NVIDIA’s Tegra X1 processor is a 64-bit, processor based on an ARM Cortex-A57/Cortex-A53 architecture and featuring NVIDIA’s 256-core “Maxwell” graphics. It’s designed for use in a range of hardware including automotive systems, game consoles, and possibly handheld gaming devices.

It might also show up in next-gen Chromebooks.

tegra x1

CNX Software reports that Chromium OS developers have been adding support for NVIDIA’s Tegra T210 processor, which is another name for the Tegra X1.

It’s not clear if that means there’s a specific unannounced Chromebook featuring the chip, or if developers are working with hardware prototypes just to make sure that the browser-based operating system could support Tegra X1-powered devices in the future.

But it does suggest that someone’s at least running tests on at least two different hardware boards featuring NVIDA’s latest chip. One is code-named smaug, and the other foster. Both started showing up in the Chromium source code in the past few weeks.

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12 replies on “Chromebooks with NVIDIA Tegra X1 chips on the way?”

  1. They should release full-desktop Linux variants of these machines too (with XBMC preinstalled and full hw video decoding).

    1. Why, their not Linux machines, they run Chrome OS, okay, which is also a Linux variant, but you know what I mean. If you need Linux just install it under a chroot. Kodi or XBMC as it used to be known can be installed in Chrome OS, just use the Android app.

  2. There are times that I feel like the Tegra K1 in my HP Chromebook 14 is bored.

    A Tegra X1 running Chrome OS will be *begging* for some real work to do.

    1. Yeah I feel like these chips in Chromebooks are kind of a waste. Unless they were to add full Android app support and be able to download the games optimized for K1 and X1 out of the box. That would save these for me.

      1. Browsing has become very CPU and memory intensive at least when using complex web apps. When I’m using Photoshop on my HP 14 it’s almost unusable, I have to switch to my Google Pixel II. All ChromeBooks should come with at least 4GB of memory now, 2GB just isn’t enough anymore.

          1. That’s a good thing, browsing is no longer a low resource task. Even though the ChromeBook traditionally comes with a low powered CPU to save on costs I find these models to be extremely under powered. Even though I really like my HP G3 K1, Touchscreen, 1080P model I find myself only using it to watch movies and YouTube. Everything else I turn to my Google Pixel, Web apps have become extremely powerful alternatives to their desktop installed brotheran, thus requiring a whole lot more power. When people say a Celeron 2940 with only 2GB is more than enough power for a ChromeBook has never ran any of these full featured apps. Than the question begs, why not. Their out there, just waiting to be utilized.

            As an example, try out the fantastic music creation app from https://audiotool.com, you’ll than quickly understand what I’m talking about. Sure for normal surfing on sites like Facebook it’s fine but than your completely missing the point of a ChromeBook, you might as well use a tablet. It’s all about Web apps, MS Office online (which if everyone isn’t using than your missing out on a fantastic Web suite and it’s free, Pixrl, YouiDraw, PhotoShop, Zoho Docs, Prezi, Lucid Chart, SoundCloud, Spotify, Until AM, Appear.in, just to name a few.

            Basically once you start using a Chromebook for more than just surfing you’ll quickly want more processing power and memory. The X1 is a welcomed addition and basically will be the bare minimum I would suggest to someone wanting a ChromeBook. Right now anyone looking for a ChromeBook I always suggest people grabbing the Acer with the Intel i3 and upgrade the memory to 8GB, it’s still fairly cheap at around 330 dollars. Anything slower is just a waste of plastic, just my opinion. A lot of these web apps are just as resource hungry as normal applications, in some cases more.

    2. It begs for a “real” Linux to run 🙂

      Maybe some Crouton-izing is in order to make it feel happier.

      1. Web apps have become extremely powerful, their is no need for Linux. I even have Photoshop.

    3. But just on the graphics side. CPU wise it’s at full power to deliver basic tasks. Not even the a57 is fast enough. Maybe the a72 will have enough power to have the highly needed power

    4. Really, I stress that CPU all the time when using web apps like CodeEnvy, AudioTool or Pixrl. Most people who I know who have ChromeBooks just use them for simple surfing but their are some fantastic web apps out there, MS Office, Zoho, YouiDraw, etc. Start using some of these and the K1 will start to earn it’s keep.

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