Simple clear advice in plain English

ARM unveils 1080p HD mobile graphics unit

Multi-core Mali-400 MP designed to bring desktop-class graphics to mobiles and set-top boxes

Chip designer ARM has announced a multi-core graphics processing unit (GPU) capable of allowing mobile devices to process full 1080p high-definition TV.

The Mali-400 MP has a single vertex processor capable of 30 million triangles a second – "way beyond the requirements even of current consoles", according to Chris Porthouse, senior product manager for media hardware at ARM.

In addition the GPU can have between one and four fragment processors, depending on the requirements of the application. With a full complement of four, it can fill beyond a billion pixels a second, well enough for 1080p.

"Our strategy is to bring to everyday devices the kind of graphics currently available only in very high-end products," said Porthouse.

Texas Instruments demonstrated early this year its OMAP 3430 system-on-a-chip pushing out 720p from a handheld device with the aid of an ARM central processor and PowerVR graphics technology from Hertfordshire-based Imagination Technologies.

This is a typical scenario for ARM, providing the core processor design for other manufacturers to wrap other functions, including graphics, around.

The Mali-400 MP will put ARM in competition with one of its own licensees, but Porthouse said there is nothing unusual about this and it was quite normal for manufacturers to buy in graphics technology rather than going to the expense of developing their own.

"We are still trying to work through this but in terms of IP (ie chip design) vendors, and perhaps also GPU [silicon] vendors, we think we are the only people to offer full OpenGL ES 2.0 1080p for HDTV," he said.

The big advantage of the Mali was that you could use the same software however many cores you used. "They can use the same solution across a range of devices, from the Freedom Phone, through mobile internet devices, to high-end set-top boxes in the home."

Porthouse said products using the Mali-400 could be expected on the market by 2010.

Reader Comments

   

Add your comment

All fields must be completed. Your email address will not be displayed or used to send marketing messages.

All messages will be checked by moderators before appearing on the site.

See our Privacy Policy for more information.

Related articles

Everything 3D illustration

Discover everything about 3D

We explain all you need to know about the latest advances in 3D technology

HD-ready TV photo

HD TV – ready or not quite there?

The terms HD Ready and Full HD are easily confused, so it pays to delve deeper behind the words of an advert to make sure you know exactly what you're buying

HD TV and PC pictures illustration

High definition – what it means

It's hard to miss the HD hype, but what is it exactly? We explain the jargon surrounding it and explain what you need to enjoy HD pictures on your TV and PC

Question & Answer

Q.Why are some of the keys on my keyboard doing strange...

> Read the answer

Q.Is my phone’s Bluetooth any use?

> Read the answer

Q.Can I switch boot drives so that I can work on older...

> Read the answer

Best deals on the web

img

Apple iMac 21.5" (MC309)

£926.40- Buy it now

img

Dell Inspiron 620 ST Intel Core i3-2100 3.10GHz / 3GB / 500GB / DVDRW / Win 7 Home Premium

£329.00- Buy it now

img

ZooStorm 7877-1023

£386.38- Buy it now

Latest issue & subscription deals

Poll

Are you concerned about viruses that target mobile phones?

Jargon Buster

Computing terms explained in plain English

Restore point

A Windows backup of system files and settings.

Great shopping deals from Computeractive