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Driver DDK Prices

Frank Niggemann
Note: This was originally posted on 16th November 2012 at http://forums.arm.com

I'm actually starting a project where I need to know what it costs to use the full mali 400 drivers with all functionality to sell power saving ARM-Computers with linux installed. I can also use the free 2d drivers, but what if people wants to watch movies in full hd?

And so I need to know what the licence will cost for 5 Boards for myself to test and to develope and later on for 200 or more computers with Linux and this drivers.

I already wrote a message using the contact form but with no luck. Nothing happened.

Thx in advance

Frank
  • Note: This was originally posted on 16th November 2012 at http://forums.arm.com

    Hi Frank,

    I believe there is some misunderstanding, we do not license the Mali drivers per board. We license our GPU designs to other companies, who then design the part into their products and SoC's. They pay us an  up-front licence fee, as well as royalties on all parts produced. As part of the license agreement we provide them with the Mali Driver Development Kit (DDK) which enables them to build drivers which they would then provide to their end users.

    Are you creating your own SoC, or are you producing boards using an existing SoC containing a Mali GPU? In the latter case, you can approach your vendor who ought to be able to provide you with the runtime libraries necessary to use the Mali GPU.

    Hope this helps,
    Chris
  • Note: This was originally posted on 16th November 2012 at http://forums.arm.com

    Hi Chris, thank you for your reply.

    I found a vendor that produces Android-boards with the Mali 400 GPU and sell them. I asked him if he would produce the same boards with linux for me. It will be a little bit more expensive, but if I order 200+ he will do it. The more I order the cheaper it will be.  So I started compiling my own linux and need that driver to get full performance.

    So if I understood you right, I have to ask my vendor for these files. Right?


    Thx

    Frank
  • Note: This was originally posted on 16th November 2012 at http://forums.arm.com

    Hi Frank,

    That's correct, they should provide the binaries to you., as they receive them from their silicon vendor.

    Thanks,
    Chris
  • Note: This was originally posted on 14th January 2013 at http://forums.arm.com


    I believe there is some misunderstanding, we do not license the Mali drivers per board. We license our GPU designs to other companies, who then design the part into their products and SoC's. They pay us an  up-front licence fee, as well as royalties on all parts produced. As part of the license agreement we provide them with the Mali Driver Development Kit (DDK) which enables them to build drivers which they would then provide to their end users.

    Are you creating your own SoC, or are you producing boards using an existing SoC containing a Mali GPU? In the latter case, you can approach your vendor who ought to be able to provide you with the runtime libraries necessary to use the Mali GPU.


    Chris,

    ARM already provides the kernel side of the Mali400 driver, http://malideveloper.arm.com/develop-for-mali/drivers/
    However, there is no complete X11 driver stack available from ARM, for the Linux operating system.

    It does not make sense to expect from each ARM licensee to provide a complete driver stack, while this should be solved once and for all by ARM.