Published in Graphics

Samsung in talks for graphics tech from Nvidia and AMD

by on13 September 2016


Wants a graphics core

AMD and Nvidia are apparently in a scrap to provide Samsung with a graphics core for its custom CPU.

According to Extreme Tech,  AMD and Nvidia are all that are left who could create such tech for Samsung. Intel and Vivante are both out of the game and Imagination is Apple's best friend. Both Nvidia and AMD have graphics IP that Samsung could license but it is possible that Samsung wants to license patents so they can come up with their own designs.

AMD flogged sold its mobile IP to Qualcomm, which created Adreno, but there is no reason it could not build a new low-power GPU and the fact it has been focused on embedded and semicustom design makes it a good fit.  The only question really is if AMD has the manpower or current resources to design something in-house. Next year is going to be rather busy for it to come up with low power GPU architecture.

Nvidia should also slot in equally nicely, but it might not be as flexible as AMD has to be, thanks to it having control of the market. Still, Nvidia is unlikely to say no.

It will all be a long term plan as it will take years for Samsung to come up with a CPU/GPU which is ready to take on the market. If it does really want Apple's control over chips then it really has little choice but to pick a partner.

Last modified on 13 September 2016
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