Modular GPU offers unlimited graphics power

Phalanx has the Mali200 graphics processor IP core introduced. The Mali200 is a single-pipeline GPU that has more features than Shader Model 3.0 and can be used with OpenGL ES 2.0, OpenVG and DirectX 9.0, among others. The Mali200 IP would contain few transistors and would also consume little energy, making it primarily suitable for mobile applications. For example, the IP could be placed on a SoC for mobile phones so that 3D games can be played with it.

The new Falanx GPU has an architecture based on tile-based rendering. The advantages of tile-based rendering include that 4X anti-aliasing is ‘free’ (16X is also possible) and the IP requires 80% less memory bandwidth. In addition, it is possible to combine multiple IPs on a chip, making the Mali200 also suitable for applications that require more power. For example, two Mali200 cores together would be as powerful as the GPU in Sony’s PSP. Combining even more IPs on a chip could even build a GPU that can compete with the fastest nVidia and ATi GPUs.

Whether the Mali200 will be successful is hard to say. Phalanx only supplies the IP. However, this will have to be integrated into their products by microelectronics manufacturers. It is therefore questionable whether this IP will eventually end up on the desktop. Some microelectronics manufacturers, including NEC and ST Microelectronics have previously attempted to market a desktop GPU based on a third-party IP, but have been unsuccessful. In addition, Phalanx will compete to get from Lucid, an Israeli company that is raising money to design a graphics processor that can also run in parallel.