11-30-2006, 06:00 AM
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Contributing Editor
Join Date: Feb 2007
Posts: 3,111
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The Next Generation of XScale: Monahans Is Here!
"The PXA3xx family of processors delivers improved performance and extended battery life, enabling advanced video and audio capabilities. Wireless Intel SpeedStep� with MusicMax technology provides intelligent power management, enabling varying power states so users can listen up to 30 hours of MP3s on their handsets without sacrificing battery life. Intel VideoMax technology in the PXA3xx family of application processors supports high-performance video capabilities, and will continue delivering improved resolution with future versions of the PXA3xx family of processors."
Marvell, who on November 8 completed the acquisition of Intel's cellular and application processor line (which includes the XScale processors widely used in Windows Mobile devices), have just unveiled their latest generation of mobile processors. The three new processors can be summarised as follows:
�PXA320 (Monahans-P)- 1.2GHz scalable down to 806MHz, general applications processor;
�PXA310 (Monahans-LV) - multimedia processor, supposedly capable of 30fps H.264 playback in VGA resolutions; and
�PXA300 (Monahans-L) - the budget line
Both -L and -LV variants can scale down to 624MHz. All three are available in sample form or are already shipping in volume - Marvell expects production to be in full swing by the first quarter of 2007, and the first devices sporting these processors should appear about the same time. Marvell's making a lot of promises here - faster processing, lower power consumption, and more transparent frequency scaling. Whichever of these advancements these processors happen to fulfill, this is a big leap forward, the first in over three years in terms of processing speed and power. Faster web-browsing, faster video (hopefully getting rid of the need to transcode video) - I sense lots of fun times ahead! 
Edit: Based on peaz's link, it looks like these babies show considerably advances in power consumption and processing speed. Also, the PXA320 is currently only available in 806MHz with hardware video acceleration, and the 310 (also with hardware video acceleration) and 300 are only available in 624MHz.
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"A planner is a gentle man, with neither sword nor pistol.
He walks along most daintily, because his balls are crystal."
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11-30-2006, 07:33 AM
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Intellectual
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 160
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I was about to say, didnt intel halt the mobile chip line. The I realized it was marvell. Did intel sell the technology to marvell? Who is Marvell anyway?
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11-30-2006, 07:50 AM
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Contributing Editor
Join Date: Feb 2007
Posts: 3,111
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by JKingGrim
Did intel sell the technology to marvell?
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Yes they did, as I mentioned in the first line of my comment. The deal was signed about 5 months ago, and full completed three weeks back.
Quote:
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Originally Posted by JKingGrim
Who is Marvell anyway?
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They're a semiconductor company with quite a few product lines, particularly application processors (wifi, network, etc, etc). Their main competitors as I understand it would be Qualcomm and Texas Instruments.
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"A planner is a gentle man, with neither sword nor pistol.
He walks along most daintily, because his balls are crystal."
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11-30-2006, 08:18 AM
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Pupil
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 16
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does this mean we should hold off on buying any PDAs like HTC P3600 style since they are being outdated with slower cpu and battery life?
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11-30-2006, 08:39 AM
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Contributing Editor
Join Date: Feb 2007
Posts: 3,111
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by blissfull
does this mean we should hold off on buying any PDAs like HTC P3600 style since they are being outdated with slower cpu and battery life?
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I really don't think so. First, while they say that the chips are shipping, we haven't heard anything about new devices that will carry them. That says to me that there's going to be quite a bit of lead time before you'll see anything in the PDA/PDA-phone space. Even if news about a new device with a Monahans chip is out tomorrow, that means at least another 3-6 months before we see the real thing on the streets. And I wouldn't term any of the current generation as 'obsolete' - if they do the job, they're still relevant.
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"A planner is a gentle man, with neither sword nor pistol.
He walks along most daintily, because his balls are crystal."
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11-30-2006, 10:18 AM
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Philosopher
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 554
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I guess by that time we will see WM Crossbow on new devices as well... Just thinking, 1.2 Mhz Processor, WM 6, More memory and 3G, sounds like a dream machine. :roll:
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11-30-2006, 11:21 AM
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Intellectual
Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 146
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Quote:
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I guess by that time we will see WM Crossbow on new devices as well... Just thinking, 1.2 Mhz Processor, WM 6, More memory and 3G, sounds like a dream machine
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man that'll be the day..... damn my mouth is wathering just as i imagine..... pretty impressive.... who am i kidding ...DAMN IMPRESSIVE :devilboy:
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11-30-2006, 04:05 PM
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Ponderer
Join Date: Jul 2002
Posts: 81
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lot of new releases/upcoming releases seem to be using the samsung 400mhz chip.
i wish someone with some technical knowledge about processor design would write a review comparing the chips. would be a fun geeky read :mrgreen:
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"May the potato be with you!"
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11-30-2006, 04:23 PM
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Sage
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 621
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by xdev
lot of new releases/upcoming releases seem to be using the samsung 400mhz chip.
i wish someone with some technical knowledge about processor design would write a review comparing the chips. would be a fun geeky read :mrgreen:
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I 2nd that
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11-30-2006, 07:11 PM
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Linear Mode
