Zune HD Performance & Speed Preview

The newest info about the Zune HD is that Microsoft has chosen the cutting-edge, award-winning NVIDIA Tegra for its processing package. What does this ground-breaking tech mean for us lowly mainstream users?


The NVIDIA Tegra is designed as an all-encompassing "guts" processor for mobile computing devices, actually using 8 different chips to achieve its goals. It’s not just the CPU, like in a computer, but more like the entire motherboard in one unit.

Check out this video:


This is a smartphone with the Tegra processor on a "Windows CE" system. The Zune HD should have a similar level performance, although the operating system (in development with Zune) will look different. Pretty sweet!

Alright, for all the Mac-lovers, or even on-the-fencers, here is a big reason to go with the Zune HD over the iPod Touch. Newest Generation iPod Touch processing speed: 532 MHz. Zune HD processing speed with NVIDIA Tegra: estimated comparable to 800MHz. Zoom!

The reason it is "estimated" is because the technology is different than a traditional processor, where there is a set speed. There are several processors that each take a few tasks and go as fast as they can until the task is done, then shut down. This strategic improvement in speed will be very effective for computing, playing video, etc.

I can’t wait to see the Zune HD running a 3D-intensive video game. Let’s just hope that Zune HD gets some good games on board!

I’m waiting on pins-and-needles for an announcement about which games will be available on the Zune HD.

Did you see the Tegra-chip SmartPhone running Quake3D? Awesome! Check it out...