ARM processors are getting faster and faster these days, just like how Intel and AMD used to race towards the 3GHz mark. But ARM processors are not only getting faster, they’re getting more cores too as the move forward. This year we see plenty of tablets and some smartphones going dual-core, and we heard that Nvidia will be sending samples to partners some quad-core chips. But now, there’s another party that’s going quad-core with ARM processors, and it’s very fast.

ZiiLabs has just announced their new dual-core and quad-core ARM Cortex-A9 systems-on-chip that is capable of speed up to 1500MHz. Dubbed ZMS-20 and ZMS-40, respectively, they’re taking the ZMS-08 legacy of focusing on HD video decoding even further, while also throwing in specific optimizations for Android Honeycomb tablets. The earlier-gen SOC was only picked up by parent company Creative, who inserted it in its ZiiO tablets, so let’s hope the new silicon proves compelling enough for us to see it in more manufacturers’ slates, besides the boring Tegra 2 chips. Now you understand why Apple is considering ARM processors for their laptops. Intel better be prepared!

SOURCE via ZiiLabs