Imagination announces highest performance 4K capable multicore video decoder

PowerVR VXD395 delivers multicore scalability enable decoding true 4K video content and faster than real time transcoding

DesignWest / ESC Silicon Valley Expo, San Jose, USA -- March 27, 2012 -- Imagination Technologies, a leading multimedia and communications technologies company, has announced the PowerVR VXD395MP video decoder with support for resolutions up to 4Kx2K thanks to a unique multicore architecture.

4Kx2K video is a core-technology for future TV applications, providing four times the volume of visual information as an HDTV. This enables realistic super high definition quality, multi-stream HD channel browsing, high frame rate support for detailed slow motion footage of sports events and other content, and ‘wall of information’ applications which combine TV with apps, social media and channel browsing.  

The PowerVR VXD395MP multi-standard, multi-stream video decoder IP core builds on Imagination’s highly successful PowerVR VXD Series3 architecture and IP core family, by introducing a multicore architecture that allows performance to be easily scaled for high resolution or high frame rate applications up to full H.264 level 5.2 using today’s mainstream silicon processes at ultra-low power consumption.

This unprecedented level of performance enables 4K resolution content to be decoded at a full 60 frames per second, even for very high bitrate streams of up to 300 mbits/sec.

This increase in performance is also of increasing value for ‘traditional’ full HD 1080P video applications, by allowing any format up to H.264 HP (High Profile) streams to be decoded at speeds significantly faster than real time. This enables a growing number of valuable applications for enhancing user experiences, including: 1920x1080 120fps decoding for playback of high speed slow-motion material; trick play modes; and video editing.

Says Tony King-Smith, VP marketing, Imagination: “While multicore CPUs are increasingly popular, Imagination is delivering multicore IP solutions across our entire portfolio. Thanks to the unique scalability offered by our new PowerVR VXD395MP multicore video decoder IP cores, we can offer exceptional performance for 4K or super-fast HD video decode whilst maintaining Imagination’s leadership in low power video decoding technology. We believe this new scalable multicore IP product puts Imagination at the forefront of enabling the next wave of video evolution, enabling 4K capable video decode to become widely available across mobile, consumer and embedded devices. And since VXD395MP complements our recently announced PowerVR VXE384 4K video encoder IP core, Imagination has clearly demonstrated it is the industry leader for high performance, low cost video decode, encode and transcode solutions for consumer and mobile.”

When paired with one of  Imagination’s PowerVR VXE cores, the faster than real time decoding capability of the PowerVR VXD395MP also enables faster than real time video transcode – a feature generating increasing interest in both mobile and home consumer markets. For example a VXD395MP2 plus VXE384 video IP platform can convert a 1080P24 H.264 HP movie to a smartphone friendly 480P24 movie at up to 6x real time, while converting a movie from DVD to a smartphone friendly format can be performed as fast as 30x real time.

Other features of the PowerVR VXD395MP core include:

• the ability to decode multiple streams, of different video standards simultaneously
• support for all major operating systems, including Microsoft Windows, Linux & Android.
• support for Stereoscopic 3D (S3D) video playback (including H.264 MVC)
• support for all major video standards including H.264 HP, VC-1, VP8/WebM, H.263, RMVB (Real Video),  MPEG-2, MPEG-4, AVS, VP6 and JPEG.

The PowerVR VXD395MP IP core is available for licensing now for delivery to lead partners in 2H12.

About Imagination Technologies

Imagination Technologies Group plc (LSE:IMG) – a global leader in multimedia and communication technologies – creates and licenses market-leading multimedia IP cores for graphics, video, and display processing, multi-threaded embedded processing/DSP cores and multi-standard communications and connectivity processors. These silicon intellectual property (IP) solutions for systems-on-chip (SoC) are complemented by platform level IP and services, a strong array of software tools and drivers and extensive developer and middleware ecosystems. Target markets includemobile phone, handheld multimedia, home consumer entertainment, mobile and low-power computing, and in-car electronics.Its licensees include many of the leading semiconductor and consumer electronics companies. Imagination has corporate headquarters in the United Kingdom, with sales and R&D offices worldwide. See: www.imgtec.com.