Qualcomm is about to send out the the next generation system processors with the Krait architecture to partners, but not without kinks since the quad-core versions of the Snapdragon S4 family have been delayed another quarter or more for unknown reasons.
Qualcomm is the world’s largest manufacturer of system processors and solutions for among others smartphones, and has a pwoerful lineup that is expected to arrive in retail products in Q2. The company has a number of quad-core system processors, based on the new Krait architecture and several of these have, according to VR-Zone, been delayed at least a quarter.
Among these we find models for the higher performance segment like MSM8974 with integrated communication logic for handheld/mobile devices. We also find APQ8094 that lacks this logic and is mainly intended for Smart TV products or actors that wants to use their own logic together with Qualcomm’s system processors.
The reason for this is unknown. It could be because of changes to the 28 nm technology, since the quad-core versions would be Qualcomm’s first circuits with a clock frequency at 2.0 GHz and up. Luckily only a few end products is affected by this, but it also means the first quad-core processors from Qualcomm won’t arrive in products until 2013.
this benefits Tegra greatly.
Not likely, Tegra 3 has serious problems atm so I wouldnt be suprised if Qualcomm intentionally delayed the launch to make sure they have all the kinks worked out.
^ what serious problem with tegra 3?
The chip was way too large
Performance was horrendous
Way too expensive
Low yield on the chips
Not meeting targeted frequencies
On top of that, Apple and Samsung are closed to Nvidia and they are frankly 95+% of the tablet which spells problems for Nvidia in the mobile market.