There are a few things we have known for a while now. Sony and Microsoft have both skimped out on their new consoles, which are only roughly equivalent to midrange PCs from 2011-2012 at best. Unlike every other console generation, these consoles did not represent the most advanced gaming technology at launch and secondly, mobile graphics tech is slowly catching up, especially thanks to Nvidia’s Tegra efforts
Alright, and now, both of these facts converged when last night, at their CES showing, Nvidia revealed the brand new Tegra X1 mobile GPU, which is based on the company’s runaway success, the desktop line of Maxwell cards. The X1 has 256 CUDA processor cores and 8 CPU cores, and Nvidia’s Jen-Hsun Huang pointed out that it handles 4K video at 60 Hz, suggesting there’s “nothing like it in the world.”
He then proceeded to show the Elemental tech demo made using Unreal Engine that would run using 300W on the Xbox One just one year ago… running on Tegra X1 with just 10W, and with no vast noticeable downgrade in quality or visual fidelity either.
The X1 promises an efficient, graphically stunning future for video games, and can potentially power not just smartphones, tablets, and laptops, but also cars, smart watches, the internet of things, handhelds, and even home consoles. With at least one console manufacturer working already on their next generation effort, Nvidia’s efforts right now will probably not go unnoticed.
