Oppo introduced its latest custom chip at the Oppo INNO Day 2021 event. This chip is not a SoC like Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, but a neural processing unit (NPU) called MariSilicon X.
The main function of the NPU is to improve the quality of photos and videos produced by mobile phones. Oppo's Senior Director Jiang Bo said that the MariSilicon X NPU is made by combining image signal processing (ISP) with the latest multi-way memory architecture.
With this technology, the NPU can run processing algorithms more quickly and efficiently. The MariSilicon X NPU alone can process 18 trillion operations per second (TOPS) with a power efficiency of 11.6 TOPS per watt.
Jiang gave an example, the AI noise reduction algorithm in the Oppo Find X3 Pro is limited to 2 fps and requires 1,693 mW of power. Using MariSilicon X, the algorithm can run up to 40 fps with 797 mW of power.
"This is equivalent to a 20-fold increase in AI 4K processing, making it a breakthrough in terms of power and efficiency," said Jiang, at the Oppo INNO Day 2021 event, Tuesday (14/12/2021).
Overall, MariSilicon X supports photo capture with 20 bit quality, 120 db dynamic range, and offers real-time RAW processing in 4K video.
In addition, AI can also use different algorithms to reduce noise, reproduce colors better, increase dynamic range, improve low-light photo and video quality, and more.
This NPU is also paired with dedicated DDR memory with a bandwidth of 8.5GB/s. By using this dedicated memory the NPU does not need to rely on system memory which sometimes slows down processing time.
MariSilicon X will debut in the first quarter of 2022. This chip will be part of the Oppo Find X series that promises the most advanced photography experience.
