NVIDIA Tegra 2 To Go Big Time

The original NVIDIA Tegra SOC made it into several devices over its lifespan including popular gadgets like the Zune HD. NVIDIA has a follow-up to the Tegra that is set to hit soon that brings new capability and more performance to the SOC platform called Tegra 2 that was seen at CES.

The second-generation Tegra processor is reportedly set to be huge in the tablet market. According to reports, "every major computer marker" will be using the new Tegra SOC in a tablet this year. Said reports also claim that Dell, MSI, and Foxconn are already on the list.

The new Tegra SOC has a 1GHz ARM coretex-A9 microprocessor and the graphics muscle needed for 1080p video and 3D gaming while consuming only 500mW of power. The Cortex-A9 is what the Apple A4 used in the iPad is based on. If NVIDIA is able to offer similar processing power with better graphics than the iPad, the tablet wars will get very hot in 2010.