Nvidia introduces Tegra 4 processor with 72 custom GPU cores, 4K video playback capabilities

Nvidia has used CES 2013 at Las Vegas as an opportunity to unveil its next generation mobile processor, the Tegra 4. The company claims the processor is faster than anything in the market out there right now.

The Tegra 4 mobile processor comes with 72 custom GPU cores, which gives it six times the GPU horsepower of its predecessor, the Tegra 3. Also present in the Tegra 4 is the Cortex-A15 CPU core, which Nvidia claims will deliver 2.6x faster web browsing, and a second-generation battery saver core for low power during standard use.

The Tegra 4 is designed to play nice with the optional Nvidia Icera i500 processor, which can add worldwide 4G LTE voice and data support capabilities to the mobile device.

At its pre-CES launch event, Nvidia spent a considerable amount of time demoing Tegra 4's HDR capabilities, which implements a technology that Nvidia calls Computational Photography Architecture. CPA delivers HDR photos and video by fusing together the processing power of the GPU, CPU and the camera's image-signal processor.

Tegra 4 also includes 4K or ultra-high-def support, which means Tegra 4-powered devices will be able to play content that carries four-times the quality of full-HD.

"Tegra 4 provides enormous processing power and efficiency to power smartphones and tablets, gaming devices, auto systems and PCs," said Phil Carmack, senior vice president of the Tegra business at Nvidia. "Its new capabilities, particularly in the area of computational photography, will help improve a whole range of existing products and lead to the creation of exciting new ones."

Nvidia claims that the Tegra 4 consumes up to 45 percent less power than its predecessor in "common use cases".