TI upgraded its OMAP chips on Thursday with a much faster model. The 1.8GHz, dual-core OMAP4470 is about 80 percent faster on the web than the older 4430 and brings in the new PowerVR SGX544 for graphics, which is theoretically 2.5 times faster than what it replaces. The extra headroom gives it better performance not just for Android 3 and other mobile platforms but Windows 8.
The combined performance lets the new ARM chip handle up to a 2048×1536 display, three HD-level screens, or a regular interface with heavy layers. Similarly, it can handle stereoscopic 3D over its HDMI output.
Production samples of the OMAP4470 will go out to companies in the second half of the year. Full-scale production isn’t expected until the first half of 2012 and would make it ideally timed for Windows 8’s expected late 2012 release. Customers weren’t named, but LG, Motorola, and RIM all use TI’s chips in phones and tablets so far.
