Samsung announces new Octa 8-core processor at CES 2013

Samsung CEO Stephen Woo unveiled a new super 8-core micro processor during a keynote address at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas today.

The Exynos5 Octa is a processor that has two sets of four-core processors each. It's made to run intense apps while also conserving energy when handling basic tasks, Woo told the audience. He showed off a few demos of the new processor. The key function of the chip is to allow users to do several things at once while also making sure that the battery is not drained too quickly.

In one demo, he showed a search for dining options on a Samsung tablet. The tablet pulled up several sites like Urbanspoon, Google Maps, etc. -- and it was able to do this without any disruption in the browser, Woo said. He also promised no dropped frames or stutters in HD movie playback. This chip is designed for high-end smartphones and tablets.

Glen Roland, vice president and head of mobile platforms for Electronic Arts, came on stage to show a demo of a 3D game. Roland said Samsung's chip is about more than the speed of the processor -- it's about the multitasking and 3D capabilities.

The chip gives users a completely new level of performance on a mobile device, Woo said. But at the same time, the Octo chip also offers up to 70 percent savings on batteries due to the new silicon, he said.

The new Exynos5 Octa is the next product in a line of processors using the Exynos name. Woo said the company has these processors already in 53 million devices. Last year, the company introduced its Exynos5 dual processor, which is what's inside the Nexus 10 and Chromebook devices.