Tinkerers have claimed that Marvell’s PXA processors could be overclocked beyond 1GhZ with a simple hardware mod (pulling a specific pin low). Unfortunately, we will never find out if they were right – the boys have just announced their first-ever 1GhZ CPU for mobile devices:
Marvell (NASDAQ: MRVL), an industry leader in storage, communications and consumer silicon solutions, today unveils the Marvell® PXA168, the first in a family of applications processors targeted at new mass market opportunities in computing and digital consumer devices with the potential to reach up to a billion units. The Marvell PXA168 is based on a new innovative architecture that delivers the processing capabilities of an entry-level laptop to instant-on, digital consumer devices by enabling full-featured web surfing, Internet widgets, multi-format video, Adobe Flash-based content playback, image processing, video conferencing and advanced graphical user interfaces (GUIs) – at consumer price points with ultra-low power for longer battery life.
Incorporating Marvell Sheeva™ technology, this new class of applications processor is scalable beyond 1GHz to enable converged consumer devices. Devices powered by the Marvell PXA168 can include connected digital photo frames, portable navigation devices, portable media players, automotive dashboard displays and infotainment systems, home automation, portable TVs, digital signage and other devices that utilize Internet connectivity, media processing and touch screen interfaces.
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While the “product brief” (PDF) claims that the CPU supports Windows Mobile and Linux only, I am pretty sure that all other mobile operating systems (Palm OS, Web OS, Symbian, RIM IOS, iPhone IOS) can be ported to the platform with minimal effort. The reason for this is the underlying ARM architecture: while a total failure in PC and workstation markets, it managed to become dominant in the mobile computing space.
Current Marvell CPU’s max out at 800 MhZ – while the current increase of just 25% may not sound too hefty, I predict both rising clock speeds and multiple cores to become available in the near future…
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