Intel updates PDA chips

Intel last week announced new versions of its XScale chips aimed at handhelds. The XScale PXA255 replaces the PXA250 found in most current Pocket PC models, while two other chips are intended to make smaller and lighter PDA designs possible.

The XScale PXA255, available now, has a better balance of performance and power consumption than the current XScale PXA250 chip, according to Intel.

The XScale PXA255 is a pin-compatible, drop-in replacement for its predecessor, and uses up to 65 percent less power compared with previous Intel XScale designs, the firm said. The current version is widely used in Pocket PC handhelds.

Intel said it has lowered the core voltage of the new XScale PXA255 so that it needs just 1.3V even at its maximum clock speed of 400MHz. A faster 200MHz internal bus now links the XScale core with on-chip peripherals such as its Bluetooth interface, which should boost data throughput.

Because the XScale PXA255 is a drop-in replacement for the PXA250, it can be used immediately in existing PDA designs. Intel said that Casio, Dell and Toshiba were already using the new chip.

Intel also added to its XScale PXA26x series of "stacked" processor designs, in which the processor and memory are on separate silicon chips stacked on top of each other in the same physical chip package. The XScale PXA263 is the first such chip aimed squarely at PDAs, Intel said. It features 32MB of Intel StrataFlash memory, but this is linked to the processor through a 32bit data bus for higher performance. The previous XScale PXA261 and PXA262 designs aimed at smartphones also have Flash memory, but linked through a 16bit bus.

Intel also announced its XScale PXA260, a low-cost chip with no stacked Flash memory. Like the XScale PXA263, this chip is available in a smaller package than the XScale PXA255, making both processors more attractive for slim and light handheld designs.

All three of the new chips will be available at 200MHz, 300MHz and 400MHz.

Have your say: reply to IT Week