The graphics cards (or GPU) of mobile terminals with Android are increasingly important when it comes to measuring their performance, since the behavior when playing games depends on this - especially if it contains three-dimensional graphics and, also, of the better or worse management of the images that are shown on the screen. The fact is that a new model hits the market: ARM Mali-G71. We will tell you everything about this component.
This GPU was an advance of the current Mali (T880, which can be found in devices such as the Galaxy S7, with its Exynos processor), so it seeks to enhance performance and, of course, reduce consumption. And, for this, a new architecture has been counted on, called Bifrost - Leaving behind, therefore the so-called Midgard-. Therefore, the names with references to Norse mythology are maintained.
In concrete improvement data, the company has announced that the ARM Mali-G71 is 20% more efficient in the energy section -in tests carried out under identical conditions than with the T880-, so the batteries are less rushed. Plus, their ability to manage information is also superior, standing at 40%. Thus, it is achieved that the small space that the GPUs have within the processors is used much better and speaks of a really good job by the manufacturer and designer.
How is this achieved?
Well, increasing the essential elements that make up a graphics card when working, such as the "cores shader". These have gone from 16 of the current model to 32, which doubles their capacity and working power. Other important details of the new ARM Mali-G71 is that it allows to work with a 120 Hz maximum frequency -ideal for virtual reality environments- and, in addition, it is capable of working with 4K resolutions and creating multi-sample border reductions (anti-aliasing). Closer and closer to game consoles, there is no doubt.
As it cannot be otherwise, the ARM Mali-G71 is compatible with the API Vulkan -which will be essential in the near future of mobile technology by freeing up CPUs of work-. In addition, it includes technology CoreLink CCI-550, which allows the graphics card and the processor cores to use the same memory, which reduces time when working with data (increasing performance by 1,5 compared to the T80).
Quad Vectorization and more
This is one of the great novelties of the ARM Mali-G71 GPU, since it allows the work in a clock cycle to be carried out with greater speed without losing stability or increasing the temperature. What this means is that the creation of graphics in three dimensions (X, Y and Z axes) is executed before, which favors that the operation is much faster. Thus, the same amount of information is managed before, essential for advanced degrees.
Another technology used by the ARM Mali-G71 is called Quad Manager. With this advance, the instructions that are executed are grouped in a more efficient way, so that their compilation and subsequent sending to the screen is easier for the hardware and, therefore, the stability is greater and the energy consumption is lower. Additionally, shadows and other advanced effects are also favored.
In the announcement of the new ARM Mali-G71 GPU it has been indicated that the first models that will use processors with this component will arrive in 2017, so manufacturers are already working on its implementation. Thus, thinking that the Samsung Galaxy S8 uses it is completely viable. And this could be a qualitative leap when playing and, of course, for the Virtual Reality.