wilson/nvidia-is-issuing-a-recall-for-shield-tablets-due-to-fire-risk/ https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/tablet-pc/matthew-wilson/nvidia-is-issuing-a-recall-for-shield-tablets-due-to-fire-risk/#comments Fri, 31 Jul 2015 12:25:42 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=261645 Nvidia has just announced a voluntary recall for some of the Shield tablets currently out in the wild due to concerns that the batteries may overheat and cause a fire. The affected models specifically should have been sold between June and July last year but if you want to double check you can go to …

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Nvidia has just announced a voluntary recall for some of the Shield tablets currently out in the wild due to concerns that the batteries may overheat and cause a fire. The affected models specifically should have been sold between June and July last year but if you want to double check you can go to your Android settings, select about tablet, hit status and check the code underneath your battery.

If you have battery code B01, then your tablet is fine and doesn't need to be recalled. However, if you have battery Y01, then your unit needs to be replaced and sent back to Nvidia.

nvidia-shield-tablet650px

 

Nvidia is asking that affected customers submit a claim for the replacement of the tablet. The company also warns users against continuing to use the tablet due to the fire hazard risk.

If you need to have your Nvidia Shield tablet replaced then you can find the recall form and instructions, HERE.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: As far as we know, there haven't been any widespread reports of Shield tablet exploding or catching fire so it seems Nvidia has caught this fairly early on and is now trying to nip it in the bud. If you have a Shield tablet with battery code Y01 then make sure you get it replaced- better to be safe than sorry. 

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Nvidia’s Tegra X1-based Shield game console certified in S. Korea https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/anton-shilov/nvidias-next-gen-tegra-x1-based-shield-game-console-certified-in-s-korea/ https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/anton-shilov/nvidias-next-gen-tegra-x1-based-shield-game-console-certified-in-s-korea/#respond Thu, 14 May 2015 03:45:04 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=249354 Nvidia Corp.’s first Tegra-based Shield portable video game console has failed to become popular on the market, but the company still believes that it can create a commercially successful dedicated gaming device for Google Android titles. In fact, Nvidia’s second-gen Shield powered by its latest Tegra X1 application processors has already been certified in South …

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Nvidia Corp.’s first Tegra-based Shield portable video game console has failed to become popular on the market, but the company still believes that it can create a commercially successful dedicated gaming device for Google Android titles. In fact, Nvidia’s second-gen Shield powered by its latest Tegra X1 application processors has already been certified in South Korea.

Back in April it was reported that Nvidia had developed two own-brand solutions featuring its Tegra X1 system-on-chips: Shield Portable/P2523 and Shield Console/P2571 devices. RRA, South Korea’s regulation agency akin to the U.S. FCC and the U.K. Ofcom, has already certified the P2523 “special-purpose low power wireless device”, which means that it is now possible to sell the product in the country.

Nothing particular is known about Nvidia’s next-generation Shield portable, except the fact that it is powered by Tegra X1 and may be incoming. At present, it is unknown when it can hit the market and how much will it cost.

nvidia_shield_1

According to a listing in a benchmark database, last year Nvidia already tested a new Shield portable game console internally. The model, which has never made it to the market, featured a 1440*810 display, 4GB of LPDDR3, 16GB of NAND flash storage as well as Google Android 4.2.2 operating system. It was expected that the new console sported an enlarged monitor amid a lower weight and sleeker design.

Nvidia’s Tegra X1 application processor integrates four high-performance ARM Cortex-A57 cores, four low-power ARM Cortex-A53 cores as well as an advanced graphics sub-system powered by the Maxwell architecture that features 256 stream processors (two Maxwell stream multiprocessors), 16 texture units and 16 raster output pipelines. The chip fully supports OpenGL ES 3.1, OpenGL4.5, DirectX 12.0 (feature level 11_3), and AEP application programming interfaces as well as all modern video codecs, including VP9, H.265 (HEVC), H.264 and others. At least in theory, the Tegra X1 should be perfect for portable game consoles.

Nvidia did not comment on the news-story.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: Certification itself does not mean that the device is about to hit the market. Many gadgets are certified months before releases. Still, an authorisation from regulators means that there are at least intentions to sell the product commercially.

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Acer is making a gaming tablet https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/tablet-pc/matthew-wilson/acer-is-making-a-gaming-tablet/ https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/tablet-pc/matthew-wilson/acer-is-making-a-gaming-tablet/#comments Fri, 24 Apr 2015 16:54:53 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=246572 Nvidia has enjoyed much success with its highly praised Shield tablet over the last year or so but it won't be the only gaming-oriented tablet on the block for much longer as Acer has plans of its own. Acer has announced that it is going to release a Predator Android gaming tablet this year. This …

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Nvidia has enjoyed much success with its highly praised Shield tablet over the last year or so but it won't be the only gaming-oriented tablet on the block for much longer as Acer has plans of its own. Acer has announced that it is going to release a Predator Android gaming tablet this year.

This is all part of Acer's effort to invade the gaming market. It has recently launched some high quality G-Sync and Freesync monitors for gamers, along with a highly sought after 1440p 144Hz IPS panel to rival the Asus ROG Swift. Acer also has its own line of Predator Desktop PCs and laptops in the works.

Acer Tablet
Image Source: Engadget

For now, the internals are not yet known but according to TrustedReviews it will use an Intel ‘Cherry Trail' CPU and Acer is apparently confident that it will benchmark higher than the Nvidia Shield. The Acer Predator tablet comes in a slightly pointy design, with a red and black color scheme to round off the ‘gamer' look.

The tablet will also make use of four front facing speakers in total, in an effort to better create a ‘surround sound' listening experience. Unlike the Shield though, the tablet won't have a dedicated controller built for it, although third-party peripherals will be supported.

Aside from that, details are light, we don't know when exactly the tablet will launch or how much it will cost. We don't even have the full spec sheet. However, it does seem that Acer is making a big push in the gaming market this year.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru says: Acer has been gaining traction in the gaming market thanks to its new Predator gaming monitors. Offering a 4K G-sync display, a 144Hz IPS QHD G-sync display and a Freesync display to boot. However, despite its renewed place in the monitor market, it might be harder to sell an Android tablet, especially when Nvidia has had a head start with its own. 

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Nvidia Tegra X1 to power desktops, notebooks, tablets, portable consoles https://www.kitguru.net/desktop-pc/base-unit/anton-shilov/nvidia-tegra-x1-to-power-desktops-notebooks-tablets-portable-consoles/ https://www.kitguru.net/desktop-pc/base-unit/anton-shilov/nvidia-tegra-x1-to-power-desktops-notebooks-tablets-portable-consoles/#comments Thu, 02 Apr 2015 10:38:01 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=243367 Unveiled early this year, Tegra X1 system-on-chip from Nvidia Corp. was positioned mainly for automotive applications. However, given rather serious processing horsepower it has, it can be used for many other devices. In fact, according to recent leaks and listings, Nvidia and its partners plan to use the Tegra X1 SoC for laptops, tablets and …

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Unveiled early this year, Tegra X1 system-on-chip from Nvidia Corp. was positioned mainly for automotive applications. However, given rather serious processing horsepower it has, it can be used for many other devices. In fact, according to recent leaks and listings, Nvidia and its partners plan to use the Tegra X1 SoC for laptops, tablets and even portable game consoles.

The Bluetooth SIG [special interest group] recently certified mainboards for previously unknown Shield Portable/P2523 and Shield Console/P2571 devices. Qualification tests took place in late January, hence, it is more than likely that the motherboards were powered by the latest Tegra X1 application processor from Nvidia. Recently the company officially refocused its Tegra business to gaming and automotive applications. Therefore, a portable game console and a gaming tablet sold under Nvidia Shield brand make perfect sense for the company.

Meanwhile, Google Chromium OS already contains references to the Nvidia T210 application processor, which is the internal name of the Tegra X1. Since Chrome OS is used primarily for laptops (called Chromebooks) and low-power desktops (called Chromeboxes), it is obvious that there are certain parties working on appropriate products powered by Nvidia’s Tegra X1. According to CNX Software, the platforms based on the Tegra X1 are code-named Smaug and Foster.

nvidia_tegra_x1

The Tegra X1 system-on-chips incorporates four high-performance ARM Cortex-A57 cores and four low-power ARM Cortex-A53 cores. The SoC also integrates advanced graphics sub-system powered by the Maxwell architecture that features 256 stream processors (two Maxwell stream multiprocessors), 16 texture units and 16 raster output pipelines that supports OpenGL ES 3.1, OpenGL4.5, DirectX 12.0 (feature level 11_3), and AEP application programming interfaces. The application processor’s memory controller supports up to 4GB of LPDDR3 or LPDDR4 memory, whereas the AP’s storage controller supports up to eMMC 5.1 interface with CMD queuing. All other I/O interfaces are also present (see the diagram below). The SoC features hardware decoding of video in all high-definition and ultra-high-definition (4K) formats at 60Hz, including VP9, H.265 (HEVC), H.264 and others.

Thanks to high performance and maximum level of integration, Tegra X1 can power almost any device. Unfortunately, its thermal design power (TDP) of up to 10W is too high for mobile electronics. As a result, it will not be that easy for Nvidia to squeeze the chip into tablets or portable game consoles without reducing its clock-rates as well as performance. Still, there are plenty of applications that Nvidia can address with its Tegra X1.

nvidia_tegra_x1_block_diagram nvidia_tegra_x1_cpu_configuration

Nvidia’s Tegra X1 already powers Shield game console for the living room.

Nvidia did not comment on the news-story.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: Even if Nvidia Tegra X1 is too hot for mobile devices, there are plenty of applications, where it can be used, including embedded electronics, drones, robots, set-top-boxes with gaming capabilities, Blu-ray 4K players etc. However, to enter these markets, Nvidia will need to develop appropriate software platforms…

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Nvidia may drop its Shield game console in favour of Shield tablet https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/anton-shilov/nvidia-may-drop-its-shield-game-console-in-favour-of-shield-tablet/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/anton-shilov/nvidia-may-drop-its-shield-game-console-in-favour-of-shield-tablet/#comments Fri, 04 Jul 2014 22:59:32 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=201589 Nvidia Corp.’s Shield gaming device has not become popular after about a year on the market. Apparently, neither Google Android games with dedicated controls nor streamed PC titles could attract attention of core gamers. While it was expected that the company would introduce a new, sleeker, version of Shield this year, the company decided to …

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Nvidia Corp.’s Shield gaming device has not become popular after about a year on the market. Apparently, neither Google Android games with dedicated controls nor streamed PC titles could attract attention of core gamers. While it was expected that the company would introduce a new, sleeker, version of Shield this year, the company decided to take a more pragmatic approach and introduce a Shield-branded gaming tablet instead.

Nvidia recently certified a product called “Shield tablet” with the Global Certification Forum (GCF) and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). The tablet will come with integrated 3G/4G baseband capabilities, which is why it needs certification. Since the GCF is a U.K. organization, whereas the FCC is a U.S. commission, expect Nvidia’s Shield tablet to be available in both countries. In fact, it is likely that the slate will be available worldwide.

Nvidia has been testing what it was believed to be the successor of the Shield console for a while now. The new Shield-branded device, which was found in the AnTuTu databank earlier this year, was powered by the Tegra K1 system on-chip with four ARM Cortex-A15 cores (4-plus-1 architecture with one low-power core, clock-rate of the high-performance cores varies between 51MHz and 2524MHz) and Kepler architecture graphics processing unit with 192 stream processors, four ROPs [raster operating units] and so on. The product featured a display with rather odd 1440*810 resolution, 4GB of LPDDR3 memory, 16GB of NAND flash storage as well as Google Android 4.2.2 operating system. It is unknown whether the upcoming Shield tablet has the same specs as the device, which Nvidia tested earlier this year.

nvidia_tegra_note_1

Nvidia Tegra Note media tablet.

Nvidia needed its Shield game console mostly for strategic reasons, not in order to significantly increase its revenue. Nvidia needs Google Android to become a powerful gaming platform in general, which will eventually boost demand for the company’s Tegra application processors for smartphones and tablets. In a bid to attract both core gamers and game developers to Android, Nvidia created an ultimate gaming device, the Shield console. Unfortunately for Nvidia, gamers decided not to buy the gadget since most of Android games are tailored for touch-screens and motion-sensing, not dedicated buttons or D-pad. While hypothetically Nvidia could still release Shield 2 game console, it does not look like it has such plans.

Nvidia did not comment on the news-story.

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KitGuru Says: Nvidia’s decision to crease its own Shield tablet for gaming makes a lot of sense since it will help it to demonstrate what Tegra K1 is capable of. What is unclear is how the company plans to differentiate its tablets from similar products from other makers since there are no Tegra K1-exclusive games…

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Nvidia showcase new Shield handheld console https://www.kitguru.net/channel/carl/nvidia-showcase-new-shield-handheld-console/ https://www.kitguru.net/channel/carl/nvidia-showcase-new-shield-handheld-console/#respond Mon, 07 Jan 2013 08:21:44 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=121175 At a recent event Nvidia were expected to just announce Tegra 4, but instead the focus was placed on a new handheld console they are calling Project Shield. Nvidia CEO Jen-Hsun Huang said that the Shield comes with its own controller and has a 5 inch ‘Retinal' display with 720p resolution. It is powered by …

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At a recent event Nvidia were expected to just announce Tegra 4, but instead the focus was placed on a new handheld console they are calling Project Shield.

(Credit: Aloysius Low/CNET Asia)

Nvidia CEO Jen-Hsun Huang said that the Shield comes with its own controller and has a 5 inch ‘Retinal' display with 720p resolution. It is powered by the Tegra 4 processor and runs Android in a basic configuration. Nvidia showcased features such as 4k playback on a Ultra HD LG Television set and connected it up to a PC to run games which support the ‘Steam Big Picture' function.

He said that the company has wanted for the ‘last five years, to create the pieces necessary for video games'.

(Credit: Aloysius Low/CNET Asia)

Nvidia also placed a focus on game support from the TEGRA ZONE – a store location with visibility on other devices such as Microsoft's Surface tablet.

The Shield console also has an HDMI connector and MicroSD support, for expansion.

The Shield name is not the final shipping product name, Nvidia will announce that later close to launch time. They have confirmed a Q2 launch time frame which means it might get a showcase at Computex in Taiwan.

Kitguru says: A good move for the company and if priced effectively, should sell well.

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