MediaTek and Imagination working together to create optimal HMP SoCs

Sunnyvale, CA – 28 August 2013 – Imagination Technologies (IMG.L), a leading multimedia, processor, communications and cloud technologies company, recognizes its partner MediaTek Inc. for its unique deployment of heterogeneous processing. Confirmed by leading industry sources, Imagination sees the company’s new MT8135 SoC as the industry’s first publicly announced mobile SoC enabling heterogeneous multi-processing (HMP) utilizing asymmetric processor configurations. This innovative SoC features Imagination’s latest generation PowerVR Series6 ‘Rogue’ graphics processor (GPU). 

True heterogeneous multi-processors enable dynamic configuration of the operating modes of CPUs of varying capabilities, GPUs, and other processing engines in the system, to ensure ideal task allocation, optimal performance and minimal power consumption under all real workload conditions. Imagination believes that by utilizing true heterogeneous multi-processor technologies, the full potential of all the complex processing resources of an SoC can be realised. This can be seen in applications such as GPU compute, where Imagination has demonstrated power savings in excess of 30% with 2x performance gain when the higher performance and lower power consumption of PowerVR GPUs are used to augment the CPU compared to a CPU-only solution. 

“Heterogeneous processing architectures represent the future of mobile and embedded SoCs. We have been working with MediaTek to advance their HMP technology on multiple fronts – as founder members of the Heterogeneous System Architecture (HSA) Foundation, on development of this new SoC, on future co-development and more,” says Tony King-Smith, EVP marketing at Imagination. “MediaTek’s HMP implementation is a great example of how we see our partners using their unique expertise combined with our extensive GPU, CPU and SoC experience to differentiate their products.” 

MediaTek’s HMP solution enables all processors in a multi-processor system to be individually configured for an optimal balance of power and performance under variable workloads. The solution is completely scalable and can be configured from any number of small and large CPU or GPU ‘engines.’ It is also flexible and architecturally neutral in terms of what types of processors are used and how they are connected.

“Within an SoC, HMP works like a hybrid car using a combination of a small energy saving engine and a high-performance engine depending on ‘driver’ demand at any given point in time. Compared with previous types of multi-processor configurations, MediaTek’s HMP architecture enables far greater flexibility and unprecedented power savings while delivering very high performance processing,” says Johan Lodenius, Chief Marketing Officer for MediaTek. 

Continues Lodenius: “Imagination’s PowerVR Series 6 ‘Rogue’ GPU is a great match with our new HMP application processors. The MT8135 is the first of a new generation of products using HMP and we will continue to scale this technology seamlessly across new designs and core configurations. This will allow us to deliver on two features that we know mobile device users really appreciate - battery life and performance!”

Says Microprocessor Report (August 12, 2013): “With the MT8135, MediaTek is leading in innovation with its heterogeneous multiprocessing architecture and the Rogue GPU.”

MediaTek is working closely with Imagination to further optimise CPU-GPU configurations in its devices, and further optimising Mediatek’s HMP technology to utilise the full capabilities of the PowerVR Series6 ‘Rogue’ architecture. Additionally, Imagination is collaborating with its leading MIPS partners on how best to optimise support for its exciting and innovative MIPS Series5 ‘Warrior’ family of advanced 64/32 bit CPUs in heterogeneous multi-processor configurations.

About Imagination

Imagination Technologies - a global leader in multimedia, processor, communication and cloud technologies - creates and licenses market-leading processor solutions including graphics, video, vision, CPU and embedded processing, multi-standard communications, cross-platform V.VoIP and VoLTE, and cloud connectivity. These silicon and software intellectual property (IP) solutions for systems-on-chip (SoC) are complemented by an extensive portfolio of software, tools and ecosystems. Target markets include mobile phone, connected home consumer, mobile and tablet computing, in-car electronics, networking, telecoms, health, smart energy and connected sensors. Imagination's licensees include many of the world's leading semiconductor manufacturers, network operators and OEM/ODMs. Corporate headquarters are located in the United Kingdom, with sales and R&D offices worldwide. See: www.imgtec.com.