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PowerVR Graphics In The New Sitara Devices

Harry
Expert 2920 points
Other Parts Discussed in Thread: AM3358

I understand that ARM Cortex-A and their graphics processing is a highly problematic section in GNU/Linux world I have heard due to the fact that Open-GL is not so much developed to the extent it is required to and for other reasons I haven’t heard of.
Due to all of this reasons I believe video processing on a Cortex-A chip is always not so much easy and is troublesome. But, we must appreciate the Open-GL community and the people who are developing the *stripped down* version of open-gl for Cortex-A devices a lot, as it is because of such generous people we do have the tools to process video in embedded ARM devices that run GNU/Linux.

**Question 0:**

I head that Texas Instruments (TI) released a new ARM Cortex-A device series recently that claims to have [PowerVR graphics]. I believe it is newly released through  AM437X series after ARM Cortex-A AM335X series.

**Question 1:**
Is this proprietary hardware inside the SOC just like nVidia?

As a newbie, I do not understand how this is different to the previously introduced AM335X series graphics processing (used in the beagle-bone black,etc). I think the previous chip series too had HDMI graphics. SO what was wrong with it? what is new with this new hardware technology integrated to the chip? Did TI ditch the previously used or is this only an addition?

**Question 2:**

How about the open source software support for this newly introduced part of  the TI SOC?

  • 0
    TI__Guru**** 393215 points

    Hi,

    Amalinda said:
    I head that Texas Instruments (TI) released a new ARM Cortex-A device series recently that claims to have [PowerVR graphics]. I believe it is newly released through  AM437X series after ARM Cortex-A AM335X series.

    Yes, the new processor is AM437X. Product page and documentation is http://www.ti.com/product/am4379 The wiki portal is http://processors.wiki.ti.com/index.php/Sitara_AM437x_Portal

    Amalinda said:
    Is this proprietary hardware inside the SOC just like nVidia?

    The SGX subsystem is a Texas Instruments instantiation of the POWERVR® SGX530 core from Imagination Technologies Ltd.

    AM335X and AM437X do not have HDMI Graphics integrated. An external HDMI transmitter is required.

    Amalinda said:
    How about the open source software support for this newly introduced part of  the TI SOC?

    See above links.

  • 0 in reply to Biser Gatchev-XID
    Expert 2920 points

    Thank you so much for your explanatory reply.


    Could you please elaborate the difference of graphics processing ability between  AM335X and the AM437X series?
    I suppose the AM3358/9 has only an LCD out. I believe that very same output is converted to an HDMI output through a transmitter. Does the new addition support direct HDMI output? or is it LCD?

    Kindly do correct me if I am wrong.

     

  • 0 in reply to Harry
    TI__Guru**** 393215 points

    Both AM437X and AM335X have only parallel LCD output. An external HDMI transmitter is required on both.

  • 0 in reply to Biser Gatchev-XID
    Expert 2920 points

    Thank You Mr. Biser for your reply. In that case both has 3D acceleration. Both of them output the video through the same protocol, to an LCD and both need a third-party chip to support HDMI.

    So what is the difference of this new SOC and how is its Graphics Acceleration really different to the 3D graphics acceleration we already had?
    i.e. why is SGX530 Graphics Engine much better than the graphics processing engine we already had?

    Your response would help a lot.

  • 0 in reply to Harry
    TI__Guru**** 393215 points

    Please download the Technical Reference Manual from the product link posted above. It has detailed descriptions of both the SGX and the DSS.

  • 0 in reply to Harry
    Expert 1510 points

    The main difference between AM335x and AM437x with respect video capabilities is that AM437x has a Display Sub System, which is an advanced hardware block that supports multiple display planes, YUV and RGB color space, color space conversion, scaling, alpha blending, etc.  The Sitara Linux SDK Display page can direct you to documentation that gives a lot of info about the differences.

  • 0 in reply to jelliott
    Expert 2920 points
    If I am correct, SGX subsystem, in other words the POWERVR® SGX530 core from Imagination Technologies is doing somewhat a similar job that the VideoCore IV does on the Broadcom Raspberry Pi Processor.

    How is the Open GL support for both SOCs?

    Thank you for your replies.
  • 0 in reply to Harry
    Expert 1510 points

    I don't know too much about the raspberry pi, but yes, it looks like the 3D graphics hardware in the videocore is similar to the sgx530 in am335x/437x; although the videocore also includes a lot more features (video encode/decode, for example), which are not found in am335x/437x.

    You can see more details on the sgx530 OpenGL support at this link.  The main thing is that OpenGL ES 1/2 are supported.

  • 0 in reply to jelliott
    Expert 2920 points
    Thank You Jelliott.

    I am lover of TI Technology. But as per the little research I have done, I believe none of the TI Cortex A chips do not offer good graphics processing. Compared to other manufacturers e.g. Broadcom. yes, TI Tech defeats all other manufacturers by far in many other aspects but I wonder why TI uses this less capable Power VR graphics technology for ARM chips when there are better, much capable GPU cores are available. e.g. Videocore IV, MALI etc.

    One reason for lagging in the OS installed Beagleone Black is because certain graphics are overloading the CPU. Raspberry PI has released PI 2 and its got most things Beaglebone offers with a good GPU.

    A lot more OS which are also graphics intensive are being developed for ARM V7 now. So I believe its high time TI thinks of having a good GPU in the ARM SOC.
  • 0 in reply to Harry
    Expert 1510 points

    You are right that none of the current released Sitara parts (AM335x, AM437x) have an abundance video processing capabilities; AM335x has a 3D GPU, and AM437x has a 3D GPU and OMAP Display Subsystem, which can do color space conversion, scaling, blending, and compositing; however, if you are looking for hardware video codecs or other advanced video/image processing, you will need to look at TI DaVinci and OMAP devices.

  • 0 in reply to jelliott
    Expert 2920 points

    Thanks for you time.

    Actually for starters who start up through Beaglebone Black, its pretty difficult to get hands on Davinchi and OMAP and they are pretty expensive too.
    So from a hobbyist point of view it will be nice to have some advanced video cores in the more popular Sitara series as well. 

    I feel like Beaglebone is losing its wits with the New Raspberry PI coming in with ARM V7 and with good GPU. So may be TI should think of upgrading their video core in the Sitara family..

    Jurst a thought..