[D.psi]

Originally Posted by dilta

The 200MHz bus is also fully-implemented by the Pocket PC OEM on the next-generation devices, therefore you can get all the expected speed boost.

BTW... the write back function is officially enabled, if you know what it is..

Okay, so the bus speed is likely to double, what about the bus width? I understand that the word width is 32 bits, but currently we are only using a 16 bit bus. Is this a limitation of the chip or the device architecture? Will the OEM/Intel still restrict it to 16 bits, or will they upgrade it to the CPU data word width? Imagine doubling the bus speed, and the data width, that's a four-fold increase in throughput.

As for the write back function, I'd hazard a guess that it's a caching mode that can be enabled for the processor (usually have write back or write through if I recall).

[D.psi]

Originally Posted by dilta

The 200MHz bus is also fully-implemented by the Pocket PC OEM on the next-generation devices, therefore you can get all the expected speed boost.

BTW... the write back function is officially enabled, if you know what it is..

Okay, so the bus speed is likely to double, what about the bus width? I understand that the word width is 32 bits, but currently we are only using a 16 bit bus. Is this a limitation of the chip or the device architecture? Will the OEM/Intel still restrict it to 16 bits, or will they upgrade it to the CPU data word width? Imagine doubling the bus speed, and the data width, that's a four-fold increase in throughput.

As for the write back function, I'd hazard a guess that it's a caching mode that can be enabled for the processor (usually have write back or write through if I recall).

[stephenv]

Argh. :x I was just about to buy an HP iPaq 545x when I saw this article about the new chips. For me, $650 is a ton of money--I do not currently own a PDA but want to buy the best available. Anyone have any idea when the 54xxx series will be updated with the new chip? Any guesses? Anyone have any advice on whether I should wait it out?

If the new 54xxx series comes out in late March, I know I'll be kicking myself....

Also, it seems like there will be two benefits to the new chip: (a) speed and (b) battery life....

I'm assuming I won't notice the speed much if I don't play games? What about the battery life though?

What do you think? any thoughts? greatly appreciate all thoughts. (Thank you)

-Steve

[daS]

Originally Posted by stephenv

Argh. :x I was just about to buy an HP iPaq 545x when I saw this article about the new chips. For me, $650 is a ton of money--I do not currently own a PDA but want to buy the best available. Anyone have any idea when the 54xxx series will be updated with the new chip? Any guesses? Anyone have any advice on whether I should wait it out?

Whenever you get a computing device, a new one is just over the horizon. That's the nature of high tech.

However, the new XScale was just announced, so I doubt we will see devices based on it for at least six months. Personally, I wouldn't wait. If you think it's worth the wait, then by the time we see machines with the new processor, something else will be announced that will seem worth waiting for. :wink: