PowerVR G6430 vs Qualcomm Adreno 642L vs PowerVR G6400

PowerVR G6430

The PowerVR G6430 from Imagination Technologies is a fast mobile graphics solution that is used in ARM SoCs like the Apple A7 (iPhone 5S). The chip is available since Q3/2013 and is one of the fastest solutions of its class at the time of the introduction.  

Architecture and Performance

The GPU is based on the series 6 (Rogue) and integrates four clusters with two TMUs each and a scalar Unified Shader architecture. The chip does offer more than twice of the performance compared to the SGX543MP3 from the Apple A6, while maintaining the same clocks. The exact clock is not yet confirmed unequivocally, but it should be north of 400 MHz (results in more than 100 GFLOPS). A comparison with other mobile graphics solutions shows that the G6430 is just slightly behind the tablet version of the Adreno 330 and it is therefore the fastest GPU of its class at the time of the introduction. Even very demanding mobile games can be played without problems (as of 2013). Among others, the GPU supports OpenGL 3.x/4.x, OpenGL ES 3.0 as well as DirectX 10.

Energy Consumption

The manufacturer designed the PowerVR G6430 as a comparatively "wide" chip to achieve a high performance and a high energy efficiency at the same time. As a result, SoCs with the G6430 can also be used in smaller smartphones like the iPhone 5S. However, it does occupy a comparatively large area on the chip in return.

Qualcomm Adreno 642L

The Qualcomm Adreno 642L is a smartphone and tablet GPU that is integrated within the Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G SoC. The chip will be available from mid 2021 and will be used mainly in upper mid-range Android devices.

According to Qualcomm, the Adreno 642L GPU offers a 40% improved performance over the Adreno 620 (compared to the specified +50% of the 642 in the SD 780G), its predecessor, which is integrated in the Snapdragon 768G SoC. This is also thanks to the fast LPDDR4X-4200 memory support of the SoC.

The Adreno 642L supports OpenCL 2.0 FP, OpenGL ES 3.2 and Vulkan 1.1.

The Snapdragon 778G and therefore also the 642L is manufactured in the modern 6nm UEV process at TSMC that should provide a good power efficiency.

PowerVR G6400

The PowerVR G6400 from Imagination Technologies is a fast mobile graphics solution that is used in tablet and smartphone SoCs like the Intel Merrifield series (e.g., Atom Z3460). Chips including this GPU are available from G2 2014 on and the performance is situated in the low high-end.

Architecture and Performance

The GPU is based on the series 6 (Rogue) and integrates four clusters with two TMUs each and a scalar Unified Shader architecture. The chip does offer more than twice of the performance compared to the SGX543MP3 from the Apple A6, while maintaining the same clocks. Even very demanding mobile games can be played without problems (as of 2013). Among others, the GPU supports OpenGL 3.x/4.x, OpenGL ES 3.0 as well as DirectX 10.

Energy Consumption

The manufacturer designed the PowerVR G6400 as a comparatively "wide" chip to achieve a high performance and a high energy efficiency at the same time. As a result, SoCs with the G6400 can also be used in smartphones. However, it does occupy a comparatively large area on the chip in return.