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An FPGA can be reprogrammed, and we do really do this for standards with better longevity than video standards (e.g. cryptographic ones like AES and SHA). For s
by lvh 5y ago
An FPGA can be reprogrammed, and we do really do this for standards with better longevity than video standards (e.g. cryptographic ones like AES and SHA). For standards like video codecs, we just use GPUs instead, which I assume is what OP had in mind for "specialized hardware" (specialization can still be pretty general :-)).
- plorkyeran 5y agoHardware video decoding is done by a single-purpose chip on the graphics card (or dedicated hardware inside the GPU), not via software running on the GPU. Adding support for a new video codec requires buying a new video card which supports that codec.
- The_rationalist 5y agoWhile this is true (GPUs have embedded video ASICs), are there software GPU decoders for video codecs that outperform CPU decoders (and do not use the hardcoded GPU ASICs)? This would allow newer codecs to become mainstream more quickly vs the inertia of needing to buy a new GPU.
- imtringued 5y agoSystemC bloat will require you to upgrade to a bigger FPGA!