Latest Imagination PowerVR Series8XE GPUs set new standard for performance, power and area in cost-sensitive markets

MOBILE WORLD CONGRESS, Barcelona, Spain – February 22, 2016 – Imagination Technologies (IMG.L) announces a new family of mass market PowerVR GPUs that set a new standard for performance, power and area in cost-sensitive markets. PowerVR Series8XE GPUs deliver the best performance/mm2 for the smallest silicon footprint and power profile, while also incorporating advanced features such as hardware virtualization, multi-domain security, and support for the latest APIs including OpenGL® ES 3.2 and Vulkan™ 1.0*. Series8XE demonstrates Imagination’s continuing leadership in cost-sensitive GPUs.

Today’s consumers want the latest features and technologies in their devices, and they want those devices at the lowest possible prices. To keep costs down, many of these devices are currently shipping with older APIs such as OpenGL ES 2.0. Imagination’s Series8XE GPUs support the latest APIs to enable the best user experience at the industry’s lowest cost.
Peter McGuinness, director of multimedia technology marketing, Imagination, says: “Because of the differentiation they provide, PowerVR GPUs are at the heart of the best-selling phones, tablets, and automotive infotainment units. With the new Series8XE, we’re enabling chip companies and OEMs targeting cost-sensitive applications to provide the best possible user experience at the lowest power and area budgets. We believe it is the best entry-level GPU core ever designed.”

The new Series8XE GPUs have already been licensed by multiple lead customers for mobile/tablets, 4K TVs, OTT set-top boxes, automotive and wearables. They are now being released for general licensing, enabling an even wider range of companies to leverage PowerVR to gain competitive edge and build enduring success. This builds on the momentum of the XE family where there are licensees across all key market segments, double digit licensee growth and a strong pipeline of opportunities.

Joe Chen, executive vice president and co-chief operating officer at MediaTek, says: “Imagination’s PowerVR XE families of entry-level GPUs are designed to deliver the right feature set at the right price point for the next generation of connected devices. MediaTek is delighted to be working with Imagination to bring the benefits of Series8XE GPUs to manufacturers and consumers worldwide.”

A perfect match for cost-sensitive applications

PowerVR Series8XE GPUs are designed to deliver the best possible real world user experience for cost-efficient products including low-cost phones and tablets, industrial displays, IoT, 4K set-top boxes and TVs, and low- to mid-range automotive infotainment and cluster electronics. The GPUs are designed to provide the best experience on GUI, HMI (human machine interface), browser and email applications, as well as casual games. By the numbers:

• Up to 25% smaller versus Series7XE GPUs for the same fillrate, providing the same compelling user experience at lower cost
• 60% to 100% better performance per mm2 over a range of industry benchmarks, and 30 – 45% area reduction versus competitors’ GPU IP cores with the same fillrate

Selected PowerVR Series8XE GPUs also include support for PVRIC3, the latest PowerVR lossless image compression technology, and 10-bit YUV for video streaming in hardware as options – key for optimal integration with H.265 10-bit profiles in set-top boxes and TVs. The new GPUs support Khronos APIs including OpenGL ES 3.2, and Vulkan 1.0 to deliver exceptional performance with reduced CPU requirements.

Security is at the heart of everything

With support for hardware virtualization and Imagination’s OmniShield™ multi-domain security, PowerVR GPUs uniquely enable customers to build systems in which applications and operating systems can run independently and reliably on the same platform in segments such as automotive, set-top boxes and TVs. This is becoming increasingly important as use models and services evolve across a wide range of connected products – demanding that devices be designed to support numerous unique applications, various content sources, and in-the-field software updates from service providers and operators, all while ensuring privacy and protection from security attacks.

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 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 GPUs are available for licensing now in scalable configurations starting at 2 pixels per clock (GE8200) and 4 pixels per clock (GE8300) IP cores. Contact info@imgtec.com for more information.

To access Imagination’s press kits for Mobile World Congress 2016 and Embedded World 2016, please visit: https://imgtec.com/press-kit/. Email tradeshows@imgtec.com to arrange a personal meeting with Imagination in Barcelona or Nuremburg.

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: http://www.imgtec.com/powervr/graphics.asp.

Editor’s Notes:

* Based on a published Khronos specification, PowerVR Series8XE is 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 software IP, infrastructure technologies and system solutions enable its customers to 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.