"We?ve been following the progress of PowerVR?5 Series 5 graphics technology for some time, often wondering if it will actually reach the market and if so how ? given PowerVR?s reluctance to do anything along the fab-less semiconductor business model, instead stick purely to an IP model. With no semiconductor licensee?s it appeared that Series 5 would stall, however last time we saw news of Series 5 it was. We presume, for an announced deal with SEGA?s arcade division.
More recently Imagination Technologies, the parent company of PowerVR, has put out a new financial statement and within that a few references have been made to the progress of state of Series 5. Here are a few elements of the statement that may be pertienent:
? We are close to delivering our very high-end next generation graphics technology that targets arcade, PC and console. We have already licensed this technology to SEGA for use in arcade systems and intend to explore relevant partnerships for other markets.?
?Developments with Renesas/Sammy, and the latest SEGA partnership are expected to lead to volume shipments in the amusement machine market starting from the second half of this year and early next year respectively.?
?5 partner devices in or close to production (compared with only one in production at the beginning of FY03/04) and 2 in prototype silicon;?
So, it would seem that in the second half of the year, which begins fairly soon, PowerVR will be ready to show of Series 5 in an arcade guise at least, however given their business model this still leaves some questions as to how, if at all, this will be brought to the PC market without any semiconductor licensees ? if PowerVR are reluctant to go to a fables semiconductor it may be a tall order to ask a board vendor to become one by effectively paying for the production themselves and giving royalties back to PowerVR. Hopefully, though, this will still prove to be an interesting solution and something can be worked out."
Series5 is alive?
More recently Imagination Technologies, the parent company of PowerVR, has put out a new financial statement and within that a few references have been made to the progress of state of Series 5. Here are a few elements of the statement that may be pertienent:
? We are close to delivering our very high-end next generation graphics technology that targets arcade, PC and console. We have already licensed this technology to SEGA for use in arcade systems and intend to explore relevant partnerships for other markets.?
?Developments with Renesas/Sammy, and the latest SEGA partnership are expected to lead to volume shipments in the amusement machine market starting from the second half of this year and early next year respectively.?
?5 partner devices in or close to production (compared with only one in production at the beginning of FY03/04) and 2 in prototype silicon;?
So, it would seem that in the second half of the year, which begins fairly soon, PowerVR will be ready to show of Series 5 in an arcade guise at least, however given their business model this still leaves some questions as to how, if at all, this will be brought to the PC market without any semiconductor licensees ? if PowerVR are reluctant to go to a fables semiconductor it may be a tall order to ask a board vendor to become one by effectively paying for the production themselves and giving royalties back to PowerVR. Hopefully, though, this will still prove to be an interesting solution and something can be worked out."
Series5 is alive?
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