Monday, March 23rd 2026

Imagination Teases PowerVR GPU Running on Windows with DirectX 11 Support

Imagination Technologies has demonstrated 3DMark Fire Strike running on its D-Series GPU using the DirectX 11 API. While this might seem like a minor achievement, it is a significant milestone for the company. Imagination Technologies aims to make its entire GPU IP family compatible with the Windows ecosystem and support Windows gaming seamlessly. Since DirectX is the most influential graphics API, the company is focused on achieving full DirectX 11 support, which has now been successfully implemented on D-Series GPUs based on the PowerVR architecture. For those unfamiliar, the PowerVR GPU architecture was initially used in Apple SoCs, which later evolved into a fully custom Apple solution. This GPU architecture is one of the most influential, alongside AMD's GCN and NVIDIA's CUDA.

3DMark Fire Strike is a DirectX 11 benchmark, so getting it to run on the D-Series is a promising indication that the GPU IP can handle real desktop-style workloads and gaming, rather than just lightweight or embedded graphics tasks. Imagination has described DXD as its first D-Series product with hardware-based DirectX 11 Feature Level 11_0 support. The company aims to demonstrate that its GPUs can manage demanding DirectX workloads in actual silicon. Imagination states that DXD is designed for desktop graphics and cloud gaming, supporting DirectX 11, DirectX 12, Vulkan 1.4, OpenGL 4.6, and OpenCL 3.0. This gives it a much broader software target compared to older mobile-first GPU designs. Imagination also offers E-Series GPU IP, which includes DirectX 12 Feature Level 11_0 support. This suggests that we might see more DirectX 12 enablement once most of the DirectX 11 functionality is complete.
Some Chinese GPU manufacturers have already adapted Imagination's GPU IP into different formats. For example, Imagination presented its DXTP architecture, which was designed for efficiency in smartphones and other power-constrained platforms. Nine months later, a derivative of this technology appeared in discrete formats, targeting workstation applications. At the recently concluded International Conference on Computer-Aided Design (ICCAD) 2025 expo, Xiang Dixian showcased their Fuxi A0 graphics card. Demo units were on display at November 2025 event, set up and running within a working system. A localized version of the Lenovo New Vision Z-engine 3D platform was operational on the demo hardware. For a demo of the IMG D-Series GPU running 3DMark Fire Strike with DirectX 11 API, the video is linked below.
Sources: Imagination on LinkedIn, via VideoCardz
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8 Comments on Imagination Teases PowerVR GPU Running on Windows with DirectX 11 Support

#1
MrMilli
My first 3D capable GPU was a PowerVR PCX2.
Posted on Reply
#2
Dr. Dro
The frame rate is clearly in the 10-15 fps range from what you can see in the video, that would place it substantially below what a 17-year-old midrange card like the Radeon HD 5770 can pull on Fire Strike.

It's good to see another vendor able to do elementary D3D11 graphics on their own technology (although I'm sure it supports essentially zero optional extensions), but Imagination is really ballsy to advertise this IP as "intended for desktop PCs and cloud gaming infrastructure" when their top spec GPU's reference implementation is basically good enough to play Plants vs. Zombies.

Here's hoping they'll catch up to the GF100 in the next generation or two, hopefully before Fermi is 25.
Posted on Reply
#3
Prima.Vera
Exactly 30 years ago they were presenting a card that would be a 3Dfx VooDoo killer.
After 30 years they are still presenting an AMD/nVidia killer :D :D :D
Posted on Reply
#4
wNotyarD
The same Imagination that created the GMA500? Nah fam, I'm good staying far away.
Posted on Reply
#5
CosmicWanderer
I was excited when Intel announced that they would be entering the dGPU space, to finally offer some competition in the GPU duopoly. But they ended up being true to their nature; overpromising and under-delivering like pre-Ryzen AMD.

Now we need a fourth entrant to pick up the slack. I was hoping it would be Qualcomm but they can't seem to get their act together either, so maybe Imagination will be our savior? Or maybe it will be the Chinese.
Posted on Reply
#6
R-T-B
CosmicWandererI was excited when Intel announced that they would be entering the dGPU space, to finally offer some competition in the GPU duopoly. But they ended up being true to their nature; overpromising and under-delivering like pre-Ryzen AMD.

Now we need a fourth entrant to pick up the slack. I was hoping it would be Qualcomm but they can't seem to get their act together either, so maybe Imagination will be our savior? Or maybe it will be the Chinese.
It would need to be a lot better in drivers than the GMA500 if they want to get anywhere. God, the memories.
Posted on Reply
#7
wNotyarD
R-T-BIt would need to be a lot better in drivers than the GMA500 if they want to get anywhere. God, the memories.
Don't tell me, the worst piece of hardware I've ever had the displeasure of having to deal with. Imagine the year being 2013 and the thing not being able to even run CS 1.6 without resorting to hacks :kookoo:
Posted on Reply
#8
Testsubject01
CosmicWandererI was excited when Intel announced that they would be entering the dGPU space, to finally offer some competition in the GPU duopoly. But they ended up being true to their nature; overpromising and under-delivering like pre-Ryzen AMD.

Now we need a fourth entrant to pick up the slack. I was hoping it would be Qualcomm but they can't seem to get their act together either, so maybe Imagination will be our savior? Or maybe it will be the Chinese.
There is a reason, that it got to be a duopoly and stayed that way for a long time. Price of entry to the market is immense! Every serious attempt should be cheered at.


Intel ARC is one of the best steps from Intel towards a solid dGPU product. They did indeed fumble in classic Intel fashion, but big improvements in hardware, software, marketing and pricing are clearly visible. You don't get to be NVIDIA 2.0 in 5 years. If Celestial continues that trend, it will firmly position Intel as a third player. Even though market share for Intel and AMD still need to grow for a more healthy competitive market.

For all our sakes, cross your fingers more competitors on the market will happen. Just the Entry level to Midrange would be a start for better products.
Posted on Reply
Nov 12th, 2026 04:43 CST change timezone

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