The integrated Jetson platform from Nvidia made its debut in November 2015 with the launch of the TX1 module. Essentially, the promise of the green giant from Santa Clara is to install processing power equivalent to a supercomputer in (almost) anywhere, including drones and self-driving cars. The new Jetson TX2 model follows the same line, and being based on the Pascal architecture, it can double the performance of its predecessor, with a consumption of just 7.5 watts.
AI and Deep Learning
"artificial intelligence" and "deep learning" are two phrases that the specialized press has repeated ad nauseam. This is because there are a significant number of companies working on both, and it's likely that this number will continue to grow. Most announcements explore the progress of software, but all that code must be executed somewhere, and that's when Nvidia appears with its Jetson platform. The first TX1 module came to us as a kind of mobile supercomputer, full of CUDA cores, DDR4 memory, 4K by 2K support, and integrated solid-state storage. The TX1 can be purchased today individually or with a development kit, but those interested might want to wait a bit.
Jetson TX2: Specs and Performance
Why? The reason is simple: Nvidia has just announced the new Jetson TX2. Its credit-card-inspired format remains intact, but the specifications changed completely. First, the Jetson TX2 combines a Denver architecture processor with an ARM quad-core A57 chip, thus establishing a heterogeneous configuration. The GPU is now Pascal, and it retains the same number of CUDA cores (256) as the TX1. DDR4 memory goes from 4 to 8 gigabytes with a 128-bit bus, internal storage reaches 32 gigabytes, and there are also optimizations on the CSI interface side (12 channels distributed across six cameras, 2.5 GB/s on each channel).
These new hardware parameters allow the Jetson TX2 to double the performance of the TX1, or match it with half the power consumption. Official information mentions 7.5 watts for the full module, but we calculate that this does not include the rest of the development kit. Distribution of the Jetson TX2 will begin on March 14, with prices of 399 dollars for the module (in thousand units), or 599 dollars for the development kit.
