GPU in Smartphones: Mali, Power VR, ULP Ge-Force and Adreno

Well... By now, you guys must have got to know that CPU or Microprocessor or 'The Core' is one of the most important things to know about while finalizing your smartphone purchase. But, CPU only takes care of the normal processing functions for example, rendering Web Pages in a browser and it has a minor say in rendering Images, Video and Graphics, most importantly in Games. The thing that takes care of these functions is the GPU or 'Graphics Processing Unit'. So, if only the CPU is class-leading and the GPU is not, you won't be able to get the best experience from the smartphone you are about to buy. The presence of a very good GPU in today's smartphone devices is the exact reason you are able to play high performance games like 'Riptide GP' and 'Shadowgun' on a device like the smartphone.

So, the role of a GPU is primarily to not only provide hardware acceleration to 3D games and applications  but also to draw the main user interface in mobile operating systems.So, while your switching screens inside your iPhone or Windows Phones and you find the transitions from one screen to another silky smooth, you have to thank the GPU for it.

Right. So who are the market leaders in manufacturing high performance GPUs. Oh!! We have a list here too. Let's dig in.

1. ARM
• Ah! Yes!!, one of the market leader in manufacturing mobile CPUs is also the one of the market leader in manufacturing mobile GPUs. It markets it's GPUs under the brand name of 'Mali'. ARM has recently revealed 'Mali T658' GPU for next generation smartphone devices. 
• The GPU that has brought ARM the most recognition in the recent times is the 'Mali 400 MP'. You have this GPU in the 'Samsung Galaxy S2'. The GPU is one of the reasons the smartphone has become so popular as it is one of the best GPUs to be found on an SoC.
2. Imagination Technologies
• You might find this company new, but it definitely is NOT new in the GPU space. Imagination Technologies manufactures world class GPUs and markets them under the brand name of 'Power VR SGX' which has been used in a plethora of smartphones till date.
• The 'Power VR SGX 543 MP2' is the best GPU currently in the market and you can find it in none other than 'Apple iPad 2'. Now, you can see why Apple's devices get the best ratings not only on the external smooth-running software but also the internal rugged-hardware.
3. Nvidia
• Ya!! Nvidia sources the CPU to be used in it's Tegra SoCs from ARM but uses it's own GPU. It markets the GPU under the brand name of 'ULP Ge-Force'. The ULP stands for Ultra Low Power. Most of you would remember that the Ge-Force GPUs manufactured by Nvidia were used in PCs. Well, Nvidia went back to the drawing board and figured out how it could fit the same performance while consuming lower power and generating lesser heat in a device as small as a smartphone and that wondering led to the ULP Ge-Force GPU being born.
• You can find this GPU in all the 'Tegra 2' SoCs like in the 'LG Optimus 2X'.
4. Qualcomm
• I already mentioned in my previous posts that Qualcomm is the company which manufactures the CPUs and the GPUs used in it's SoCs by itself. Qualcomm had actually purchased the GPU business from ATI Radeon but nevertheless, it's got its own GPU business right now. It markets its GPUs under the brand name of 'Adreno'
• The 'Adreno 220' GPU is the best GPU from the Qualcomm stable in the market right now and it can be found in smartphones like 'HTC Sensation' and 'HTC Sensation XE'.

So, that's it for today. Stay tuned!!!