Imagination's new PowerVR GPUs deliver leading performance in lowest area for mid-range markets

PowerVR 'Series8XE Plus' GPUs bring compute and gaming performance to cost-sensitive devices

LONDON, UK – 17th January, 2017 – Imagination Technologies (IMG.L) announces a new family of GPUs that provides the ideal balance of performance and fillrate needed to enable gaming and compute applications on cost-sensitive devices. PowerVR ‘Series8XE Plus’ GPUs expand the company’s highly successful range of entry-level and mid-range GPUs with three new IP cores optimized for gaming and compute on devices such as premium set-top boxes, mid-range smartphones, and automotive infotainment systems. The new GPUs also have more features for enhanced in-system efficiency. In addition, Imagination is extending its complementary line-up of PowerVR Series8XE GPUs with two new IP cores, supporting one pixel per clock (PPC) and eight PPC.

Series8XE and Series8XE Plus GPUs deliver the best performance/mm2 while incorporating advanced features and support for the latest APIs. Fillrate optimized Series8XE GPUs are ideal for GUI/casual gaming focused markets including DTVs, set-top boxes, streaming sticks/dongles, automotive HMI, and entry-level mobile devices. Series8XE Plus GPUs have increased GFLOPS to provide a step up to mid-range devices targeting 1080p displays, with the ability to scale to 4K and beyond.

Series8XE Plus GPU hardware is optimized to work not only with the latest graphics APIs but also advanced compute and vision APIs such as OpenVX™ 1.1 and OpenCL® 1.2. In mid-range markets, this support is critical since such devices don’t typically incorporate dedicated hardware for vision and compute. 8XE Plus GPUs provide an area and power efficient solution for these tasks.

Jon Peddie, president, JPR Research, says: “With these new GPUs, Imagination has demonstrated the greatest compute and fillrate density in the minimum silicon area. Balancing fillrate and FLOPS is the right approach for mid-range devices to provide consumers an enhanced experience, while maintaining the low area needed for price sensitive categories.”

Says Graham Deacon, VP PowerVR business operations, Imagination: “With 8XE we are seeing customers move to PowerVR from competitor GPUs. We expect this to continue with the introduction of the new 8XE and 8XE Plus cores as we are now addressing even more performance and area points. Series8XE Plus GPUs represent the industry’s best graphics cores for gaming and compute on 1080p displays in cost sensitive devices, and demonstrate Imagination’s continuing technology leadership.”

Inside Series8XE Plus GPUs

The initial Series8XE Plus GPUs each deliver up to four pixels per clock and incorporate advanced features such as hardware virtualization, OmniShield™ multi-domain security, and support for the latest APIs including OpenGL® ES 3.2, OpenCL® 1.2, Vulkan® 1.0 and OpenVX 1.1*. Micro-architectural tuning translates into reduced bandwidth usage and improved in-system performance through a reduced number of small inefficient bursts for higher fabric/memory utilization. The GPUs are optimized to provide customers with specific solutions for their application. The new GPUs build on the successful Series8XE GE8300 GPU, which also has four PPC:

• GE8320: 2x FLOPS for low- to mid-range mobile devices
• GE8325: 2x FLOPS plus features including PVRIC and 10-bit YUV for set-top boxes and HDTV gaming applications
• GE8340: 4x FLOPS for ultimate gaming on mid- to high-end mobile devices

The micro architectural enhancements in PowerVR Series8XE Plus GPUs are now also incorporated into Series8XE GPUs including the one PPC area optimized GE8100 IP core and the eight PPC GE8430 GPU which has the vastly increased throughput required for high resolution 2K/4K screens.

With Series8XE and 8XE Plus, customers can choose the appropriate core for their specific application – be it GUI, gaming or compute focused. Compatibility across the range means that licensing partners can benefit from using PowerVR GPUs across their entire product line from entry-level to high-end.

Series8XE and Series8XE Plus GPUs have already been licensed by multiple customers for TVs, set-top boxes, mid-range mobile devices, ultra-low cost phones/tablets, and automotive applications.

Software and tools support

Imagination provides developers with free access to the cross-platform PowerVR SDK, designed to support all aspects of 3D graphics application development; as well as tools and utilities that ease development of 3D graphics and GPU compute applications. Developers can join the PowerVR Insider community, download the SDK for free and interact through developer forums at http://community.imgtec.com/developers/powervr/.

Physical Design Optimization Kits (DOKs) for Imagination’s PowerVR Series8XE Plus GPUs will also be available, offering customers the flexibility to optimize for power, performance and area (PPA). Imagination DOKs are comprised of optimized reference design flows, tuned libraries from partners, characterization data and documentation.

Availability

PowerVR Series8XE and Series8XE Plus GPUs are available for licensing now. Contact info@imgtec.com for more information.

About PowerVR GPUs

Imagination’s PowerVR graphics processors (GPUs) are the de facto standard for mobile and embedded graphics and GPU compute. The PowerVR GPU family leads the market in technological capability, roadmap breadth and ecosystem, and is by far the most adopted and shipped technology of its kind. PowerVR graphics IP comprises a comprehensive portfolio of the industry’s leading GPUs, supporting a broad range of applications. See: https://imgtec.com/powervr/graphics/powervr-graphics/.

Editor’s Notes:

* Based on a published Khronos specification, PowerVR Series8XE Plus GPUs are expected to pass the Khronos Conformance Testing Process. Current conformance status can be found at www.khronos.org/conformance.

About Imagination Technologies

Imagination is a global technology leader whose products touch the lives of billions of people across the globe. The company’s broad range of silicon IP (intellectual property) includes the key processing blocks needed to create the SoCs (Systems on Chips) that power all mobile, consumer and embedded electronics. Its unique multimedia, processor and connectivity technologies enable its customers get to market quickly with complete and highly differentiated SoC platforms. Imagination’s licensees include many of the world’s leading semiconductor manufacturers, network operators and OEMs/ODMs who are creating some of the world’s most iconic products. See: www.imgtec.com.