AMD R-series processor adds 3D graphics to video walls

When we look at a video wall system it is interesting to look at what lies behind the display screens — both literally and figuratively.

As a rule, video wall systems display high-quality videos and 3D graphics, and require a maximum number of graphics connections.

A reference board from Congatec offers the necessary interfaces in combination with an MXM graphics module and a COM Express CPU module, which is based on the latest COM Express specification 2.1 for Pin-out Type 6.

Three panels are addressed via the computer module, a further six via the MXM graphics unit.

Displays can also be connected via additional VGA or LVDS ports. Besides graphical interfaces, the video wall baseboard includes a wide range of major ports for embedded applications such as 2x Gbit Ethernet, 4x SATA, 2x USB 3.0, 4x USB 2.0.

For storage, a 2.5in SATA hard drive or SSD can be mounted directly on the baseboard. The baseboard also comes with an ZigBee receiver enabling remote control.

There is the option to add a graphics unit via a complete MXM 3.0 module. It is plugged into the appropriate socket on the video wall baseboard using a 314-pin connector and communicates with the computer module via PCI Express Graphics (PEG 2.0).

“Developers can upgrade the integrated graphics and computing power of the COM Express module by adding the graphics or processing power of the dedicated MXM module,” said Zeljko Loncaric, marketing engineer, congatec.

The addition of the AMD Embedded R series APU-based conga-TFS module will support a higher level of graphics performance.

This ranges from the dual-core AMD APU R-272f to the quad-core AMD APU R-464L.

“The APUs integrate CPU and a discrete programmable graphic s processor on one silicon die. This allows processing of both scalar workloads on x86 cores and vector workloads on the GPU resulting in an overall performance increase while minimising power consumption,” said Loncaric.

The two x86 cores have access to up to 2Mbyte of shared L2 cache. Each core includes an integer unit plus 128-bit floating point unit. If required, two floating point units can be combined to form a 256-bit floating point unit.

With the APU the module can handle two independent 1080p video streams simultaneously, and supports Blu-ray 3D edition.
The video compression engine, which converts HD video in real time and with minimal CPU load to H.264 format. This is useful, for example, in video conferencing systems or video surveillance applications.

www.congatec.com

Courtesy of Richard Wilson
http://www.electronicsweekly.com/Articles/22/01/2013/55420/amd-r-series-processor-adds-3d-graphics-to-video-walls.htm
Tuesday 22 January 2013 15:19