PowerVR, a graphics subsidiary of Imagination Technologies, said it is “close to deliver” its next-generation graphics tech known under PowerVR 5 code-name. The firm, nevertheless, did not say whether the novelty will serve graphics cards for desktop computers.
“We are close to delivering our very high-end next generation graphics technology that targets arcade, PC and console. We have already licensed this technology to SEGA for use in arcade systems and intend to explore relevant partnerships for other markets,” the company said in its latest financial statements.
As a graphics processor developer, PowerVR has not released anything new since early 2001 and analysts of the industry rarely take this firm into the account when talking about prospects for the industry. However, PowerVR reminds the world about itself by releasing some pieces information leading to assume about its new products indirectly.
In mid-2003 we were told about a book covering some modern ways of programming real-time 3D graphics in general and using Pixel Shaders 3.0 and Vertex Shaders 3.0 in particular. The authors of the articles covering the Shaders 3.0 were from PowerVR, and web-media around the Web suggested that we would shortly see a new product coming from PowerVR. We have not really seen or heard anything real about PowerVR’s graphics chips so far, but in late 2003 the company released the demo software that did not work on DirectX 9.0 hardware, such as RADEON 9800 PRO or GeForce FX 5900, but requires some additional features to be supported.
In addition, Imagination Technologies also indicated that certain techniques from the new “high-end PowerVR chip” may be used in the next-generation of graphics cores for embedded applications.
“Also, our very important R&D programme, which brings our latest know-how from this area into the next generation of our scalable MBX family, is also at an advanced stage,” the company said.
Earlier this year PowerVR and SEGA inked an agreement to use the so-called PowerVR 5 technology in SEGA’s arcade machines that are due in the second half of this year or in the beginning of 2005.
At this point it is not clear whether PowerVR is targeting to bring a new graphics processor into the highly-competitive desktop market, or plans to license its new core to other companies, such as Intel. It is also unknown which console will make use of the PowerVR 5 tech.
Comments currently:
2
Discussion started: 05/22/04 08:10:45 AM
Latest comment: 05/25/04 10:27:15 AM
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1.
kyro rocked back before geforce3 came out, it actually was a great design, the whole tilebased rendering worked nicely in the old games like cs and halflife.
(this i know cos i had one)
but in the real world keeping on par with other cards doesnt kut it, all cards need something to beat the competitors, and kyro bummed out, the system worked on 185 mhz syncronous core/memory - but the ram was so crap you could not overclock it more than 5-10 mhz before it locked up, even with voltmods it never got higher than 215 mhz, a extremely poor overclock compared to the gforce 3 series , wich could overclock much higher.
Thus its reallife performance was not really all that great, and its popularity took a nosedive when gforce ti4000 series came. (i bought a radeon 8500)
i allways like to shoose the card that has the odd thing to it, depending on real game performance compared to ati and nvidia, powervr may sell me a kyro as long as its good. (better than the others)
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Posted by: magnetmannen
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Date: 05/22/04 08:10:45 AM]
2.
Power "is" superior to any think else. The problem is time to market.
When they bring kyro it was a card to compete with TNT2 tech but at geforce2 time, if you look at the chip spec's, AGP 2X, SDRAM, CORE SPEED, 2x1 pipelines (or 1x2 cant remember) ... it was too late, but even so i could get a hard time to geforce (1,2) hardware on some games.
If they didn't make Dreamcast and 3Dfx made it, like it was initially. 3Dfx still on the market or out, or PowerVR out? Who knows?
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Posted by: I
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Date: 05/25/04 10:27:15 AM]
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