A retrospective
联发科MediaTek Pentonic 2000与S900
First of all, MediaTek, which is quite familiar to Android phone users, launched the Pentonic 2000 and S900 SoC system chips for 8K TV platforms. From the perspective of technical parameters and functions, these two SoC chips can be said to have the most powerful 8K video decoding capabilities at present. The Pentonic 2000 is the world's first smart TV SoC to use TSMC's 7nm process, specifically designed for flagship 8K smart TV products, supporting high refresh rates of up to 120Hz. The Pentonic 2000 integrates 8K motion-compensated MEMC and AI engines with support for Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos. In terms of video decoding, the performance of Pentonic 2000 can be said to be very comprehensive, in addition to supporting HEVC, VP9, it can also support AVS3, AV1 and even H.266 VCC, truly achieving full compatibility. In terms of image processing performance, the Pentonic 2000 integrates MediaTek's discrete AI processors (APUs), which work together faster and more energy-efficiently than multi-chip solutions. MediaTek APUs offer advanced AI enhancements such as AI-SR 2.0+ Super Resolution Image Processing, AI-PQ Scene Recognition 2.0, and AI-PQ Object Recognition 3.0. In terms of peripheral access, the Pentonic 2000 can support four HDMI 2.1 ports, support Wi-Fi 6E high-speed wireless network transmission, and even connect to a 5G network with an M.2 expansion card based on the MediaTek T700, expanding the scope and application scenarios of high-speed network connectivity.
It is worth noting that since the Pentonic 2000 supports AVS3, it can be said that it is mainly oriented to the domestic market, after all, if you want to watch CCTV-8K channel related 8K TV programs smoothly, adding AVS3 decoding function is an indispensable key function. Then MediaTek for foreign markets, more specifically, the North American TV system is mainly another SoC chip, that is, S900. The S900 is also MediaTek's SoC for 8K TVs, including a multi-core CPU, GPU, dedicated AI processing unit, and a display controller that can directly drive 8K display devices. In terms of key video decoding performance, S900 supports HEVC and AV1 decoding, and it is not too difficult to deal with 8K video decoding in foreign regions. In terms of audio and video transmission, S900 can support the latest specifications of HDMI 2.1a, support various dynamic HDR technologies, support HDMI VRR, and can achieve variable refresh rate to match the dynamic frame rate of the game and avoid screen tearing.
Compared with the overall performance of MediaTek's two SoC chips, the Pentonic 2000 is slightly better, both in terms of CPU performance and GPU running speed. In addition, the Pentonic 2000 is also more comprehensive in terms of video decoding.
Pentonic 2000采用了Arm Cortex-A76架构4核 CPU与Arm Mali-G57 MC3 GPU
晶晨Amlogic S928X系列
If the aforementioned MediaTek Pentonic 2000 and S900 SoCs are not for 8K players, but for 8K flat-screen TVs despite their strong performance, then the Amlogic S928X series from Amlogic is a SoC chip solution specifically for 8K players and set-top boxes. Amlogic S928X series SoCs are manufactured on a 12nm process, which are mainly divided into two models: S928X-J and S928X-K, the difference between the two is in terms of decoding performance, and the latter is a full-featured version. Doopoo's latest X3 8K smart media player uses the full version of S928X-K,In addition, there are many models based on S928X-J on the market,For example, the aforementioned Tencent Aurora box5X。
In terms of CPU configuration, S928X follows the large core plus small core structure that has been very popular in recent years, including 1 Arm Cortex-A76 large core running at 1.8Hz, plus 4 Arm Cortex-A55 running at 2GHz, the advantage of such a structure is that the energy efficiency ratio is higher, and there is no need to rely on a large power supply to drive. As for the GPU, it is equipped with an Arm Mali-G52 MC2 running at 800MHz. Overall, this kind of performance can be said to be more than enough for 8K video playback. However, the S928X is a VPU video processor with built-in Amlogic Video Engine (AVE) video engine, which ensures powerful video decoding and processing capabilities, and fully supports AV1 MP-10, VP9 Profile-2, H.265 MP-10, AVS3 Phase 1, AVS2-P2 Profile 8K/60fps 10bit video decoding, Dolby Vision, HDR10+, HDR10, HLG technology format. It can be said that in addition to H.266 VCC, in the face of domestic 8K TV broadcasting programs with AVS3 as the core, as well as foreign TV broadcasting programs and network streaming video resources with HEVC and AV1 as the core, S928X can be said to be completely no problem. Of course, if you want to play relatively higher specifications8K/120Hz ultra-high-definition video,S928X is a little difficult,Fortunately, at this stage, the mainstream 8K video production at home and abroad is still based on8K/60Hz HDR,8K/120Hz SDR is still relatively minority。 In addition, the S928X also has today's popular AI accelerator, with a computing power of up to 3.2TOPS Neural Network Accelerator (NNA) neural network accelerator, based on the Tensor Processing Unit (TPU) technology architecture.
Finally, let's take a look at the HDMI interface configuration, S928X supports the latest generation of HDMI 2.1a specifications, and has better performance in HDR dynamic contrast and game performance release. In addition, in terms of audio source code output, in addition to supporting immersive 3D sound processing such as Dolby Atmos, it also has a built-in stereo audio DAC. However, player manufacturers may use higher-performance discrete DACs to achieve better performance for binaural audio decoding. For example, the Doopoo X3 is equipped with an AKM 4432 high-performance audio DAC with dual-channel 32-bit processing.
Amlogic S928X series SoC chip internal technical structure framework diagram, the key is 1 Arm Cortex-A76 CPU running at 1.8Hz, plus 4 Arm Cortex-A55 CPUs running at 2GHz, forming a 5-core CPU size core structure
Rockchip RK3588 series
At present, there are two popular models in the 8K player market, one is the model with Amlogic S928X series SoC mentioned above, and the other is based on Rockchip RK3588 series model. In terms of basic performance, the performance difference between these two SoC system chips with 8K playback capabilities is not particularly large, and they are both capable of 8K/60Hz ultra-high-definition video playback in the current mainstream format. However, in terms of specific performance and video decoding capabilities, RK3588 and S928X still have some key differences. Like the S928X series, the RK3588 series also has two models, the full version and the reduced version of the RK3588 and the RK3588S, mainly due to the difference in chip interface configuration, for example, RK3588 can support dual Gigabit Ethernet ports, while RK3588S can only support single Gigabit Ethernet ports.
Let's take a look at the performance configuration of RK3588 in CPU and GPU. In terms of CPU, the RK3588 with 8nm process can be said to be quite powerful, using the Arm Cortex-A76 architecture 4 cores plus the Arm Cortex-A55 architecture 4 cores for a total of 8 cores, the performance in multi-threaded applications is stronger than S928X, and the single-thread is similar to the two, after all, they are both using the structure of A76 large core and A55 small core. In terms of GPU, it is clear that the RK3588 equipped with ARM Mali-G60 MC4 is more powerful and can achieve better performance when facing applications with high requirements for image processing. In addition, at the AI application level, RK3588 is equipped with a three-core NPU neural processing unit with 6TOPS computing power, which has stronger computing performance for AI processing and optimization of images.
However, it is a pity that RK3588 still has some key deficiencies in terms of adaptation and decoding compared with S928X and MediaTek's Pentonic 2000 and S900 SoCs. Although RK3588 can support mainstream HEVC, AV1 and other 8K/60fps video hardware decoding, but in terms of domestic video standard support, it can only support AVS2 for the time being, and does not support the AVS3 standard used in the production and playback of CCTV-8K channels. If you are going to buy an 8K player to watch the relevant 8K TV programs of CCTV-8K channel, RK3588 is not the best solution.
As for other functions, RK3588 can also support HDMI 2.1 interface output, and can also support the current mainstream HDR high dynamic range technology formats, whether it is dynamic HDR formats like Dolby Vision and HDR10+, or mainstream HDR10, HLG have good compatibility. As for the audio source code output, RK3588 can realize the source code output of immersive three-dimensional sound effects such as Dolby Atmos, and can also support the decoding of various mainstream multi-channel surround sound audio formats.
Rockchip RK3588 series SoC chip internal technical structure framework diagram, Arm Cortex-A76 architecture 4 cores plus Arm Cortex-A55 architecture 4 cores for a total of 8 cores CPU structure
国科微Goke GK6525
In addition to the aforementioned Amlogic S928X series and Rockchip RK3588 series SoCs, there are currently a few 8K players on the market that use Guoke Micro GK6525 series SoCs. In fact, GK6525 is a SoC chip specially created by Guoke Micro for the 8K ultra-high-definition live broadcast of the Beijing Winter Olympics. Specifically, it can fully support the domestic AVS3 standard, which can better meet the needs of domestic 8K ultra-high-definition TV program viewing than RK3588. In addition, another performance advantage in video playback is that GK6525 can support high-specification 8K/120Hz video decoding and display, which is also the key difference between S928X and RK3588, and MediaTek Pentonic 2000 and S900 flagship SoCs can play back 8K high frame rate video.
Next, let's take a look at the performance configuration of the GK6525 series SoC in terms of CPU and GPU. First of all, in terms of CPU, GK6525 is equipped with an 8-core 64-bit Arm Cortex-A73 architecture processor, integrating multimedia acceleration engine NEON, hardware Java acceleration and hardware floating-point coprocessor. Secondly, in terms of GPU, GK6525 uses ARM Mali-52 MC6 processor, which has quite strong image processing and video decoding performance. In terms of video decoding, GK6525 is very comprehensive, fully supporting HEVC, AVS3 and AVC1 up to 8K/120fps hardware decoding, in other words, basically in addition to H.266 VCC, other types of 8K video formats can be easily played. Finally, in terms of video and image processing, GK6525 supports 8K display output and 4K UI supports video and graphics super-resolution processing, hardware overlay function of multi-channel graphics and video input, graphics and video rotation, Letter Box and PanScan, 3D video processing and display, low-latency display technology, stepless scaling, full hardware anti-aliasing, anti-flicker, configurable color space conversion, image enhancement, denoising, De-interlace deinterlacing, etc. In terms of HDR technology format support, GK6525 supports the current mainstream HDR technology formats, including HLG used in TV broadcasting systems, and HDR10, which is common in network streaming video resources.
As for the video output interface configuration, GK6525 not only supports HDMI 2.1 interface configuration, up to 8K/120Hz video output, but also supports professional MIPI DSI 8lane output and CVBS output. In addition, in terms of audio source code output, GK6525 can also support various mainstream surround sound audio source code output, which can be combined with home theater amplifiers to build an immersive three-dimensional sound system.
It is worth noting,In addition to GK6525,There are also SoC chips specifically for8KThe TV and commercial display equipmentGK6780,There is not much difference between GK6525 and GK6525 in terms of CPU and GPU configuration and performance,It can also support up to8K/120fpsVideo decoding,supportAVS3andAV1Decoding。
GK6525006664arm Cortex -A733armArm Mali - 52 MC6 G6
海思Hisilicon Hi3796CV900与Hi3751V900
When it comes to high-performance SoC chips, of course, Huawei subsidiary HiSilicon cannot fail to mention in China. HiSilicon has quite strong chip R&D capabilities, and in terms of video playback, HiSilicon SoCs should not be underestimated. Hi3796CV900 and Hi3751V900 are HiSilicon's two SoCs for 8K ultra-high-definition video playback. The main difference between the two is at the application level,Hi3796CV900Mainly for the 8K ultra-high-definition set-top box market,While Hi3751V90 is for the 8K smart TV market。 Both chips belong to HiSilicon's current flagship SoC chips, which have basically the same performance, and can also support 8K/120fps video decoding and support the AVS3 encoding standard in the domestic 8K TV broadcasting field. Next, take Hi3796CV900 as an example to talk about the performance characteristics and advantages of these two SoC chips.
In terms of the performance configuration of core CPU and GPU, Hi3796CV900 integrates 8-core 64-bit Arm Cortex-A73 architecture CPU and ARM Mali-52 MC6 GPU, which is the same as Guoke Micro GK6525 in terms of configuration. The CPU integrates the multimedia acceleration engine NEON, which supports hardware floating-point co-processing. In terms of GPU, it supports OpenGL ES 3.2/2.0/1.1, Vulkan 1.2 and OpenCL 2.0, which has quite good image processing performance. It is worth noting that Hi3796CV900 is optimized for AI image processing, and also integrates an independent NPU with a high computing power of up to 9 TOPS Da Vinci V200 AI engine.
In addition to not supporting H.266 VCC, Hi3796CV900 supports H.265, AVS3 and AV1 specifications of 8K/120fps high frame rate video hardware decoding through HiVXE 3.0 processing engine, which is in the first echelon of 8K SoC solutions of major brands. In addition, with the Imprex 3.0 graphics and display processing engine, it supports video and graphics super-resolution processing, hardware overlay functions for graphics and video inputs, picture-in-picture, multiple HDR (dynamic HDR/HDR10/HLG), HDR/SDR conversion, motion compensation-based De-interlace and time-domain noise reduction processing, DB/DR and other video noise reduction processing, intelligent color management (intelligent skin tone optimization, etc.), local dynamic contrast adjustment, brightness, chromaticity, saturation, Color temperature adjustment with hardware-enhanced 2D graphics acceleration engine. In terms of video output interface, in addition to the high frame rate ultra-high-definition video signal of up to 8K/120Hz can be output through the HDMI 2.1 specification interface, it also supports one 8lane MIPI DSI TX output, up to 2560x1440/60Hz, and one HDMI input interface that supports 8K/120Hz.
In terms of audio decoding, Hi3796CV900 supports DTS HD and Dolby TrueHD lossless audio decoding, and can also support immersive three-sound source code output such as Dolby Atmos. In addition, Hi3796CV900 also integrates dual-core HiFi3 audio DSP, which supports 3D audio decoding, sound effect processing, and intelligent audio processing.
Hi3796 ARM900788640Arm Cortex -A736ARM Mali - 52 MC6 ARM
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To be continued