GRAPHICS PROCESSING UNIT (GPU)
Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) has the same principle works as Video Graphics Adapter (VGA) on your PC.
GPU has a big role when our Android device is used to play High Definition (HD) 3D Games or high quality video playback.
A cheap Android device usually has a lower GPU quality, and vice versa.
Here are a few of GPU types usually used on Android devices to help the CPU or Processor performance in graphics processing:
1. Adreno
The Adreno series which is ATI developed (subsidiary of AMD or was known as ATI imageon 2002-2004). On 2008, AMD image on was sold to Quallcom. AMD/ATI only support architecture and development only. Adreno series held all System On Chip (SOC) made by Quallcom.
- Adreno 130, used on SOC Quallcom series MSM7xxx.
- Adreno 200, used on QSD8x50 (snapdragon gen 1, QSD which is code for SOC snapdragon) and MSM7x27 (MSM which is code for general series of SOC Quallcom). Usually this Adreno series is used for Low-End Android handheld (low specs with 600-800MHz).
- Adreno 205 used on QSD8x50A (1.3 GHz), MSM7x30 (800 MHz+L2 cache), MSM8x55 (1 GHz+L2 cache).
- Adreno 220, this GPU has multi core (more than one processor core) usually used for Mid-End and High-End Android handheld (high specs with more than 1GHz processor).
2. PowerVR
PowerVR series is made by Video Logic which now concentrate in GPU for mobile gadget only. PowerVR sells their architecture draft license to well known processor developer such as NEC, Intel, Freescale, Texas Instruments etc.
PowerVR already have 6 series until now, 2 of them was used for late 90’s game console such as Dreamcast and Sega Saturn.
PowerVR SGX 5 is the common series that used for elite class of smartphones and gadgets such as:
- SOC A4/SGX535 (iPhone 4/ipod gen4/ipad)
- SOC Hummingbird/SGX540 clock 200 (Samsung Galaxy S)
- SOC OMAP series 3/SGX530 (Droid X, Motorola Defy, Samsung Galaxy SL, Motorola Mile 2, Droid 2 and LG optimus Black)
- Intel GMA 500 dan GMA 600 also SGX535 sbg VGA onboard intel atom
- Another series 5 variant is SGXMP (MP defines the amount of core that is used)
SOC OMAP 4 (4430)/SGX540MP quadcore clock 300 (Blackberry Playbook, LG Optimus 3D) - SOC A5/SGX543MP2 (iPad 2)
- SGX543MP4, used for Playstation Vita
- SGX544MP+ uses quadcore dual CPU A15 (eagle platform)+ dual CPU Cortex-M4 cores with processor clock up to 2 GHz.
3. Mali
Mali is made by ARM, Mali’s GPU series is common used by HDTV, game consoles (PS3), also smartphones. The common series used for smartphone is Mali 400MP4. This GPU is part of SOC Exynos dualcore CPU 1.2ghz A9 owned by Samsung Galaxy S II. Rumor said that Mali 400MP4 has the rendering capability equals to PS3 and Xbox 360
4.GeForce ULP
Geforce ULP (Ultra Low Power) is part of SOC Tegra 2 produced by NVIDIA. Geforce ULP uses Quadcore 4 pixel shaders + 4 vertex shaders so it has a total of 8 core inside.
It is quite difficult to determine which GPU is the best, because each GPU has its own strength and weakness, and depends on each individual SOC support.
reference: Teknoup
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