Graphics accelerator Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro: characteristics and tests

Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro has become a real phenomenon in the market of low-end devices, offering users characteristics that were previously considered the prerogative of the middle segment. One of the key issues that worries potential buyers and gamers remains the performance of the graphics subsystem. It depends on the GPU how smoothly the interfaces will work, how quickly the pages in the browser render and, most importantly, with what quality and FPS will go modern mobile games.

The device is based on a MediaTek Helio G90T chipset that was specifically designed for gaming. However, the visual heart of the device is not the processor itself, but the integrated video core. Understanding which graphics accelerator is used in this model allows you to accurately predict the behavior of the smartphone in heavy applications like PUBG Mobile or Genshin Impact. Unlike many competitors using Qualcomm solutions, Xiaomi engineers relied on a powerful bundle from the Taiwanese manufacturer.

In this article, we will discuss in detail the architecture of the GPU, its technical specifications and real performance, you will learn why choosing this graphics core was a strategic decision to create a gaming smartphone affordable class, and we will also touch on the issues of optimization and cooling, since the graphics accelerator directly affects the heat generation of the device.

Technical characteristics of the Mali-G76 MC4 GPU

The graphics accelerator installed in the Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro is called the ARM Mali-G76 MP4 (also referred to as the MC4). This is a quad-core version of the Bifrost architecture, which was a significant step forward from the previous generation of Midgard. The main advantage of this architecture is improved efficiency of processing graphics and computational tasks, which is critical for modern games with complex geometry.

The GPU core is 800 MHz in conjunction with the Helio G90T. While not the highest on paper compared to the flagships of the time, the Mali-G76 architecture allows for high performance per clock, which means rendering complex scenes faster with less power consumption compared to older GPU models of the same frequency.

It is important to note the support of modern graphics APIs. the GPU is fully compatible with OpenGL ES 3.2, OpenCL 2.0, Vulkan 1.1 and RenderScript. Having support for Vulkan is especially important for game developers, as this API allows you to get more direct access to the hardware, reducing driver overhead and increasing FPS in heavy projects.

⚠️ Note: Despite the high nominal frequency, real performance GPU It can decrease during long game sessions due to trolling. The overheating protection system forcibly reduces the clock frequency of the graphics core to prevent damage to components.

Four shader clusters provide parallelization of computation, which allows for efficient processing of shadows, textures and post-processing. For the budget segment, the Mali-G76 was a rare success, as it was usually in this price range that less productive solutions of the Mali-G72 or Adreno 500 series were installed.

The impact of GPU on gameplay

The main task of any graphics accelerator in a smartphone is to render the frame. In the case of the Redmi Note 8 Pro, the four-core Mali-G76 pairing demonstrates a solid performance in popular esports disciplines. Games like Asphalt 9: Legends or Call of Duty: Mobile work at medium to high graphics settings with acceptable frame rates, usually in the range of 40-60 FPS, depending on the optimization of the game itself.

But it's important to understand the limitations. Bifrost architecture scales well, but the number of cores (4 pieces) is a bottleneck for ultra-high settings. If you plan to play Genshin Impact or Honkai: Star Rail, the GPU will run at its limits. In such scenarios, the rendering resolution is often reduced dynamically to keep the animation smooth, which can lead to "soapiness" of the image.

Yet for its time and price segment, it was a breakthrough: Many of the games that were on other budget slideshows on the Redmi Note 8 Pro were playable. Xiaomi engineers also implemented Game Turbo technology, which software optimizes the GPU, prioritizing gameplay and clearing RAM.

• 🎮 Support HDR: The graphics accelerator is capable of handling extended dynamic range, making the colors in games more saturated if the screen and app support this feature.
• 📉 Adaptive resolution: At peak load times GPU may temporarily reduce the rendering resolution to avoid falling FPS below-comfort.
• 🌡️ Heat generation: Four powerful cores generate a significant amount of heat, which requires a high-quality cooling system, the role of which in this model is performed by a liquid heat sink.

Emulators are also worth mentioning, because with Neon’s instruction support and its class-powered GPU, it can run console emulators all the way up to the PSP and even some Nintendo 64 and Dreamcast games at full speed, making it popular with retro gamers years after it was released.

Comparison with competitors and analogues

To understand the real position of the Mali-G76 MC4 in the mobile GPU hierarchy, it is necessary to compare it with its closest competitors. The main rival at the time was the Qualcomm Adreno 612, which was installed in Snapdragon 730 processors (for example, in Xiaomi Mi 9T or Realme X2). In synthetic tests, the Mali-G76 often performed better or on par with the Adreno 612, especially in tasks requiring high processing power.

Adreno has traditionally been better at optimizing drivers, and many games have been primarily Adreno-optimized, while Mali owners may have encountered rare bugs or a less stable FPS. With new Android versions and driver updates coming out of Google Play, this gap has narrowed, but the historical context is important.

Below is a table comparing the characteristics of graphics accelerators relevant to mid-range smartphones of the period:

As you can see from the table, the Redmi Note 8 Pro has a very competitive solution: the G76’s four cores at 800 MHz deliver a major performance boost over the octagonal but architecturally old Mali-G71, which confirms that not only the number of cores, but also their architectural efficiency is more important in mobile graphics.

⚠️ Note: When comparing performance, you should not rely only on the number of cores. Bifrost architecture is much more efficient than older solutions, so 4 cores are not necessary. G76 It can be faster than 8 cores of the previous generation.

Features of Bifrost architecture

The Mali-G76 graphics accelerator is based on the Bifrost architecture that replaced the Midgard, and the main change was the execution engine structure, where scalar processors were used earlier, Bifrost moved to a vector architecture with a wider executable width, which allows more data to be processed in one stroke, which directly affects the speed of rendering polygons and pixels.

Another important feature is the improved caching system. The GPU has access to system memory via a wide bus, but a multi-level cache is used to reduce latency. The Redmi Note 8 Pro does this quite efficiently, although the amount of RAM and its type (LPDDR4X) also play a role in the overall GPU speed.

Support for texture compression technologies such as ASTC (Adaptive Scalable Texture Compression) saves memory bandwidth. For a smartphone with a Full HD+ screen resolution, this is critical, as the graphics accelerator has to handle more than 2 million pixels per frame. Without effective compression, the memory bus would be a bottleneck, causing micro-freezes.

Also worth noting is support for general purpose GPU computing (GPGPU), which means that the graphics core can be used not only for games, but also for photo processing, real-time filters in cameras, and even for some machine learning tasks, although for AI, the Helio G90T has a separate APU module.

Optimization and software

Iron is only half of the success. The other half is drivers and system optimization. Xiaomi in the shell of MIUI implemented Game Turbo, which directly interacts with the graphics accelerator. When you start a game, the system puts the GPU in high performance mode, blocking background processes and reserve resources.

An important aspect is the ability to update GPU drivers regardless of operating system updates. With Project Treble and Google Play modules, users can get new versions of drivers for Mali-G76 directly from the app store, which allows you to fix errors in games and improve compatibility with new titles without waiting for a firmware update from the manufacturer.

• 🚀 Game Turbo 2.0/3.0: Function that controls frequencies CPU and GPU, Providing maximum responsiveness in games.
• 🎨 Display settings: B MIUI It is possible to change color saturation and contrast, which affects how the color is expressed. GPU displays the image on the screen matrix.
• 🔋 Power saving modes: The system can limit the maximum frequency GPU In normal operation mode to save battery power by unlocking full power only in games.

However, users often experience aggressive memory management in MIUI, which can sometimes lead to heavy gaming if the graphics buffer is not enough space, and in such cases, it is recommended to close all background applications before launching resource-intensive projects.

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For stable operation of the GPU in games, it is recommended to turn on the Do Not Disturb mode and clear RAM through the built-in optimizer before launching the application.

Heating and trotling problems

The powerful 800 MHz Mali-G76 MC4 graphics accelerator generates a significant amount of heat. The Helio G90T process is 12 nm, which is not the most energy efficient at the time of release. So the main problem with the Redmi Note 8 Pro was heating. When the body temperature or internal components reach a critical value, the troll protection system (reduces frequencies) graphics core.

This is manifested in a sharp drop in FPS after 20-30 minutes of active play. The picture begins to slow down, the control becomes less responsive. Xiaomi engineers tried to solve this problem with a liquid cooling system with a copper tube and graphite layers, but in a dense housing and high ambient temperature, this is not always enough.

There is a perception that trotling is always bad. But if it wasn't for it, the smartphone could just shut down or, worse, get permanent damage to components. Mali's graphics accelerator has built-in temperature sensors that transmit data to the power controller.

⚠️ Warning: Prolonged play at maximum graphics settings with bright screen enabled can cause the bottom of the smartphone to heat up a lot.Use cooling stands or remove the protective case for better heat sink.

To minimize trolling, you can use third-party applications to control frequencies (require root rights), but this can lead to unstable system operation and cancellation of the warranty.

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions

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The Mali-G76 MC4 graphics accelerator in the Redmi Note 8 Pro is a balance between high performance for its class and heat generation, requiring attention to cooling during long gaming sessions.