Linux-friendly Beagle fetches $150 (LinuxDevices) [LWN.net]

Linux-friendly Beagle fetches $150 (LinuxDevices)

Posted Jul 29, 2008 22:16 UTC (Tue) by drag (subscriber, #31333) [Link]

This is interesting.

I was doing a little googling on the subject of the PowerVR SGX 'IP', which is licensed to
create the video stuff used in the Beagleboard and it turns out Intel is doing the same thing
for their low power Atom stuff!

So this is the first time I've noticed that the same sort of chip is used for multiple CPU
architectures.

Also they are planning on using it for that pie-in-the-sky Pandora's hand held device.

Apparently Intel licensed some PowerVR stuff for their old 'Extreme Blaster' 3D stuff from
Pre-GMA days. How that works out I don't know. I was thinking that the Atom would ship with a
GMA chip, but I guess that is just for it's Mini-ITX form factors?

And Tungsten Graphics worked on some PowerVR stuff, they are a partner apparently, and they
mention it in their Gallium3D information. But They only really mention the PowerVR MBX, which
is the previous generation stuff. SGX is the current-gen stuff.

This sort of thing is going to be found in phones and small handhelds all over the place. Most
of them are going to be targetting Linux in one way or another. Especially with this Ti Cortex
and Intel Atom stuff.

Does anybody know about any sort of driver status for these devices?

Gallium3D beta code or proprietary drivers or anything like this?

It would be fantastic if it ends up being open, otherwise Linux is going to fall behind in
terms of graphics capabilities when compared to embedded Windows and OS X systems... Without
being able to take advantage of video hardware that means less graphics, worse battery
consumption, very poor battery life with media playback, and all that sort of thing.

Linux-friendly Beagle fetches $150 (LinuxDevices)

Posted Jul 29, 2008 22:32 UTC (Tue) by drag (subscriber, #31333) [Link]

I figured out the Intel part.

They are licensing the PowerVR SGX stuff for their Poulsbo chipset for low-power MID devices.
The video designation is GMA500.

It's using standard DRI/X/Linux driver model, based off of Mesa 7, that involve a GPL'd
licensed DRM kernel module, X-MIT licensed 2D driver, and a proprietary 3D DRI module. 

https://wiki.ubuntu.com/MobileAndEmbedded/Graphics

Hopefully at least the 2D stuff will make it to the Beagleboard.

Linux-friendly Beagle fetches $150 (LinuxDevices)

Posted Jul 29, 2008 22:51 UTC (Tue) by ken (subscriber, #625) [Link]

Well if the design is anything like the powerpc chip 5121e the mbx part is completely separate
from the 2D stuff. 

I tried to get the specification for that part but Imagination points to Freescale and
Freescale points to ALT software and end result is a proprietary kernel module and opengl
userspace stack. 

A pain in the ass to work with if you ask me.

At least 2D is probably not going to be a problem on the beagle board.

Linux-friendly Beagle fetches $150 (LinuxDevices)

Posted Jul 29, 2008 23:18 UTC (Tue) by drag (subscriber, #31333) [Link]

That's too bad. 

In order to take advantage of the chipset's ability to play high resolution video you need the
3D stuff. The 2D isn't powerful enough, you need that OpenGL ES 2.0 shader stuff if you want
to do 720p. 

Not to mention that you can't do cool interfaces or anything like that without it.
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-2628739171715543955
OpenGL ES shaders being demonstrated on a OMAP3 board.

That's very very cool stuff for a ARM system.. 

Relying on 2D only essentially cripples the media performance of these things. It's not like
my laptop were my dual cores can compensate the lack of xvmc acceleration for playing back
videos.

Oh well, still very neat things.

Linux-friendly Beagle fetches $150 (LinuxDevices)

Posted Jul 29, 2008 23:57 UTC (Tue) by ken (subscriber, #625) [Link]

the OMAP 3530 has a 600MHz CPU + a 430 MHz DSP then added to this the 3D core. I'm not sure
you actually need the help from the 3D core. I'm also not sure how good this type of embedded
3D core really is for GPU type of processing. Remember they lag several generations behind
what you have on a desktop. 

also the CPU has SIMD type of instructions so even the CPU is made for hi throughput math. The
display also feature color space conversion and alpha blending in hardware.

Linux-friendly Beagle fetches $150 (LinuxDevices)

Posted Jul 30, 2008 5:14 UTC (Wed) by drag (subscriber, #31333) [Link]

If it's the PowerVR SGX with ARM Cortex-A8 then they say it has hardware pixel, shader, and
vector based processing with OpenGL ES 2.0 support. 

The manufacturer claims that it's capable of playing 720p video with the assistance of the
pixel shading features.

The google video I posted from was running on a OMAP3 system.

Just saying what they are saying.

------

It would be cool to have, but I still want one even if the 3D hardware is going to waste.

-------

The Pandora 'linux handheld gaming' system is ARM-based using PowerVR chipset and they are
getting 3D drivers for them to use. Proprietary, of course.

Linux-friendly Beagle fetches $150 (LinuxDevices)

Posted Jul 30, 2008 13:15 UTC (Wed) by robert_s (subscriber, #42402) [Link]

"The OMAP 3530 has a 600MHz CPU + a 430 MHz DSP then added to this the 3D core. I'm not sure
you actually need the help from the 3D core... ...also the CPU has SIMD type of instructions
so even the CPU is made for hi throughput math."

I think you're being quite optimistic about the capability of the SIMD to cope with this sort
of high volume processing. I also think you will be disappointed with how open the available
tools for the DSP are.

Still, iwantit iwantit iwantit iwantit...