Project Denver is the codename of NVIDIA's CPU+GPU combo, which is basically a custom ARM Cortex-A15 processor that will be fully integrated on the same chip as NVIDIA's future GeForce and Tesla GPUs.
NVIDIA announced today that it plans to build high-performance ARM® based CPU cores, designed to support future products ranging from personal computers and servers to workstations and supercomputers.
Known under the internal codename "Project Denver," this initiative features an NVIDIA® CPU running the ARM instruction set, which will be fully integrated on the same chip as the NVIDIA GPU.
This new processor stems from a strategic partnership, also announced today, in which NVIDIA has obtained rights to develop its own high performance CPU cores based on ARM's future processor architecture. In addition, NVIDIA licensed ARM's current Cortex™-A15 processor for its future-generation Tegra® mobile processors.
"ARM is the fastest-growing CPU architecture in history," said Jen-Hsun Huang, president and chief executive officer of NVIDIA. "This marks the beginning of the Internet Everywhere era, where every device provides instant access to the Internet, using advanced CPU cores and rich operating systems.
"ARM's pervasiveness and open business model make it the perfect architecture for this new era. With Project Denver, we are designing a high-performing ARM CPU core in combination with our massively parallel GPU cores to create a new class of processor," he said.
Warren East, ARM chief executive officer said, "NVIDIA is a key partner for ARM and this announcement shows the potential that partnership enables. With this architecture license, NVIDIA will be at the forefront of next generation SoC design, enabling the Internet Everywhere era to become a reality."
NVIDIA Chief Scientist Bill Dally touts an ARM processor coupled with an NVIDIA GPU as the computing platform of the future. In a blog post he explains the ARM chip will run the serial parts of applications and provide compatibility while the GPU will take care of the parallel portions of programs.
Oh and guess what ?: Rumors about ARM support in Windows 8 are true as Microsoft announced at CES that the next version of Windows will support SoC architectures, including ARM-based systems from NVIDIA, Qualcomm and Texas Instruments! This development will enable computer makers to create very power efficient Windows-based tablets and other devices, and could mean x86 may finally be getting some competition outside the mobile arena. "
Ref: NVIDIA Project Denver - injecting a CPU core into GPU
