Marvell Unveils Next-Gen Smartphone CPU, ARMADA 618

Santa Clara-based integrated silicon solutions provider Marvell announced on Thursday the introduction of a new product in its ARMADA family of application processors, namely the Marvell ARMADA 618, which is expected to prove a great option for next generation HD-capable smartphones. According to the company, the same as other products from the ARMADA series, the new ARMADA 618 comes with PC-class performance capabilities, as well as with exceptional 3D graphics.

The new ARMADA 618 application processor can offer integrated 1080p full-HD encode and decode, the company notes. Moreover, Marvell also says that the chip should deliver a “highly scalable and power optimized platform that is designed to fuel high-end applications, rich multimedia and gaming experience in a lightweight form factor with very low power requirements.” The new processor has been built on a Marvell-designed ARM v7 compatible CPU, which can provide gigahertz-class performance, even if a 12mm x 12mm package.

“Featuring a gigahertz CPU, 1080p full-HD video, 3D graphics, the industry's fastest LP-DDR, and optimized power for longer battery life, Marvell's ARMADA 618 application processor represents a dramatic leap forward in high-end, multimedia smartphones,” said Ms. Weili Dai, Marvell's co-founder and vice president and general manager of Marvell Semiconductor's Consumer and Computing Business Unit. “Importantly, the ARMADA 600 series of application processors gives our customers a common platform solution to build multiple products and formats for the always-on consumer--scaling from smartphones to eReaders to tablets without compromising either the multimedia performance or the battery life.”

At the same time, the company notes that the chip can offer the flexibility to be used with LP-DDR1 or LP-DDR2 memory up to 533 MHz, it can support up to four simultaneous displays at up to 2K x 2K resolution, and boasts a security subsystem including a secure execution processor. In addition, it comes with support for DirectX, Open GL ES 2.0, and Open VG 1.1, as well as with the possibility to render up to 45 million triangles per second. The new ARMADA 618 features support for Linux, Android, Windows Mobile, and full Adobe Flash, the company notes, adding that it will bring the processor at the MWC show in Barcelona for demonstration.