Virtual reality (VR) has been a hot topic in recent years. The immersive experiences mainly rely on sufficient real-time image computation. Images are clearly and realistically presented, while image data are put in the correct positions within milliseconds, producing a complete VR visual experience. AMD is accelerating the development of VR applications to actively penetrate into the fields of VR and gaming. AMD's VR technology will enable brand new presentation experiences to a host of applications including simulation, gaming, entertainment, education, social media, travel, healthcare, real estate, and e-commerce.
Integrating software and hardware, AMD expands into VR market at full throttle
The VR market relies on innovative technologies to push it forward. For example, VR technology does not simply divide an original image into visual outputs for the left and right eyes, but involves how to render an output image in correspondence to respective viewing by the left eye and right eye, while dynamically correct distortion occurring at the edge of the image during operation. AMD's pioneering VR technology LiquidVR embeds asynchronous shaders and integrates multiple GPU, enabling developers to easily configure VR graphics output with reduced render time and optimized visual experience. LiquidVR's enhanced performance efficiency and plug-and-play compatibility with VR headsets deliver a whole new level of presence. Winning the prestigious Lumiere Award from the Advanced Imaging Society, LiquidVR is recognized for its contribution to the advancement of entertainment technology.
AMD launched the high-end flagship Radeon R9 Fury series graphics cards in mid-2015, which is designed with High-Bandwidth Memory (HBM) in combination with 4096-bit GDDR5 memory architecture and 512 Gb/s memory bandwidth to meet the performance requirements for VR graphics output. Designed with the same memory architecture on a mini ITX motherboard, Radeon R9 Nano, nicknamed "ITX little cannon," features energy efficiency and optimum performance supporting dynamic computation for VR graphics processing, while maintaining a compact PC form factor.
Added with the support for Vulkan technology, new OpenGL 4.5 and OpenCL 2.0, the Radeon R9 Fury series enables developers to use these tools to design different VR application services or games. As VR technology progresses toward maturity, AMD expects to continue working with industry partners to drive VR technology advancement, which will be incorporated extensively in its graphics cards to deliver more realistic and vivid VR experience.
The Main Virtual Reality Market is still on the PC Side
A number of VR technologies are currently available on mobile devices. For example, Google's Cardboard VR makes use of smartphone computation resources and its collaboration with GoPro allows users to shoot 360° panoramic video for uploading onto YouTube and viewing on VR displays. Samsung is also attempting to penetrate into the VR market with its smartphone products.
However, as there are still technological breakthroughs to be made, PC-based VR applications remain the market mainstream as they are more capable of delivering complete, refined and accurate images and even achieve human-machine interaction in a VR environment.
AMD is working with Oculus VR, currently adopted by most developers, to fundamentally change users' gaming experience by introducing advanced features including asynchronous timewarp and late latching to guarantee top-notch Oculus user experience on AMD hardware. Oculus Rift is expected to go on sale early next year, which requires a minimum hardware spec equivalent to AMD Radeon R9 290 graphics cards. AMD will to tackle the VR market at full throttle. Innovative VR applications will also be available on notebook PC in the future.
Through the integration of hardware and software, AMD is currently devoting many resources into the R&D of VR technologies, vertically integrating its graphics organization to penetrate completely into immersive imaging developments. Amid market competitions, AMD expects to maintain its technological leading edge with its abundant R&D resources and long-term experience in gaming market expansions, expecting to staking leadership positions in new markets such as virtual and augmented reality.
AMD's cutting-edge technology continues to lead gaming R&D forward
In terms of current mainstream gaming applications, in addition to AMD's graphics card products providing substantial performance, AMD FRTC technology also allows developers to configure frame rates, thereby controlling graphics output qualities, avoiding temperatures rising due to unnecessary usage of resources, and reducing noise caused by the high-speed fans on the graphics cards.
AMD's GCN architecture is not only deeply integrated with Microsoft DirectX 12, but also gives developers complete access to applications. Through the use of asynchronous shader technology, graphics output can maintain a refined display quality without affecting the frame rate. In combination with other advanced designs such as the multi-threaded command buffer technology, CPU (or APU) can directly communicate with GPU and precisely allocate GPU resources to enable parallel computation, delivering higher graphics quality.
The next-generation Radeon R9 Fury series, which is based on the "Fiji" graphics core architecture, uses chip stacking technology and high-bandwidth memory to enable 4K resolution images and stable VR graphics output. When used with corresponding FreeSync technology displays, screen tearing issues are greatly improved, producing smoother games and videos with up to 4K resolutions.
By integrating its own APU and Radeon graphics cards, AMD is rapidly gaining grounds in the customization market. AMD has engaged in collaboration projects with world-leading companies, including next generation game consoles PlayStation 4 with Sony and Xbox One with Microsoft. Prior partnership work includes graphics components designed for Nintendo Wii series. By leveraging its advanced technologies, AMD is well-positioned to capture more business opportunities and deliver the newest, enriched and realistic gaming experience.
AMD's pioneering VR technology LiquidVR embeds asynchronous shaders and integrates multiple GPU, enabling developers to easily configure VR graphics output with reduced render time and optimized visual experience.
