PXA255 Chip Appearing in Current Handhelds

[Ed Hardy]

Some handhelds are starting to appear with the updated version of Intel's XScale processor, and these aren't just the models that advertise it.

Read more at http://www.brighthand.com/article/PX...rent_Handhelds

[theironchef]

WOW! I wounder if there doing this for the razor or the h1910. The razor just droped price to 250( with rebate) so this would make more sence of it.

[thephenom]

Can you tell the difference in the PPC2002 "About" screen?

If so, then can't we just ask to open them up and try it?
If not, I guess we'll just have to wait for all PXA250 device to be sold on.

[mc_03]

With the new ROM update, Dell Axims now show PXA255 in the "About" screen. Before you could find out from a text document in My Documents>Sysinfo

[thephenom]

Originally posted by mc_03
With the new ROM update, Dell Axims now show PXA255 in the "About" screen. Before you could find out from a text document in My Documents>Sysinfo

Huh?
So even the old one with PXA250 shows as PXA255?

[High John]

So, why would a manufacturer choose to stockpile (and continue to fit) the older processor?

If they were to provide the newer (and better) processor in their PDAs as soon as it was available, this would result in better customer satisfaction, etc, etc.

What more do they have to do to the PDA, to accommodate the new processor?

[Ed Hardy]

So, why would a manufacturer choose to stockpile (and continue to fit) the older processor?

Because switching from one to the other isn't as simple as making a slight change to the production line. Software needs to be tested to be sure it works with the new processor. Both HP and Dell have had to put out patches or ROM updates to use the PXA255. Testing and developing software costs money. These days handheld companies are operating on razor-thin profit margins.

There is also the people who already own the handhelds, many of whom will feel like they got a raw deal because they don't have the new chip. I've already seen one comment in the Dell forums from a user saying he was going to "accidentally" run over his Axim so he could get a free replacement with an upgrade.

There will also be people who will buy and return multiple handhelds looking for one with the new chip. This hurts the retailers, as they can't sell an "open-box" model for the same price as a new one.

So while some people will will be happy to get a faster handheld, there will be all kinds of unintended consequences.

[Pony99CA]

Originally posted by thephenom
Can you tell the difference in the PPC2002 "About" screen?

If so, then can't we just ask to open them up and try it?
If not, I guess we'll just have to wait for all PXA250 device to be sold on.

Even if About doesn't show the processor revision, there may be another way. The Asset Viewer settings applet on my iPAQ 3870 has the following settings in the System branch:

• Processor Type: SA1110
• Processor Revision: B4

If other iPAQs have similar settings, you might see PXA250 and C1.

Steve

[Ed Hardy]

Originally posted by thephenom
Huh?
So even the old one with PXA250 shows as PXA255?

Previously, many Axims said they had a PXA250 C1. With the new ROM update, these now say they have a PXA255.

[rbg08]

Not all Axim's have a PXA255. But until the ROM update, even ones that did have the 255, displayed "PXA250 C1 Stepping" in the System Info. The new ROM update for the Axims corrected the System Info to diplay "PXA255" in units that did have the newer chip. Axims that have the older chip display "PXA250 B2 Stepping" in System Info after the ROM update is installed.

I was one of the unlucky ones to get an Axim with the older chip. If the newer chip turns out to be noticably better, I will complain to Dell and request a new unit with the new chip.