New PowerVR Series6 GPUs measure up to 20 times faster
updated 05:35 pm EST, Tue January 10, 2012
Could be used in future iOS devices
Imagination Technologies has announced a new line of PowerVR GPU chipsets, Series6. The first of these are the G6200 and the G6400; the former uses two computing clusters, while the G6400 has four. In both cases Imagination projects the GPUs being used in many different forms of electronics, including phones, tablets, computers, consoles, and TVs. The chips run as much as 20 times faster than the current generation, Imagination claims.
A primary customer for the new chips is like to be Apple, since PowerVR technology is integrated with the A-series processors used in the iPad, iPhone, iPod touch, and Apple TV. The company also owns at least a 9.5 percent stake in Imagination, and touts the graphics performance of the iPad 2 as one of its major features. One of the Series6 chipsets could conceivably be a feature of the iPad 3, typically expected to ship in March or April. An iPhone 5 is expected in the summer or fall, and a fifth-generation iPod touch could ship sometime in September or October.
Apple is also believed to be working on full-sized TV set. The hardware will likely use iOS and some form of A-series chip, in which case PowerVR technology may accompany it.
