Silicon Arts, which is a Fabless company that specializes in graphic processing units (GPU), supplies GPU design assets (IP) to global semiconductor companies. They accomplished a feat of applying domestic IP technology to the GPU market that is led by large foreign companies.
SiliconArts announced on the 29th that it has signed a Ray Tracing GPU IP 'Raycore' license agreement with VeriSilicon, the world's No. 7 and China’s No. 1 semiconductor IP company. VeriSilicon designs and supplies high-performance, low-power GPU IP that integrates Raycore into its own IP.
Silicon Arts launched the industry's first ray tracing GPU IP in 2011. Ray tracing is a 3D computer graphics processing technique. It traces the path of light from a virtual light source reflected off various object surfaces and implements it as a pixel. Although the object can be realistically implemented, there is a limitation in that it is difficult to process a lot of data in real time.
Silicon Arts has developed a real-time ray tracing IP with a 'multi-instruction/multiple data processing (MIMD) parallel structure' that deals with only one data per structure.
It realizes high-quality 3D graphics that are increasing in usage, real-time and low-power. In 2020, Silicon Arts also signed an MOU with Newgen Graphics, a US startup, to supply Raycore IP.
Using this contract as an opportunity, Silicon Arts will begin to enter the global GPU market in full-scale. According to Verified Market Research, a market research firm, the GPU market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 33% from $33 billion (about 47.4 trillion won) last year to $477 billion (about 685.8 trillion won) in 2030. This is due to the rapid increase of the demand for Artificial Intelligence (AI) semiconductors as new markets such as Metaverse expands.
SiliconArts is targeting the low-power immersive GPU market for servers and PCs. Based on technology and patents, it will secure competitiveness among large overseas fabless companies such as Nvidia and AMD. Last year, SiliconArts released a general-purpose GPU IP 'Rave' used in AI semiconductors. It is also developing its own metaverse chip that implements ray tracing.
SiliconArts CEO Hyung-min Yoon said, “Raycore is optimized for metaverse service because it uses minimal power while supporting high-quality immersive 3D graphics in real time. Through this contract, we will build strategic partnerships and dominate relevant markets in advance.”
By staff reporter Yun-seop Song (sys@etnews.com)