Multi-Core GPUs Announced from iPhone Chip Maker
Imagination Technologies announced further details of their first multi-core embedded graphics chip called POWERVR SGX543MP this week. The Register explains that the multi-core support in the new chips is essentially transparent to application developers:
According to the press release, the new chips are being delivered to customers in two-core and 16-core variants and appear to incorporate support for OpenGL and OpenCL. While Apple has not announced any new hardware revisions to the iPhone, many believe that the next generation iPhone will likely be released alongside the public release of the iPhone 3.0 firmware this summer.
In other words, the SGX543 can have any number of cores from two to sixteen with no change in the driver software or the application. All that complex data/pipeline/thread management is done in hardware. No muss, no fuss.
The Register then makes a questionable leap that this could power an Apple Tablet. Still, Apple's interest in the technology seems certain as they are a licensee and investor of Imagination Technologies and currently uses the company's PowerVR chip in the iPhone and iPod Touch.According to the press release, the new chips are being delivered to customers in two-core and 16-core variants and appear to incorporate support for OpenGL and OpenCL. While Apple has not announced any new hardware revisions to the iPhone, many believe that the next generation iPhone will likely be released alongside the public release of the iPhone 3.0 firmware this summer.
Top Rated Comments
(View all)
38 months ago
I guess if this is completely transparent to the driver and programmer PowerVR's GPU isn't as much SLI, ie. more than 1 graphics card together, as it is a dual die design like Intel's Core 2 Quad. I guess it's easier to do since it's an embedded design anyways. If all the cores share the same memory pool it'll probably be more efficient to unlike SLI where the memory storage is separated which makes having the separate cards working together more difficult since it's easier for them to work on separate tasks, but hard for them to work on the same task.
38 months ago
If Apple releases the many planned features of iPhone OS 3.0, App Developers utilize them as whole-heartedly as they have utilized the SDK so far, and a new multi-core iPhone comes out, I think we're witnessing the beginning of an entirely new era of computer-people integration. The idea of masses of people having a computer with them at all times with this level of capabilities is likely going to alter society every bit as much as the personal computer being widely adopted.
I just hope fart apps aren't the only thing we can accomplish. :rolleyes:
I just hope fart apps aren't the only thing we can accomplish. :rolleyes:
38 months ago
A computer that just happens to also be a phone. Looks like I will be upgrading this summer fall if this all comes to light.
38 months ago
This would be a huge upgrade! I'm really hoping the this actually happens because I'll be buying my first iPhone this summer.
38 months ago
I just hope fart apps aren't the only thing we can accomplish. :rolleyes:
Don't be so cynical. Free porn will be available everywhere, too.
[ Read All Comments ]
Analytics firm Chitika today released a report showing that by its metrics iOS has now surpassed OS X in overall web traffic share in the United States. Chitika's methodology involves an analysis...
One of the most frequent reasons for an iPhone to go on a trip to the Apple Store's Genius Bar is because of water damage. Typically, a water damaged iPhone can be replaced for a flat $199...
TheVerge's Joshua Topolsky summarizes the iPad 3 casing findings reported earlier today, but also adds his own sources regarding some details of the iPad 3.
Image from RepairLabs
As...
Last July, Apple discontinued the white MacBook from its consumer lineup, pushing consumers toward the company's popular MacBook Air line or the 13-inch MacBook Pro. The company didn't kill...
Popular iPhone Twitter client Tweetbot has finally arrived on the iPad, with a user interface instantly familiar to any current Tweetbot user. Designed for the Twitter power-user, Tweetbot packs a...
