Samsung debuts 'world's fastest' PDA CPU

Beats XScale by 133MHz

By Tony Smith • Get more from this author

Posted in Channel, 21st July 2003 12:42 GMT

Free research: Application platforms, the state of play

Samsung today announced what it claims is the world's fastest PDA processor, the ARM9-based S3C2440, clocked at 533MHz.

Actually, Samsung claimed the device is "the world's fastest mobile CPU", but we think Intel would challenge that assertion. Its mobile Pentium M is clocked at 1.7GHz, more than three times the frequency of the new Samsung part.

Still, the S3C2440 does beat Intel's PDA-oriented XScale PXA255 by 133MHz. It also offers a wealth of features on-chip, including digicam support. Like, the XScale, the Samsung chip offers built-in memory, TFT LCD and touch-screen, SD/MMC/SDIO, and USB controllers.

The S3C2440 also features an integrated NAND Flash boot loader, allowing device makers to support Flash without the need for an interface chip, Samsung said.

The new chip is the follow-up to Samsung's 0.18 micron S3C2410X chip, which is currently in volume production. The S3C2440 is essentially a 130nm die-shrunk S3C2419X, with a new digicam interface and 1.3V operation (the older part operates at 1.8V).

Samsung has begun sampling the chip now in 300, 400 and 533MHz versions, with mass production die to commence in Q4. ®

Free research: Application platforms, the state of play