Why the two largest electronics manufacturers joined forces in a new GPU project
Samsung and AMD started a joint project in the field of GPU architectures. Let us see what are the prerequisites for this partnership and discuss other companies operating in this area.
Photo - Louis Reed - Unsplash
Samsung is licensed by AMD's graphic IP blocks to build systems on a chip ( SoC ). The Korean company will pay royalties for using the technology of the American manufacturer. According to preliminary data, new graphics chips are planned to be introduced into smartphones, tablets and IoT devices. The latter today - according to experts - are one of the main drivers of the development of cloud technologies.
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The AMD-supplied IP blocks are based on the RDNA (Radeon DNA) architecture. It will be the basis of future video cards of the generation Navi, built on 7-nm processors. Deliveries of the first devices - in particular, the Radeon RX 5700 - will begin this week.
The RDNA architecture has a new computational block structure, a multi-level cache hierarchy, support for GDDR6 and PCI Express 4.0. Although part of the RDNA computing blocks migrated from the architecture of the previous generation - GCN (Graphics Core Next).
According to Anandtech editors , Samsung will need at least two years to integrate new AMD IP-blocks into their chips and adjust their performance. Therefore, we should not expect a SoC based on Radeon from a Korean company before 2022.
AMD expands portfolio. In the early 2010s, the company launched an on-demand custom chip production program for large IT companies and cloud providers. For example, AMD worked with the Chinese PlayRuyi, creating processors Zen and Polaris for their gaming station. Intel ordered Vega-based GPUs for its Kaby Lake G architecture. Similar chips were chosen this year by Google for the Stadia streaming service.
Samsung is improving its products ... In 2012, a Korean company developed its own GPU. SoC it sells under the Exynos brand. Since 2014 they use ARM graphic technology. Experts say partnership with AMD will help improve this technology.
... and gets patent protection. The graphics accelerator industry has accumulated a fairly large number of patents. It is believed that Samsung has entered into a partnership agreement with AMD in order to avoid the risks associated with accidental patent infringement in the development of its chips. As an illustration, experts cite the case when AMD accused MediaTek of illegally using APU and GPU technologies in smart devices and televisions. Such a trial may take a long time (in the case of MediaTek, it has been going on since 2017), and Samsung decided to go "in a safe way."
In the field of mobile graphics processors can be noted several other iconic companies. Since 2008, Nvidia has been developing a system on a Tegra chip, but it is not very widespread. Although it is used in infotainment systems of several automakers , Magic Leap augmented reality glasses and Nintendo Switch console.
Photos - Skitterphoto - Pixabay License
Also worth noting is the development of the British startup Imagination Technologies. It is one of the first companies to introduce the TBDR solution (deferred tile-based rendering). At one time, their PowerVR chip was used in the iPhone and iPad. Later, Apple decided to design its own accelerator, and Imagination (having lost its main client) was put up for sale and acquired by the Chinese foundation Canyon Bridge Capital Partners for 550 million pounds.
Another example is Qualcomm with an Adreno processor. By the way, with Adreno previously worked at Samsung. The chips were developed at AMD (ATI Technologies) until the company sold its Qualcomm division. In fact, AMD has returned to where they started and re-work with the Korean giant. What prospects await the company further remains to be seen.
Photo - Louis Reed - Unsplash
Strategic partnership
Samsung is licensed by AMD's graphic IP blocks to build systems on a chip ( SoC ). The Korean company will pay royalties for using the technology of the American manufacturer. According to preliminary data, new graphics chips are planned to be introduced into smartphones, tablets and IoT devices. The latter today - according to experts - are one of the main drivers of the development of cloud technologies.
')
The AMD-supplied IP blocks are based on the RDNA (Radeon DNA) architecture. It will be the basis of future video cards of the generation Navi, built on 7-nm processors. Deliveries of the first devices - in particular, the Radeon RX 5700 - will begin this week.
The RDNA architecture has a new computational block structure, a multi-level cache hierarchy, support for GDDR6 and PCI Express 4.0. Although part of the RDNA computing blocks migrated from the architecture of the previous generation - GCN (Graphics Core Next).
As representatives of an IT company say, GCN has been around for ten years, and a large number of applications and games have been optimized for it. The transition to a completely new architecture could lead to software malfunctions.
Thus, the first Navi accelerators will be hybrids between RDNA and GCN. Despite this fact, AMD claims about a 25% increase in performance per clock.
According to Anandtech editors , Samsung will need at least two years to integrate new AMD IP-blocks into their chips and adjust their performance. Therefore, we should not expect a SoC based on Radeon from a Korean company before 2022.
Causes and prospects of the transaction
AMD expands portfolio. In the early 2010s, the company launched an on-demand custom chip production program for large IT companies and cloud providers. For example, AMD worked with the Chinese PlayRuyi, creating processors Zen and Polaris for their gaming station. Intel ordered Vega-based GPUs for its Kaby Lake G architecture. Similar chips were chosen this year by Google for the Stadia streaming service.
The partnership with Samsung is the first time in a long time when AMD enters the mobile device market. The head of the American corporation Lisa Su (Lisa Su) expects that the cooperation will open up new opportunities for the company, help increase the user base and expand the Radeon ecosystem.
Samsung is improving its products ... In 2012, a Korean company developed its own GPU. SoC it sells under the Exynos brand. Since 2014 they use ARM graphic technology. Experts say partnership with AMD will help improve this technology.
... and gets patent protection. The graphics accelerator industry has accumulated a fairly large number of patents. It is believed that Samsung has entered into a partnership agreement with AMD in order to avoid the risks associated with accidental patent infringement in the development of its chips. As an illustration, experts cite the case when AMD accused MediaTek of illegally using APU and GPU technologies in smart devices and televisions. Such a trial may take a long time (in the case of MediaTek, it has been going on since 2017), and Samsung decided to go "in a safe way."
Who else works with mobile graphics?
In the field of mobile graphics processors can be noted several other iconic companies. Since 2008, Nvidia has been developing a system on a Tegra chip, but it is not very widespread. Although it is used in infotainment systems of several automakers , Magic Leap augmented reality glasses and Nintendo Switch console.
Photos - Skitterphoto - Pixabay License
Also worth noting is the development of the British startup Imagination Technologies. It is one of the first companies to introduce the TBDR solution (deferred tile-based rendering). At one time, their PowerVR chip was used in the iPhone and iPad. Later, Apple decided to design its own accelerator, and Imagination (having lost its main client) was put up for sale and acquired by the Chinese foundation Canyon Bridge Capital Partners for 550 million pounds.
Another example is Qualcomm with an Adreno processor. By the way, with Adreno previously worked at Samsung. The chips were developed at AMD (ATI Technologies) until the company sold its Qualcomm division. In fact, AMD has returned to where they started and re-work with the Korean giant. What prospects await the company further remains to be seen.
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Source: https://habr.com/ru/post/458604/
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