Introduction to the PVRTune Manual#

Document Overview#

This document is a complete user manual for PVRTune and PVRPerfServer. It includes installation instructions, functionality explanations, and useful tips on how to get the most out of the application.

What is PVRTune?#

PVRTune is a performance analysis tool for PowerVR graphics cores. It uses driver-level counters and hardware registers to provide real-time data on the performance of an application running on a PowerVR GPU.

PVRTune has three primary elements:

  • PVRPerfServer - This is a command-line application that reads counters and registers from the drivers. PVRPerfServer then either saves the data to a .PVRTune file or transmits the data to PVRTune GUI over a network. PVRPerfServer can also read from any application which uses the PVRScope library. Note: This application only runs on PowerVR devices.

  • PVRTune GUI - This is a client-side desktop profiling application used to analyse the performance of PowerVR graphics cores. It provides a real-time graphical representation of the information sent by a device through PVRPerfServer.

  • PVRScope - This is a client-side desktop profiling application used to analyse the performance of PowerVR graphics cores. It provides a real-time graphical representation of the information sent by a device through PVRPerfServer.

The following sections will explain how to set up each of these elements to analyse application performance on PowerVR devices. There will be a particular focus on setting up PVRPerfServer and the PVRTune GUI. The image below demonstrates how these different elements interact with each other and the device driver.

../../_images/pvrtune-overview-diagram.png

Statement of Support#

This software is compatible with up to the following:

  • Host platform (PVRTune GUI): Windows (x86_64), Linux (x86_64), and macOS (x86_64;arm64).

  • Client platform (PVRPerfServer, PVRScope): Android, Linux, macOS, QNX, Tizen, Windows operating systems (OS); on many architectures.

  • Rogue DDK supported from branch 1.9 to 23.2 inclusive.

  • NNA Support.

  • PVRPerfServer supported only at a matching revision to PVRTune.

  • PVRScope library and .PVRTune file support from SDK release 17.2 onwards.

Revisions and versions not stated here may work, but are not guaranteed to be compatible.