Integrated Graphics Processor report
The Future of Embedded Graphics
Executive Summary
This report covers the development of the market for CPUs with embedded graphics and their impact on integrated chip sets and discrete graphics.
After fifteen years of stellar growth the IGP will cease to exist, replaced by embedded graphics in the processor. Integrated graphics are used in desktop and net top PCs, notebooks, and netbooks, as well as various embedded systems such as point of sale, set-top boxes, and signage systems.
However, this will not, as many believe, impact the discrete graphics and add-in board market. And, because of the long-life supply agreements on some integrated graphics chips in the embedded systems market they will continue to be shipped until as late as 2013.
For a period of time, between 2010 and 2012 there will be three choices for graphics available: traditional discrete GPUs mounted on add-in boards and/or the motherboard, integrated graphics processor (IGP) chipsets, and processors with embedded graphics. One or more of these devices will be employed in PCs.
As Figure 1 shows embedded graphics will become the dominant solution in terms of unit market share. However, discrete graphics won’t be subsumed by embedded There are two solid reasons for this assumption. One is historical and one is strategic:
- Although IGCs took substantial market share from discrete chips, they never totally replaced them. Rather, the arrival of IGCs helped better differentiate the classes of graphics devices giving discrete chips specific roles in computing.
- Secondly, Intel has invested millions of dollars in developing the Larrabee chip. That’s because they believe the well-defined role for discrete chips continues and the company will use its considerable power in the market to support the role of discrete processors.
Table of Contents
- Executive Summary
- Beyond X86
- The beginning of the end
- Definitions & Methodology
- Definitions PLEASE READ THIS
- Methodology
- Primary research for this report
- Secondary research for this report
- Introduction
- The IGC
- SMA
- Embedded memory
- UMA
- The IGP
- Bifurcated market
- Market consolidation
- 2008 the defining year
- Embedded graphics
- The end of the IGP
- Graphics in the CPU
- Why now?
- Netbooks
- Netbooks move to Embedded
- Notebooks
- Definitions fail
- Nettop
- The end of IGPs?
- Not the end of discretes
- Hybrid
- Market forecast
- Desktop
- Notebook
- Total
- Summary and Conclusion
- Glossary
Table of Figures
- Figure 1: Total graphics market for discrete, IGPs, and embedded graphics
- Figure 2: Life time market share of integrated graphics
- Figure 3: Basic FSB architecture with IGP
- Figure 4: Basic AMD architecture with integrated memory controller and Hyper Links
- Figure 5: Intel’s new architecture with serial links and integrated memory controller14
- Figure 6: First CPU with embedded graphics functions (source Cyrix)
- Figure 7: New 32 nm Westmere processor with built-in graphics core (source Intel)16
- Figure 8: Intel’s first generation integrated graphics with processor (Source Intel)
- Figure 9: Intel’s next architecture with embedded graphics
- Figure 10: Speculated organization of AMD’s integrated Fusion chip
- Figure 11: AMD’s embedded graphics architecture
- Figure 12: Asus Eee netbook (Wikipedia)
- Figure 13: Examples of nettops (Wikipedia)
- Figure 14: VIA’s Pico ITX motherboard (Source VIA)
- Figure 15: AMD’s embedded graphics roadmap (Source AMD)
- Figure 16: Intel’s embedded graphics roadmap (Source Intel)
- Figure 17: The move to embedded graphics (JPR)
- Figure 18: AMD’s next hybrid architecture
- Figure 19: AMD’s desktop IGP and Embedded graphics forecast
- Figure 20: AMD’s notebook IGP and Embedded graphics forecast
- Figure 21: Intel’s desktop IGP and Embedded graphics forecast
- Figure 22: Intel’s notebook IGP and Embedded graphics forecast
- Figure 23: Total desktop market of IGP and Embedded graphics forecast
- Figure 24: Total notebook market of IGP and Embedded graphics forecast
- Figure 25: Total IGP and Embedded graphics market forecast
- Figure 26: Total discrete and integrated graphics market forecast
Table of Tables
- Table 1: Comparison of graphics devices by transistor count
- Table 2: Comparison of leading processors by transistor count
- Table 3: Total graphics market with forecast for embedded graphics
