ARM Mali-T658 Octo-Core Graphics Promises Console Quality Performance

Following NVIDIA’s Tegra 3 announcement with a quad-core ARM-based CPU and the company’s own GeForce-based 12-core graphics engine, ARM has released specs for its updated Mali graphics unit. The ARM Mali graphics engine, model T400, is the graphics used in Samsung’s Exynos processor and is deployed on the South Korean smartphone-maker’s Galaxy S II smartphone, which has received critical acclaim thanks to strong CPU and excellent graphics performance. With an update Mali-T658 graphics, ARM promises to deliver 10 times better performance than the Mali T-400 graphics unit that it is replacing.

Unlike the Tegra 3’s 12-core GeForce graphics, the ARM Mali-T658 will have an octo-core architecture with 8 cores. In speaking with BBC News, ARM says that we should expect gaming console-like quality with the Mali T658’s performance. The company says that Playstation 3-like performance can be achieved with the updated graphics unit.

To date, Samsung, LG, Fujitsu and Nufront are all committed to delivering the Mali T-658 in commercial products, though it’s unclear what the time frame for shipping products will be. Smartphones are already replacing a number of things, including Netflix boxes, GPS units, PDAs, calculators, digital cameras, video camcorders, and now we can soon envision a day when a smartphone plugged into an HD multimedia dock can eventually replace a basic home gaming console.

Via: The Verge