Intel Graphics Media Accelerator, Intel GMA - a line of Intel graphics controllers integrated into Intel chipsets for computer motherboards (as a rule, mass application).
Intel Graphics Media Accelerator (Intel GMA) is part of the product name for specific Intel graphics controllers such as the Intel GMA 900
Graphics controller - A term used to describe the graphics hardware in a computer [1]
Intel GMA is the successor of earlier technologies - Intel Extreme Graphics and Intel Extreme Graphics 2 [2] .
Content
Graphics cores
The Intel GMA (Graphics Media Accelerator) line of Intel GPUs replaces the previous Intel Extreme Graphics, discrete AGP and PCI - Intel i740 cards , as well as an integrated version of Intel 740 in the Intel 810 chipset .
The first representatives of the GMA architecture supported only a few functions at the hardware level, and relied on a central processor to process many functions of the graphics pipeline, which led to mediocre performance. However, in 2006, with the advent of the 4th generation Intel GMA (GMA X3000) , many functions were assigned to the hardware of the GPU, which provided a significant increase in performance. 4th Generation GMA combines fixed-function blocks with a streamable array of programmable blocks, providing benefits for both graphics processing and video acceleration and processing. Many of the benefits of the new GMA architecture come from the ability to flexibly switch as needed between performing graphics tasks and video processing tasks. Although the performance of Intel's embedded solutions was previously considered insufficient for computer games, the latest generation of GMA should suit the level of performance of many inexperienced gamers in past games.
Despite the similarities, the main Intel GMA IGPs series is not based on PowerVR technologies licensed from Imagination Technologies . Intel began to use low-power PowerVR MBX processors in chipsets that support the XScale platform, and after the sale of XScale in 2006, the PowerVR SGX license was used for the GMA 500 IGP core, which is intended for processors based on the Intel Atom platform.
First Generation Models
GMA 900
The GMA 900 was Intel's first graphics core under the name Graphics Media Accelerator and was integrated into the Intel 910G, 915G, and 915Gx chipsets .
The 3D architecture of the GMA 900 has been significantly redesigned compared to previous Extreme 3D GPUs. Features: processing speed of 4 pixels per cycle, support for shader model 2.0 and DirectX 9. Operating clock frequency, depending on the chipset, in the range from 160 to 333 MHz. So, at a frequency of 333 MHz, it has a peak fill rate of 1,332 million pixels per second. However, the architecture still does not have blocks for performing Hardware T&L (hardware transformation and lighting) and vertex shaders.
As in previous integrated graphics cores, the Intel GMA 900 has a hardware implementation for calculating motion compensation in MPEG-2 , color space conversion and overlay DirectDraw .
The processor uses various clocks for display and processing units. The display unit contains 400 MHz DAC RAM ( RAMDAC ), two serial ports DVO with a speed of 25-200 megapixels per second and 2 display controller. In mobile chipsets, up to two 18-bit LVDS transmitters operating at a frequency of 25-112 MHz are included.
GMA 950
The second-generation GMA 950 GPU was also introduced by Intel as the " Gen 3.5 Integrated Graphics Engine ." It is used on Intel 940GML, 945G, 945GU, and 945GT chipsets. The volume of video hardware decoding has increased, VLD, IDCT , and dual video overlay windows are now performed in hardware. The maximum core clock frequency is up to 400 MHz (on Intel 945G, 945GC, 945GZ, 945GSE), the theoretical pixel fill rate is increased to 1600 megapixels / s.
The GMA 950 core does not have a hardware transformation and lighting unit (T&L), and support for these functions is implemented in software. A feature of the DirectX 9 and Shader Model 3.0 support implementation is that vertex shaders are also executed programmatically.
GMA950 video memory capacity up to 224 MB.
GMA 3000
The core version of the GMA 3000 is implemented in 946GZ, Q965 and Q963.
Despite the name being similar to the accelerators of the newer X3000 series, the GMA 3000 uses the old GMA 950 core, which has been accelerated. A feature of this kernel is that the hardware support for DirectX 9 and Shader Model 3.0 is not fully implemented and vertex shaders are executed in software. In addition, hardware video acceleration - such as hardware IDCT calculations, ProcAmp (video stream with independent color correction), VC-1 decoding - are not implemented in hardware. Only on Q965 chipsets does the GMA 3000 support two independent displays. The core frequency is 400 MHz (filling speed 1.6 gigapixels / s), but according to the documentation it runs like a 667 MHz core.
The memory controller can address a maximum of 256 MB of memory. DVO controllers received a frequency increased to 270 megapixels / s.
GMA 3100
The G31, G33 , Q33 , Q35 chipsets contain the GMA 3100 core, which supports DX10. This core is similar to the GMA 3000, including the lack of hardware acceleration of vertex shaders. RAMDAC is downgraded to 350 MHz, and DVO ports have been reduced to 225 megapixels / s.
GMA 3150
The core modification is 3100. This chip is weaker than the GMA X3100, and is architecturally closer to the GMA 950. It is used in Atom D510 and D410 processors.
Second Generation Models
GMA X3000
GMA X3100
Mobile modification of the core 3100. Supports DX10, SM4 and OpenGL 1.5 and has frequencies of 500 / 667MHz . Used in GM965, GME965, GL960, GLE960 chipsets. Pixel Shaders Model 3.0 has been implemented in Intel® GMA X3x00 drivers since August 2007. Although, the ability to switch to software T&L is also left.
GMA X3100 memory capacity up to 384 MB.
GMA X3500
Supports DX10, SM4 and OpenGl 2. Used in the G35 chipset. Model 4.0 pixel shaders have been implemented in Intel® GMA X3x00 drivers since 2008. Although, the ability to switch to software T&L is also left.
GMA X4500
The GM45 / GS45 chipset includes the fifth-generation video subsystem integrated into the solution, Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 4500MHD (Intel GMA 4500MHD), which allows you to use all the features of the Microsoft Windows Aero graphical interface, provides HD video playback with full hardware decoding AVC / VC1 / MPEG-2 (GMA X4500HD only) and full hardware support for Blu-ray drives. Enhanced HDTV support with integrated HDMI and DisplayPort ports supporting resolutions up to 1080p .
PowerVR-based models
See also
- Intel i740
- Intel HD Graphics
Notes
- ↑ Glossary of terms . Intel.com Date of treatment January 3, 2014. (English)
- ↑ Intel Extreme Graphics 3 changes its name (inaccessible link) . Date of treatment August 24, 2008. Archived August 27, 2008.