iOS 4.3 Beta Hints at OpenCL-Capable SGX543 GPU in Future Devices
When it comes to the graphics performance on Apple's iOS devices, the company has been sticking with the powerful POWERVR SGX535 GPU from Imagination Technologies for quite some time, introducing it on the iPhone 3GS and carrying it through into the company's own A4 system-on-chip designs for the brains of the iPad and iPhone 4. But hints included in the new iOS 4.3 beta seeded to developers earlier this week indicate that Apple may be preparing to move to Imagination Technologies' next-generation GPU architecture with the SGX543 on future devices.
Introduced for licensing in January 2009, the SGX543 appears to only just now be coming ready for inclusion in mobile devices, and the new iOS 4.3 beta SDK includes references to a driver bundle supporting the graphics processor core.
The SGX543 is said to deliver performance of 35 million polygons per second and a filtrate of 1 billion pixels per second when running at 200 MHz, compared to 28 million polygons per second and a filtrate of 500 million pixels for the SGX535 running at the same clock speed. In addition, the SGX543 offers support for the Apple-backed OpenCL specification that allows applications to harness untapped potential of both CPUs and GPUs for processing purposes. Finally, the SGX543 support multi-core configurations allowing for even greater performance.
Introduced for licensing in January 2009, the SGX543 appears to only just now be coming ready for inclusion in mobile devices, and the new iOS 4.3 beta SDK includes references to a driver bundle supporting the graphics processor core.
The SGX543 is said to deliver performance of 35 million polygons per second and a filtrate of 1 billion pixels per second when running at 200 MHz, compared to 28 million polygons per second and a filtrate of 500 million pixels for the SGX535 running at the same clock speed. In addition, the SGX543 offers support for the Apple-backed OpenCL specification that allows applications to harness untapped potential of both CPUs and GPUs for processing purposes. Finally, the SGX543 support multi-core configurations allowing for even greater performance.
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15 months ago
Awesome! Not that we had any doubt that hardware improvements were coming (duh - they have been, year after year, since, well, forever).
But concrete proof, like the iOS device ID's, is always nice to see :)
But concrete proof, like the iOS device ID's, is always nice to see :)
15 months ago
if this is likely in the iPhone 5 then im really gonna have a hard time deciding if i should pre order the verizon ip4 or wait. Especially after appleinsider has a posting talking about how it appears apples on track to release a new CDMA and GSM ip5 this summer. damn these decisions:mad:
15 months ago
I'm already now impressed what some developers manage to do with the current hardware - amazing and fast graphics. Can't wait to see the full potential of the new hardware used (which unfortunately will still take some time once the new hardware is released)
15 months ago
I'd say that the current GPU in the iPad is underpowered for MSAA and a Retina Display.
Doubling the resolution needs 4x the fill rate. This new GPU is only doubling the pixel fill rate, so I guess it'll make things viable for Retina Display, but not with much extra room left.
Feels like an underpowered GPU for an iPad with Retina Display overall.
We need almost a 2 billion pixels fill rate to be able to get decent Retina Display resolution + MSAA on an iPad.
Doubling the resolution needs 4x the fill rate. This new GPU is only doubling the pixel fill rate, so I guess it'll make things viable for Retina Display, but not with much extra room left.
Feels like an underpowered GPU for an iPad with Retina Display overall.
We need almost a 2 billion pixels fill rate to be able to get decent Retina Display resolution + MSAA on an iPad.
15 months ago
Seems to cut it a little too close to be included in ipad 2.....oh well, I'll still pick it up. I waited through the original ipad; time to jump on board.
15 months ago
nice, but in the 18 months i've owned my 3GS it has only been in the last few months that i see a lot of games that take advantage of the GPU in it. most games are just 80's arcade rejects
15 months ago
But can it power an iPad retina display???? LOL
I just really hope that the new A8 and this GPU debut in iPad 2!!!
I'd say that the current GPU in the iPad is underpowered for MSAA and a Retina Display.
Doubling the resolution needs 4x the fill rate. This new GPU is only doubling the pixel fill rate, so I guess it'll make things viable for Retina Display, but not with much extra room left.
Feels like an underpowered GPU for an iPad with Retina Display overall.
We need almost a 2 billion pixels fill rate to be able to get decent Retina Display resolution + MSAA on an iPad.
Do you people have no logic at all lol? :rolleyes: Never mind the simple fact that with current production and technology such a screen is not even possible to make!
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