Qualcomm Processors Core GPU and DSP (Hexagon)

GPU (Adreno)

Qualcomm Processors are equipped with a GPU called Adreno.
Adreno GPUs are the best GPUs for graphics-intensive mobile experiences. Adreno GPUs deliver fast, low-power graphics and a rich user experience. Take advantage of Adreno GPU video and SDKs to improve the graphics of your applications.

• Adreno GPU SDK

The Adreno GPU is integrated into Qualcomm Processors to deliver immersive 2D and 3D gaming experiences on mobile devices. The Adreno GPU SDK includes tools, libraries, samples, documentation, and tutorials to accelerate your development. Leveraging these resources, you can ensure your applications are optimized for faster FRAMES rates, smoother rendering, and longer battery life.

The Adreno GPU SDK supports the following graphics and multimedia related APIs and multiple versions:

• OpenGL ES:
A graphics API for embedded systems and mobile devices. A subset of OpenGL that achieves low-power, high-performance 3D graphics.

• OpenCL:
A cross-platform API for parallel computing using heterogeneous computing resources (CPU, GPU, DSP, etc.).

• DirectX API:
A collection of APIs developed by Microsoft for games and multimedia processing, including Direct3D, Direct2D, DirectWrite, and DirectSound.

• Vulkan™:
An API developed by the Khronos Group based on the Mantle API proposed by AMD to enable cross-platform, high-performance 3D graphics.

DSP (Hexagon)

Qualcomm Processors is equipped with a DSP called Hexagon.
Qualcomm developed the Hexagon Digital Signal Processor (DSP) as a world-class processor with both CPU and DSP capabilities to support the deeply embedded processing needs of mobile platforms for both multimedia and modem functions. It is an advanced variable instruction length, very long instruction word (VLIW) processor architecture with hardware multi-threading.

• Hexagon DSP SDK

The Hexagon DSP SDK is designed to enable independent software providers to optimize the functionality and performance of their multimedia software.
Acceleration of audio, imaging, embedded vision and heterogeneous computing is enabled on the Hexagon DSP embedded in the Processor, improving power consumption and performance for audio, imaging, embedded vision, video and computing to help create compelling multimedia user experiences. Efficient processing is critical to implementing rich multimedia experiences on mobile devices, as it impacts manufacturing costs, power consumption and the ability to deliver the high performance consumers demand.

• Software Development Tool

Qcualcomm envisions the following development flow (one example) and provides its customers with software development tools for this purpose.
Although DSP usage varies from customer to customer, we expect that application processors for IoT will be primarily used for three purposes: Audio, Compute, and Sensor. By utilizing the software development tools we provide, we support more efficient development. This allows customers to customize various aspects of Audio as well.

• C and C++ compilers
• Assembler
• Linker
• Debugger
• Profilers
• Lauterbach debugger support
• Instruction set simulator
• Miscellaneous utilities
• Dinkumware C and C++ libraries
• Math and intrinsics libraries
• Stand-alone runtime environment