Can handle 1080p if it feels like it
Renesas Technology has started sampling its latest ARM-based chip, the
45nm SH-Mobile APE4, built around ARM's Cortex A8 architecture.
The new chip should deliver clocks in excess of 1GHz and offer 1080p
decoding. It's equipped with Imagination's PowerVR SGX2 graphics engine
capable of supporting WXGA+ displays with a PAL/NTSC encoder and an
HDMI transmitter. The CPU also features two USB 2.0 controllers and 3
SD host controllers.
Renesas hopes to see the new CPU in mobile phones and mobile internet
devices, but we're guessing it might be a good choice for smartbook
makers. Samsung and ZiiLabs have already announced 1GHz ARM processors
and the market for more powerful, HD capable ARM chips seems to be
there, although we haven't seen any in actual products just yet.
More
here.