Intel licensed PowerVR graphics core
Imagination reported that Intel licensed the embedded PowerVR graphics core for using in its chips. They are believed to be graphics chips for pocket PCs.
Though, there are several applications of PowerVR core. The PowerVR MBX family features pro version for high-end desktop devices, standard, and lite version for pocket PC developers.
Following the old tradition, Intel declined to unveil any plans for the liecensed graphics core. According to the company representative: "We license technologies all the time for projects inside of Intel and can´t say when and if we´ll make an announcement of a product."
PowerVR MBX core is designed using 0.13-micron technical process and includes many Kyro features, including full scene antialiasing and truecolor. PowerVR MBX processes up to 4 million polygons per second, operating at 120 MHz. The clock rate can be reduced to 50 MHz to lower chip´s energy consumption down to about 60 mW.
So, what is it for? Intel´s current embedded chipsets are actually low-power desktop versions like, for example, 845 and 845å. There´s also embedded version of integrated 815 chipset, but it features rather old i740 graphics. There´s no embedded 845G still, though Intel is rumoured to release a version of 845G for specialized and embedded solutions.
So, perhaps, PowerVR MBX will be embedded into some low-power PDA chipsets. Intel StrongARM processors are usually released with I/O components, that bridge integrated or other buses and provide some display functionality.
"The Intel XScale microarchitecture will be combined with peripherals to provide Applications Specific Standard Products (ASSP) targeted at selected market segments," a current Intel Xscale product brief notes, however. "As an example, the microprocessor core can be integrated with peripherals such as an LCD controller, multi-media controllers and an external memory interface to empower OEMs to develop smaller, more cost-effective handheld devices with long battery life, with the performance to run rich multimedia applications."
Well, good luck! Pocket 3D games are being rapidly developed already...
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