So Little PowerVR SGX?

[Ailuros]

This makes POWERVR SGX545 a compelling solution for application processor SoC designers targeting the next generation of netbook and MID mobile products demanding exceptional graphics capabilities.

Doesn't sound like a smartphone partner to me, but could be wrong.

 

[tangey]

Doesn't sound like a smartphone partner to me, but could be wrong.

I wasn't necessarily suggesting that Apple would be using it for a phone.

 

[Ailuros]

I wasn't necessarily suggesting that Apple would be using it for a phone.

Well it would have to be a device then that could benefit even just in marketing terms from DX10.1. In any other case I don't see why not eat the bullet of roughly 35% more die area and go for a 2MP 543 and end up with nearly twice the performance of a 545.

 

[rpg.314]

From that Press Release:-

"POWERVR SGX545 is available for licensing now. The IP is already proven in silicon in a test chip from Imagination and licensed by a lead partner."

Proves that IMG are announcing licencees long after the deal is inked....its already in test silicon and already has a lead partner. given the PR mentions DX10.1 and ONLY talks about 200MHz (Sodaville has a variant that runs the SGX at 400Mhz), I'd suggest that this is for moorestown.

Outside chance that Apple could be the licencee, given that the IP in the iphone is SGX535.

I'd say DX10.1 pretty much leaves Intel as the only plausible licensee.

 

[Arun]

I'd say DX10.1 pretty much leaves Intel as the only plausible licensee.

Or Apple. But yeah, I'd still bet on Intel...

 

[rpg.314]

Or Apple. But yeah, I'd still bet on Intel...

Apple is stuck firmly in the OGL ES 2.0 land. They don't need no DX goodness...

 

[Lazy8s]

The time line of the 545's development suggests Intel is indeed the lead partner.

Still, the Mac is also a platform of Apple's and could be deployed in new form factors in the future, and, also of relevance, a full profile OpenCL 1.0 (and DirectX 10.1) hardware solution for less than 7 mm^2 in the latest 45/40nm processes could have value to an enterprising and/or progressive semiconductor designer in the mobile market.

 

[Mike11]

The SGX545 is a Series5 architecture, not Series5XT like the SGX543? So you have to choose between DX10.1 and 5XT features (USSE2 etc.)?

 

[Lazy8s]

Correct, but the 545 is much further along toward launch.

 

[Ailuros]

The SGX545 is a Series5 architecture, not Series5XT like the SGX543? So you have to choose between DX10.1 and 5XT features (USSE2 etc.)?

Series5 initially also had the 8-pipe SGX555 which was cancelled in favour of Series5XT. SGX543 inherited the 16z units from SGX545 and upwards, doubled arithmetic throughput and gained the multi-core config. That way they maximized performance way beyond the old 555 ever could go. DX10.1 isn't a necessity for all markets SGX is meant to address, like for handheld consoles for instance which was one of the target markets.

 

[Mike11]

Series5 initially also had the 8-pipe SGX555 which was cancelled in favour of Series5XT. SGX543 inherited the 16z units from SGX545 and upwards, doubled arithmetic throughput and gained the multi-core config. That way they maximized performance way beyond the old 555 ever could go. DX10.1 isn't a necessity for all markets SGX is meant to address, like for handheld consoles for instance which was one of the target markets.

So are there any good reasons why a manufacturer would choose the SGX545 over the SGX543(MP) for smartphones, non-desktop OS based tablets, smartbooks, handheld consoles, media boxes etc.? Unless you need desktop-based DX10.1 or OpenGL 3.x I don't see any. Since even OpenCL seems to be supported by the SGX543.

 

[Ailuros]

So are there any good reasons why a manufacturer would choose the SGX545 over the SGX543(MP) for smartphones, non-desktop OS based tablets, smartbooks, handheld consoles, media boxes etc.? Unless you need desktop-based DX10.1 or OpenGL 3.x I don't see any. Since even OpenCL seems to be supported by the SGX543.

You're answering your own question. Not that I am aware what difference it would make but SGX545 is the only core according to their whitepapers with a full OpenCL profile (whatever that means).

 

[Mike11]

You're answering your own question.

I thought maybe I'm missing something

Not that I am aware what difference it would make but SGX545 is the only core according to their whitepapers with a full OpenCL profile (whatever that means).

I didn't see the whitepapers, but the SGX543MP press release was pretty unspecific in terms of OpenCL support too:

scalable GP-GPU compute power, which can be fully utilised through all Khronos APIs including OpenGL ES 2.x, OpenVG™ 1.x and OpenCL™

http://www.imgtec.com/News/Release/index.asp?NewsID=449

Ah well, maybe there's hope :smile:

 

[Xmas]

full OpenCL profile (whatever that means).

OpenCL has two profiles, full and embedded. The latter relaxes some requirements (inf/nan, precision, rounding modes, float image filtering, 64-bit integers).

 

[Ailuros]

Thanks Xmas for the clarification

I didn't see the whitepapers, but the SGX543MP press release was pretty unspecific in terms of OpenCL support too:

Besides Xmas' clarification above from the Series5XT whitepaper:

API Support (Series5 and Series5XT)
PVR2D for legacy 2D Support (BLTs, ROP2/3/4), OpenVG 1.1
enabling Flash and SVG, OpenWF enabling advanced compositing,
OpenGL ES 1.1 + Extension Pack and OpenGL ES 2.0, OpenCL
Embedded Profile and Full Profile (SGX545) for GP-GPU, Desktop
OpenGL 2.0 (SGX535/545) and 3.0 (SGX545) and Microsoft Direct3D
Mobile, DirectX9 (SGX535/545) and 10.1 (SGX545).

http://www.imgtec.com/powervr/sgx_series5.asp