News and New Products

3D Graphics Processor Takes ARM into New Markets

By Richard Wilson -- Electronics Weekly, 8/15/2006

ARM will launch its first 3D graphics processor next year, a move which will see the low power processor company moving into new markets.

The first ARM-branded 3D graphics processor to result from the company’s acquisition of Falanx Microsystems will appear as early as next year. “We will announce our roadmap for 3D graphics cores in 2007,” ARM CEO, Warren East told Electronics Weekly.         

According to East, 3D graphics processors for mobile phones and game consoles is one application that requires a specialist processor core beyond those the Cambridge, U.K.-based company already offers. “You can do it on an ARM core but some applications will benefit from a specialist 3D graphics processor,” said East.

The initial graphics processor will be largely based on Norway-based Falanx’s Mali processor IP and probably marketed as such, but East indicated that there were definite plans for an ARM-branded graphics processor. “In due course we will be offering something with our own branding,” said East.   

3D graphics acceleration seems to be the new focus for all the major microprocessor firms. Last month, AMD paid $5 billion for graphics chip specialist ATI and quickly announced plans to add the technology to its own PC processor platforms. 

So there is little surprise that ARM has created a new graphics IP business on the back of the Falanx acquisition to address what it now sees as the “important” graphics processor market.  

“The graphics market for mobile, automotive and home applications, is increasingly important to ARM,” said Mike Inglis, VP of marketing and business development at ARM. 

Behind this new excitement is what ARM sees as a bumper market for high performance graphics in mobiles, set-top boxes and games consoles. “The estimated total available market for embedded 3D hardware is set to grow from 135 million units in 2006 to more than 435 million units in 2010,” said Inglis.

Electronics Weekly is the London-based sister publication of Electronic News.