NVIDIA renames Tegra 3 architecture to 4-PLUS-1

We have talked about the NVIDIA Tegra 3 quad-core processor before, and we know that inside it quietly hums a fifth companion core. Ticking at the modest 500MHz, it is meant to handle those mundane tasks that do not require too much of a processing punch, thus saving on precious battery power. And that otherwise cleverly engineered architecture does not deserve a not-so-catchy name as “Variable Symmetrical Multiprocessing”, right?

That is why NVIDIA made the 4-PLUS-1 architecture name official – a name that can be attached to products powered by the Tegra 3 processor and immediately representing the benefits that it brings. Sounds better than “ninja core”, don't you agree? Or at least more marketable, that is for sure.

We expect to be hearing that 4-PLUS-1 moniker quite a lot next week in Barcelona as more than a few smartphones and tablets powered by the Tegra 3 quad-core processor will be shown off at MWC 2012. Among them we have the LG Optimus 4X HD, yet HTC, ASUS, Huawei, and ZTE, among others, are expected to flaunt Tegra 3 devices of their own. It goes without saying that we are looking forward to taking them for a spin, so stay tuned to our MWC 2012 coverage to be on top of all the hottest from the show.

source: NVIDIA