fastest mobile gpu

R GT7900: redefining performance efficiency in graphics

By Alexandru Voica on February 26, 2015 in Multimedia, PowerVR Developers, PowerVR Graphics

 

     

 

     
This year MWC and GDC 2015 are happening during the same week which is unfortunate for me because I really enjoy going to both events.
Although attended by different demographics, a common theme you will be hearing next week is how the exponential increase in performance is paving the way for console-quality graphics on next-generation embedded devices, including smartphones and tablets.
In this article I would like to give you a teaser of what I’ll be talking about next week to the many press and analysts who will be visiting our booths in Barcelona and San Francisco, respectively.

PowerVR GT7900 is a super-GPU designed for ultimate performance

At last year’s Mobile World Congress, I unveiled PowerVR GX6650 – a high-end Series6XT GPU for flagship devices; the announcement was covered by AnandTech, The Register, VentureBeat, Android Authority and many other publications.
Now I’d like to focus on PowerVR GT7900, the highest performing GPU from our Series7XT family. We have already seen eight cluster configurations used in mobile devices and we expect this trend to continue, especially since the new 14/16 nm process nodes offer significant improvements in performance, power and area.

PowerVR Series7XT GPUs scale from two to sixteen cluster configurations

However there is a new category of devices that can use these embedded GPUs: affordable game consoles.
PowerVR GT7900 is a super-GPU designed for ultimate performance in embedded applications; this new design takes everything from its predecessor and turns the dial to 11:

For example, peak GFLOPS performance is more than tripled thanks to a 2.6x increase in ALU cores and further architectural improvements.

Analyzing the architecture displayed in the diagram below, we find 512 ALU cores (vs. 192 in the GX6650) arranged in 16 unified shading clusters (USCs). For those who want to learn more about the internal architecture of our Rogue USCs and our definition of an ALU core, you can read this blog post from my colleague Rys.

The internal architecture of our high-end PowerVR GT7900 GPU

PowerVR GT7900 delivers the ultimate PC-class gaming experience for embedded devices: it packs the complete feature set for OpenGL ES 3.1 + AEP (Android Extension Pack) compatibility, including full hardware support for tessellation and ASTC LDR and HDR texture compression standards.
We’ve also added virtualization at the GPU level to complement the same technology found in our MIPS Warrior CPUs; this is a unique feature in embedded graphics which enables multiple operating systems to run concurrently in secure containers at the platform level.

Take the heat off

One of the most common problems affecting flagship devices targeting ultimate performance is overheating. This is where an unbalanced design can really cause issues under long-term usage due to an inefficient architecture.
PowerVR GPUs deliver sustained performance thanks to a sophisticated TBDR architecture that has been refined over the years to deliver unmatched efficiency.
The chart below shows compares several mobile devices running a demanding graphics application – the same type of content you would encounter when playing a console-level game; notice how our quad-cluster PowerVR Rogue GPU outclasses competing solutions while also maintaining sustained performance:

PowerVR GPUs deliver sustained performance over time

To help system designers prevent thermal throttling, we’ve also implemented an advanced power saving mechanism called PowerGearing which enables the GPU to shut off parts of the design in power-constrained applications.

PowerGearing is an advanced power saving mechanism designed to prevent thermal throttling

Furthermore, PowerVR GT7900 includes a low-power FP16 mode which can provide more than 1 TFLOPS of graphics and compute performance within constrained power budgets.

At a target frequency of 800 MHz for 16nm FinFET+, PowerVR GT7900 delivers 800 GFLOPS in FP32 mode and 1.6 TFLOPS in FP16 mode.

4K resolutions and beyond

PowerVR GT7900 is the second generation of GPUs to feature native 10-bit YUV color support. The diagram below shows how system architects can build a high-performance platform capable of handling 4K resolutions at 60 fps and beyond from capture to display; this includes:

• Main processor: dual-threaded, quad-core MIPS I6400 CPUs organized in two clusters delivering best-in-class performance for Android 5.0 Lollipop
• Multimedia: PowerVR GT7900 graphics processor (GPU), PowerVR Series5 video encode and decode processors (VPU), PowerVR V2500 camera processor (ISP)
• Connectivity: Ensigma Explorer radio processor (RPU) for high-speed, low latency 802.11 ac 2×2 Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0 (and Bluetooth Smart) and digital radio

An example of a chip designed for affordable game consoles

For consumers, PowerVR GT7900 – and the Series7XT family in general – will usher a new era of console-like gaming experiences. To give you an idea of the level of performance these new high-end GPUs will be able to achieve, here are a few screenshots from Dwarf Hall, our latest demo to be shown at GDC 2015.

Dwarf Hall implements console-quality effects and runs on high-end PowerVR Rogue GPUs

Some of the effects we’ve implemented in Dwarf Hall include:

• 1 million triangles per frame in some scenes
• Deferred shading with 128-bit physically-based G-buffer
• Many dynamic lights
• Multiple specular probes treated as lights
• Soft particles
• Lens flare effects
• Full post-process pipeline with colour correction, saturation, dynamic exposure and HDR tonemapping

I’m really excited to see how our partners will use these new high-performance parts in designs coming later next year.
If you are at GDC 2015 and want to learn more about the future of mobile and embedded graphics, make sure you don’t miss our idc15 developer day. We will also be showing our latest demos running on PowerVR Rogue GPUs.
If you will be at MWC 2015, drop by our booth to see some console-quality content running on PowerVR Rogue GPUs; you can also click on the button below if you’d like to book a meeting.
Book a meeting at MWC 2015 Make sure you also follow us on social media (@ImaginationPR, @PowerVRInsider) for the latest news and announcements from both these events. You can also keep in touch with me on Twitter at @alexvoica.

iphone

What We Expect

Apple's iPhone 6 and 6 Plus, released in September, have only been available just over six months, but rumors about the next-generation iPhone are already trickling in. It's likely Apple will continue its 2014 trend, offering the 2015 iPhone in two separate sizes -- one larger and one smaller.
It's not clear what Apple will call its 2015 iPhones, but Apple may stick to its long running "S" naming scheme (which has been around since 2009), calling the new phones the iPhone 6s and the iPhone 6s Plus. iPhone 6s Plus is a mouthful though, so it is possible that this might be the year that we get a new naming format. One analyst believes Apple might call its next-generation phone the "iPhone 7" due to the significance of the new changes being implemented, but it's far too early in development to know for sure.
As the months pass by, details about the next-generation iPhone have begun trickling in. Because it's an "S" year upgrade and because the iPhone was just redesigned, the next-generation version will focus on internal improvements rather than an updated external look. Screen sizes will remain at 4.7 and 5.5 inches, and Apple is not expected to introduce a new 4-inch model.
There may be a few exterior changes, though. There's been a rumor that Apple could add a new color option to its iPhone lineup in 2015 -- pink. We've also seen two rumors suggesting Apple might opt to use the same 7000 series aluminum used in the Apple Watch in the next-generation iPhone. The aluminum is 60% stronger than standard aluminum but still lightweight.

In the past, "S" upgrades have brought features like Siri, Touch ID, new processors, and camera improvements, and we can expect to see many of the same updates with the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus. According to rumors, the new devices will gain a faster A9 processor, 2GB of RAM, a 12-megapixel camera with 4K video recording, an additional microphone to enhance voice quality, and potentially a new internal mechanical design to address some bending issues users experienced with the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus.
The 2015 iPhones are also expected to gain the Force Touch feature first introduced with the Apple Watch, allowing for new gestures that incorporate pressure sensitivity, and improved Touch ID to make fingerprint recognition faster. A report from analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has also suggested Apple may use sapphire in a limited number of iPhone 6s Plus units, "if drop test issues can be resolved."
According to KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, the addition of Force Touch and 7000 series aluminum could slightly change the thickness and the dimensions of the iPhone 6s and the iPhone 6s Plus. He believes the iPhones may be wider and taller by about 0.15mm to account for the aluminum, and 0.2mm thicker due to Force Touch. Kuo's prediction is supported by leaked schematics said to be for the iPhone 6s. Those height and thickness increases, if included, will be minor enough to be nearly undetectable to most iPhone users.
The iPhone 6s and 6s Plus will also continue to offer features that have become integral to the iPhone, including NFC for Apple Pay, 802.11ac Wi-Fi capabilities, and LTE Advanced. The two new phones will likely be available in the same 16, 64, and 128GB storage options as the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus.
Though it's an "S" upgrade year, Apple has asked its suppliers to produce a record-breaking 85 to 90 million units of the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus combined by the end of the year. The high number of orders suggests Apple is expecting significant demand for the two devices and hoping to avoid supply shortages, but the addition of Force Touch may impact initial production numbers.
Apple is likely to release the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus in the fall of 2015.

Leaked Images

The iPhone 6s and 6s Plus are rumored to be in production as of late June, which means parts from the new devices are beginning to leak out. Leaked photos of the next-generation iPhone 6s casing confirm the device will look the same as the existing iPhone 6.

The rear shell appears to be the same thickness and width as the iPhone 6 rear shell, retaining the same prominent antenna lines. All of the cutouts for the microphone, headphone jack, volume buttons, mute switch, power button, and camera are identical as well.
An image said to be of front panels for the iPhone 6 also suggest the front of the device will be identical to the front of the iPhone 6.

We've also seen images of the shell said to be for the iPhone 6s Plus. Though the casing looks largely the same on the inside, one rumor has suggested the it includes a "stronger" construction, perhaps because of initial issues with bending.

Internally, the rear shell of the iPhone 6s has a different mounting structure that points towards a new logic board, which makes sense as the next-generation iPhone is rumored to include Force Touch, a new processor, and additional RAM.

A first look at the logic board for the device suggests it will use a Qualcomm MDM9635M LTE chip, which supports download speeds of up to 300 Mb/s. With the new chip, the next-generation iPhones will be capable of reaching faster LTE speeds twice as fast as the iPhone 6 where permitted by network performance.
Additional logic board images suggest the next-generation iPhones will continue to be sold in 16, 64, and 128GB configurations, as a flash memory chip on the logic board in the photos has a 16GB capacity.

The iPhone 6s and 6s Plus may also include a new NFC chip with a built-in secure element, potentially saving valuable space within the device.

Rumored Features

Force Touch

Several rumors have suggested the new iPhone 6s could incorporate the "Force Touch" capabilities first introduced with the Apple Watch, which is able to distinguish between a light tap and a harder press, enabling new gestures. Apple appears to be slowly adding Force Touch to its products, and recently, the company introduced both a 12-inch Retina MacBook and an updated 13-inch Retina MacBook Pro with Force Touch trackpads.
One rumor has suggested Force Touch could be limited to the iPhone 6s Plus, which is not out of the realm of possibility as the iPhone 6 Plus does have features not included in the iPhone 6. For example, the iPhone 6 Plus is the only device with optical image stabilization. A second rumor has suggested that while that was originally the plan, Apple may now introduce Force Touch in both versions of the iPhone 6s.
KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo believes that the next-generation iPhone will have a capacitive Force Touch sensor underneath the backlight. He claims that the hardware design of the Force Touch included in the iPhone may work differently than Force Touch in the Apple Watch and 12-inch Retina MacBook.
Instead of directly detecting the pressure applied by a finger on the screen, Force Touch hardware in the iPhone might monitor the contact area where a finger presses to determine how much pressure is being applied.
In June, Bloomberg reported the next-generation iPhones will indeed have Force Touch capabilities, confirming several previous rumors, including a report from The Wall Street Journal. With multiple reputable sources backing up the claim, it's likely Force Touch is a sure thing for the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus.

Camera Improvements

Some rumors have hinted that the iPhone 6s could bring Apple's "biggest camera jump ever" in the form of a possible two-lens system that would allow Apple to offer DSLR quality images in its iPhone, but other rumors have disagreed that Apple plans to introduce a two-lens system, sticking instead with the same 8-megapixel sensor found in previous iPhones.
Reliable analyst Ming-Chi Kuo believes the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus will gain an upgraded 12-megapixel camera, and his predictions are often correct. Separate rumors have also reiterated the claims of a megapixel increase, with a recent report also pointing towards a 12-megapixel camera with the ability to record 4K video.
Apple recently acquired LinX Imaging, a camera technology company specializing in cameras for mobile devices that are able to produce DSLR-quality images by using multi-aperture arrays.
LinX technology also introduces much-improved low-light photo taking capabilities, and due to depth mapping, it can even created 3D images from still photographs. It's possible LinX's camera technology could be used in the next-generation iPhones.

Better Touch ID

Touch ID may also see some improvements. According to KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, the iPhone 6s will feature an upgraded Touch ID module with reduced reading errors to enhance the Apple Pay experience.

A Sapphire Display

iPhone 6 rumors focused heavily on a potential sapphire display that did not materialize due to production issues, and there have already been some whispers suggesting Apple will use sapphire displays produced by Foxconn for the next-generation iPhone. No new sapphire deals have come to light, though, so it is somewhat unlikely we'll see sapphire in the iPhone 6s.
Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo believes that Apple may use sapphire in some models of the larger iPhone 6s Plus if issues with drop tests can be worked out ahead of mass production.

4-inch iPhone 6c?

There have been conflicting rumors concerning the addition of a new 4-inch iPhone 6c to Apple's 2015 lineup. Several rumors coming out of the Asian supply chain have suggested there will be a newly designed 4-inch iPhone "6c" released in 2015, but other reports have called these rumors incorrect, including a recent note from reliable KGI securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. For more on the iPhone 6c rumors, check out our iPhone 6c roundup.

Release Date

For the past several years, Apple's new iPhones have been released in September, suggesting the iPhone 6s and the iPhone 6s Plus will see a debut in September of 2015, perhaps towards the middle of the month.
There have been some rumors circulating that suggest the next-generation iPhones will debut in August and launch in September, but this would be highly unusual as Apple has never introduced an iPhone in August.
The iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus reportedly went into early production in late June. Production is expected to ramp up in July and August, with Samsung and TSMC rumored to be producing chips, so Apple is on track for a September launch.