Samsung mobile GPU project rumored to be near completion

Word hit the web that Samsung has nearly completed its first in-house GPU design, enabling the company to break away from its dependence on third-party graphics IP designers such as Qualcomm's Adreno or ARM's Mali. Hexus writes Samsung's new GPU may be unveiled at the International Solid Circuits Society Conference (ISSCC) held in San Francisco in February 2015 and may even be used in one of Samsung's flagship devices next year.

Once Samsung has its own GPU the company will be able to make an all-Samsung SoC with in-house processor, GPU and LTE modem designs. These can then by paired with in-house displays and flash storage, giving Samsung an amazing amount of control on its smartphone and tablet business.

Samsung has been beavering away on its own GPU designs to break away from its dependence upon purchasing IP licences for its processors and even buying-in processors from the likes of Qualcomm for some of its devices. Currently Samsung's Exynos range uses a Mali GPU design licensed from ARM to accompany the ARM Cortex core. However the popular Qualcomm Snapdragon uses the Adreno GPU IP bought from AMD a few years back.

Late last year there were discussions in an investor conference call about Samsung designing its own CPU core. That paired with its own GPU design and LTE modem could result in an all-Samsung SoC and license fees significantly reduced, if not eliminated. With processor design and manufacture in-house and being a maker of a multitude of devices Samsung would have an amazing amount of control on its business.