At its GPU Technology Conference, Nvidia Corp. updated its Tegra roadmap with a new code-named Parker system-on-chip due in 2015. The new application processor for mobile devices will not only feature Nvidia’s own custom central processing unit core, but also fully-fledged graphics processing unit with compute capabilities.

Nvidia’s next-gen Tegra 5, code-named Logan will feature ARM Cortex general-purpose processing unit as well as Kepler graphics processing unit with support for GPU computing, Direct3D, OpenGL 4.3 and so on. With a graphics processor capable of general-purpose processing on GPU, Nvidia will already offer breakthrough performance and capabilities.

But a true revolution will occur along with Tegra 6, which will feature Nvidia’s own custom general-purpose ARMv8-compatible core code-named Denver as well as code-named Maxwell graphics processing core with GPGPU support. The chips will be made using FinFET process technology, which likely means that it will be made using GlobalFoundries 14nm XM [extreme mobility] manufacturing process.

“Let me show you one more. Next gen beyond Logan has a peculiar name, Parker. Parker brings three ideas to the market. First with Denver. First 64-bit ARM processor coupled with our next-gen GPU Maxwell. First to use FinFET transistors,” said Jen-Hsun Huang, chief executive officer of Nvidia.

Nvidia Tegra 6 “Parker” is due sometimes in 2015 – 2016 timeframe. However, there are even faster mobile application processors incoming from Nvidia, as it intends to integrate its new-generation general-purpose cores, such as Boulder, as well as graphics cores, such as Volta, into future Tegra chips.

“In five years’ time, we will increase Tegra by 100 times, Moore’s Law would suggest an eight-fold increase,” stressed Mr. Huang.

Tags: Nvidia, Maxwell, Denver, Tegra, Kepler